BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [6 JAN. 1917]
BRACERS 19102. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London>
Sat evg.1^, 2

Colette my Darling,

Thank you for your telegram and also for your letter3 of yesterday. I am gradually working through my tangles — I begin to see daylight. I have written a great deal and thought a great deal during these days. The basis of my mood was fury at the Allies’ refusal of peace,4 and at the fact that public opinion supported them in that. It brought on a fit of cynical rage — a disposition to wash my hands of the world and retire into the intellectual cloister. But I am getting the better of the mood now — some mordant writing5  relieved me a bit, and then I succeeded in bringing general principles to bear. I need a good deal of solitude and leisure to get my mind in order at such times, and to work out what comes of it. I find it hard to get solitude here, but I should go mad in the country. I want to be able to see people when solitude grows too tense.

Dearest Love, I think of you so much — I wonder what you will decide about this day week — Has Miles got his 3 weeks’ job?6 Goodnight my Angel — My heart is with you always.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200074.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “6 Jan. 1917” on the letter.

• 3

  your telegram and also for your letter The telegram is not extant. It is not clear what letter he is referring to.

• 4

  Allies’ refusal of peace On 30 December 1916 the Allies rejected the German peace note of 12 December. President Wilson had tried to intervene with his own peace note of the 18th. BR’s open letter to him arrived on the 23rd. Peace hopes were dashed.

• 5

  written a great deal … some mordant writing E.g., “Why Do Men Persist in Living?” (3 in Papers 14).

• 6

  Miles got his 3 weeks’ job Colette had written on 5 January that her husband Miles Malleson got a repertory job in Birmingham (BRACERS 112992).