BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 23 MAY 1964
BRACERS 19911. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Plas Penrhyn,
Penrhyndeudraeth,
Merioneth.1^, 2
23 May 1964

Dearest Colette

Your book containing your sister’s autobiography3 has just come, and I have had time to admire the woodcuts but not yet to read it. You say it was instead of “sweet lovely roses”,4 but they came too, about a week ago. They are still blossoming and looking their best. Is your nephew still mean,5 and are you starving?6

Very much love and all good wishes.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200915.

• 2

  [envelope] The Lady Constance Malleson | Sundborn | Sweden. Pmk: MINFORDD | A | 25 MY | 64 | PENRHYNDEUDRAETH

• 3

  your sister’s autobiographyAs the Sight Is Bent (London: Museum Press, 1964), finished after Mabel Annesley’s death by Colette.

• 4

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

• 5

  nephew still mean Gerald Francis (Sowerby) Annesley (1904–1992), the son of her half-sister Mabel and her husband, Gerald Sowerby. In her reply of 5 June 1964, Colette characterized her nephew as “self-indulgent” rather than “mean” (BRACERS 98492).

• 6

  are you starving? In her reply of 5 June 1964, Colette wrote that it was getting more difficult to live in Sweden and that she would soon have to settle permanently in Suffolk. It was much easier and cheaper to obtain food in Lavenham (BRACERS 98492).