Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice older book in good condition. Pages in excellent condition. No notes or highlighting. Cover is faded. Signature in front with a small very good cartoon drawing. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> Within Edward’s circle – regardless of their own comparatively unlikely and not altogether unsuccessful careers – it was tacitly accepted he was the star turn. He took a passionate and predominantly benign interest in even the smallest activities of his cronies – these were later to include Frederick Ashton and Robert Helpmann for both of whom he produced magnificent theatre designs – but he showed little patience with any nonsensical or pompous behaviour of a kind some- times indulged in by his chums. It can be noted how often in his letters when his friends got out of hand he made great use of a series of highly denigratory nicknames for each one of them. These became a favourite weapon for the deflation of any over-grandiose ideas. It was clearly difficult to stand on one’s dignity when reduced to Mrs. Mdme Nurse or Fishnet Annie (Chappell) the pagan laundry- woman (Ker-Seymer) or Hotsy Trackles (Ashton). In the twenties and thirties it was practically a point of honour to send everyone and everything sky high. These letters should finally put paid to the idea of Edward as a deeply reclusive eccentric. He was in fact naturally gregarious if-and let that ‘if’ be noted-he could choose his company. He liked strangers and was much given to long rambling convers- ations with drunken old wrecks grumbling in a run-down pub. Throughout his life he continued to accumulate new friends. His actual need to lead a life of activity was only curbed by his delicate constitution and his always-ailing body yet he managed to get around the world as much if not more than many of his contempor- aries. The letters are a testament to his inventive wit and his brilliantly lively mind. We are sometimes made aware of the dark melancholy in his being but it is only fitfully revealed; more suggested than emphasised; for it was his unquench- able interest in life and people which made him see at once and with crystal clarity the terrible jokes always embedded in the very worst of events. (SP)