found: A letter
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about the find:
where to start with this one?We found the book in a second hand book sale that came to Lampeter's Student Union. Linds, Julie and I pooled our loose change and put a third in each - I think it cost 30p in total. The only reason we bought it was for the letter!
And what a letter it is, too!
For those who can't decipher the handwriting, I've typed it out below, but it really does add to the sense of excitement if you read it yourself.
It's just amazing. The coronation, the cambridge boat race, the mysterious reference to a Sunday Times article.
I looked up the author (R.F. Bennett) and found out a whole bunch of info; apparently he worked at Bletchley Park during the war - you can read his obituary here http://tinyurl.com/68qv3w
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From RF Bennett, Magdalene College, 16/6/1937
Dear [Hiedi? -unclear],
Upon your own head be the blame. You have often said you wanted a copy of my silly work, when it was published, so now I send it herewith.
And the result is that you will have to read some of it, because if you are not going to Paris we shall meet before long, and you'll at least have to pretend to some acquaintance [next page] with its tedious pages.
I'm sorry the Paris thing is off, because it might have been quite fun for you. But take the weekend (do you mean the MMB will pay for it?) and be thankful you don't have to stand about for hours [ladling out milk? unclear] in order to earn your fun. I heard of a new use for Paris the other day, from a communistically inclined schoolmaster friend of mine: he and his wife went across for a week to avoid the coronation, and apparently divided their time between historic spots and international tennis (Quite unorthodox as far as I know.
Today is practically the death of all things here. We survived the races after some nerve-strain (may I inform you that the Sunday Times was quite misleading about Saturday's stupidity. It wasn't the fault of anyone on the bank. I felt that as the responsible person they were getting at me.), and now the balls and other frolics come to an end tonight. I am staying up for a few more days - Tripos results on Sat. degree dinner next day, and also to comfort poor Arthur, who is undergoing yet one more of his eternal examinations. But I suspect to be home early next week and will ring up. Dare we go to the river again, or will it certainly rain? We used to be safe at Richmond anyway!
Now I must try and cope with a German letter which I [luuk? funk? unclear] - sending my professors a copy too: see what learned company you keep!
Blessings,
Ralph
responses:
It occurs to me that the fact this letter - dated 1937 - is still inside a book published in 1937, means that the Hiedi likely didn't read the book. And nor has anyone else since!by a guest user
perhaps it was never delivered...
by a guest user
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