BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 20 JAN. 1948
BRACERS 19846. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
27 Dorset House
Gloucester Place
N.W.11
20 Jan. 1948.

Dearest Colette

Hansson writes2 “we have written to the universities in Uppsala and Stockholm regarding your visit, and asked them to help us with the necessary invitations. We hope to hear from them before long and shall then immediately write to you again”. So it seems nearly certain to be all right. — Yes, I too think very often of 1916.3 But oh dear what hopes for the world one had then, and how illusory they have proved! Read Matthew Arnold’s “Dover Beach”.4

When I think of the world I suffer almost beyond endurance. One suffered in 1916, perhaps more acutely, but less utterly. It all makes me the more eager to be with you.

Goodbye with all my love.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200852.

• 2

  Hansson writes Johan Hansson’s letter is not extant in RA. Hansson was BR’s Swedish publisher.

• 3

  I too think very often of 1916 The year that BR and Colette met. Her letter mentioning this is not extant.

• 4

  Read Matthew Arnold’s “Dover Beach”. BR had written the same admonition on 13 October 1946 (BRACERS 19834). Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)’s “Dover Beach” (published 1867) is one of his most famous poems. In it Arnold finds the world dark and difficult — with Darwinism posing a challenge to religion — thus lovers must be true to one another.