BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 14 MAY 1962
BRACERS 19906. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Plas Penrhyn,
Penrhyndeudraeth,
Merioneth.1^, 2
14 May 1962

Dearest Colette

Thank you for your dear letter — and for the substitute3 for “sweet lovely roses”4 that you promise me — It is true that I am to be smothered in all sorts of celebrations, so that I hardly know myself. I felt more at home in Brixton.a5

It is sad about your sister’s autobiography.6 Is there anything I could do about it if I read the MS?

Love, as always.
Yours ever
B —

• 1

  [document] Document 200910.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | Sundborn | Sweden. Pmk: PORTMADOC | 3 – PM | 15 MAY | 1962 | CAERNARVONSHIRE

• 3

  the substitute Colette had written that since BR would be smothered in flowers — the 18th was his 90th birthday — that she send his gift “not in petals (via Fortnum) but in print (via Ralph Schoenman)” (letter of 2 May 1962; BRACERS 59864).

• 4

  “sweet lovely roses” See BRACERS 19235, n.10.

• 5

  home in Brixton BR had been imprisoned there twice, in 1918 and 1961. When he returned in 1961 officials who welcomed him back were all friendly (BRACERS 19904).

• 6

  your sister’s autobiography Colette had written about her difficulties, in finding a publisher for As the Sight Is Bent. Faber’s, Duckworth’s, Dent’s and Hamish Hamilton had all turned her down. The book was eventually published by Museum Press (8 April 1962; BRACERS 98463).

Textual Notes

• a

  Brixton written over indecipherable word