|
|
ORWELL ON HAYES, RELIGION AND LITERATURE
Orwell, George (1903 - 1950)
An extraordinary two-page autograph letter signed by George Orwell, "Eric A. Blair", dated 14th June 1932 in pencil in another hand. Closely written on two separate 8" X 10" sheets of paper in his characteristic tight handwriting to Eleanor Jacques, the woman with whom he was having an affair at this time. A fascinating letter in which the author alludes to his ambivalence about the teaching post he has taken up at The Hawthorns (from where the letter is written) and makes humourous remarks about the town of Hayes; he also gives an intriguing description of himself at church, all in a satirical authorial voice suggestive of his later writing. In part, "I have been teaching at the above foul place for nearly two months. I don't find the work uninteresting, but it is very exhausting, and apart from a few reviews etc. I've hardly done a stroke of writing. My poor poem, which was promising not too badly, has of course stopped dead. The most disagreeable thing here is not the job itself (it is a day school, thank God, so I have nothing to do with the brats out of school hours) but Hayes itself, which is one of the most godforsaken places I have ever struck. The population seems to be entirely made up of clerks who frequent tin-roofed chapels on Sundays and for the rest bolt themselves within doors. My sole friend is the curate - High Anglican but not a creeping Jesus and a very good fellow. Of course it means that I have to go to Church, which is an arduous job here, as the service is so popish that I don't know my way about it and feel an awful B.F. when I see everyone bowing and crossing themselves allround me and I can't follow suit. The poor old vicar, who I suspect hates all this popery, is dressed up in cope and brietta, and led round in procession with candles etc., looking like a bullock garlanded for sacrifice. I have promised to paint one of the church idols (a quite skittish-looking B.V.M., half life-size, and I shall try and make her look as much like one of the illustrations in La Vie Parisienne as possible) and to grow a marrow for the harvest festival. I would 'communicate' too, only I am afraid the bread might choke me." Orwell then moves on to literary matters, "Have you read anything interesting lately? I read for the first time Marlowe's Faustus, and though it rotten, also a mangy little book on Shakespeare trying to prove that Hamlet=Earl of Essex, also a publication called The Enemy of Wyndham Lewis... also something of Osbert Sitwell... (and) some odes of Horace, whom I wish I hadn't neglected hitherto - otherwise nothing, not having much time or energy." Then he moves on to his living arrangements, "I have got a few square feet of garden, but have had rotten results owing to rain, slugs and mice. I have found hardly any birds' nests - this place is on the outskirts of London, of course. I have also been keeping a pickle jar aquarium, chiefly for the instruction of the boys, and we have newts, tadpoles, caddis-flies etc. If when you are passing, if you ever do.. you see any eggs of puss-moths on the poplar trees there, I should be awfully obliged if you would pick the leaves and send them me by post.... Of course, I don't mean make an expedition there, I only mean if you happen to be passing. What is Dennis doing these days? I want to consult him about an extraordinary fungus that was dug up here." Orwell concludes, "I may or may not come back to S'wold for the Summer holidays. I want to get on with my novel and if possible finish the poem I had begun, and I think perhaps it would be best for me to go to some quiet place in France, where I can live cheaply and have less temptation from the World, the Flesh and the Devil than at S'wold (you can decide which of these categories you belong to)." He signs, "Eric. A. Blair". Then, in a post-script, he draws two sketches of the aforementioned fungus. A small stain next to one of these sketches, otherwise the letter is in very fine condition. An astonishing and fascinating letter. Extremely rare and desirable in this format.
Price: £7,500.00
Sold
|
NEW
)
Terms and Conditions|Bookmark this site