PAMELA

['I write it as rapidly as I can, with my head full of Marcel': Pamela Hansford Johnson, writer and playwright.] Autograph Letter Signed to V. H. Collins, discussing her Proust-inspired BBC radio play 'Madame de Charlus'.

Author: 
Pamela Hansford Johnson [married name Pamela Helen Hansford Snow, Lady Snow] (1912-1981), writer and playwright, wife of the novelist C. P. Snow [Vere Henry Collins, author]
Publication details: 
31 December 1954. On letterhead of Nethergate House, Clare, Suffolk.
£56.00

An interesting letter, in which Johnson discusses her writing practice. See her entry and that of her husband in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Vere Henry Collins (1872-1966), was an author and grammatical stickler. 2pp, 12mo. 27 lines of text. In good condition, lightly aged, with slight rust spotting from a paperclip. Folded twice for postage. On the topic of ‘Madame de Charlus’, one of the ‘Six Proust Reconstructions’ - plays by Johnson inspired by the work of Marcel Proust - just broadcast on the BBC Third Programme, she thanks him for his ‘most kind & pleasing letter’.

[Lady Pamela Mountbatten, daughter of Earl Mountbatten of Burma.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Pamela Mountbatten'), as Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen on her royal tour, to 'Mr. McCrindall',

Author: 
Lady Pamela Mountbatten [later Lady Pamela Carmen Louise Hicks] (born 1929), younger daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma by his wife, Edwina Mountbatten, Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Admiralty House, Valletta, Malta. 27 August 1953.
£36.00

2pp, 4to. She begins by apologising for the tardy response to his letter, explaining: 'During these past months we have been very busy and I have found it almost impossible to find time for writing private letters beyond those to my immediate family.' She apologises for the fact that she was 'just going out when I met you in London last November. I did not then realise that you had come especially to see me.' The letter ends: 'Your tour of Canada and The States must have been extremely interesting.'

[Kathleen Teresa Blake Butler, Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge.] Autograph Card Signed ('K. T. B.') to Eric Dingwall, regarding the reception of Richardson's 'Pamela' in late eighteenth-century Italy.

Author: 
Kathleen Teresa Blake Butler (1883-1950), Italian scholar and Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge, 1942-1949 [Eric Dingwall ('Dirty Ding') (1890-1986), bibliographer and anthropologist]
Publication details: 
On letterhead: 'From The Mistress, Girton College, Cambridge.' 17 September 1948.
£45.00

In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to 'Eric Dingwall Esq | 19 Grange Court | Grange Rd | Cambridge'. Written in a neat close hand. She gives details of a 1744 Italian translation of Richardson's Pamela she has found of a Parisian catalogue of 1774: 'Translator's name not given'. She adds: 'Pamela was v. popular in Italy in the second half of the 18th. century. It inspired two of Goldoni's comedies Pamela Fanciulla and Pamela Maritata'. In a postscript she explains that she brought the present postcard 'into the U[niversity]. L[ibrary].

Typed Letter Signed ('John van Druten'), giving advice to an actor named 'France'.

Author: 
John Van Druten [John William Van Druten] (1901-1957), Anglo-American dramatist
Publication details: 
6 December 1928; 5 Harewood Court, Hanover Square, London W1.
£80.00

4to, 1 p, 21 lines. On creased and lightly-foxed paper, with a couple of closed tears (not affecting text, which is clear and entire). May refer to the 1928 revival of van Druten's play 'Young Woodley' (previously banned by the censor), or (which is more likely) to his 'After All' (1929).

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