With love from Morgan
* * *
Luxembourg, le 27th April. 1937
Hôtel Gaisser
Luxembourg
30, rue Beaumont et rue de la Porte-Neuve
Dearest Morgan,
Here I am, in this last resort of the police-chivvied. I arrived here on Sunday night, after the worst crossing of my life, and a very dazing non-stop-talking dinner with Mr Norris: “Here you are, my dear boy, to the minute, I must really apologize that everything isn’t quite ready, but this is the very best duck obtainable, tell me honestly, don’t you think it’s decidedly on the cold side, well well I must apologize, but don’t let’s waste our time we must really talk about your affairs, yes, yes, actually, I’ve not been feeling very well all day, what sort of journey did you have, I wonder where that boy’s got to, but do start, now let me see, as I was saying, my goodness, there isn’t any mustard.” etc. I caught the train on to Luxembourg from Brussels by the skin of my teeth.
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Heinz I found a little crushed, after a week in the Grand Duchy. He firmly denies most of the charges made against him in the French police report. (They include seduction of a deaf and dumb chambermaid, aggressive behaviour to the authorities and male prostitution!) Personally, I am convinced that he is the victim of a really swinish frame-up on the part of two prostitutes who inhabit the hotel Savoie. The trouble is that all this is now engraved in bronze in French archives and no power on earth can erase it. Kind friends have been spending their time trying to persuade me that it would be better if H. were packed off to the Fatherland or Mexico for good, and altogether I have been in a terrible state of bother and nerves. I am now feeling rather ashamed of myself for having listened to everybody except Heinz himself, who, even under English law, had the right to be heard in his own defence. And I feel correspondingly grateful to the very few, chief among them yourself, who did not offer advice, interested or otherwise.
Anyhow, everything is now cleared up between us, and the mere difficulty remains that he mayn’t go back to France or enter Belgium, at any rate for more than a few days. This ban, it seems, may be lifted by the Belgians after the Mexican business has been put through, which ought to be the end of this week. Meanwhile, we wait here, under the sulky pout of the Grand Duchess and the charming grin of her fourteen-year-old son. If only it would stop raining, I should feel quite gay.
Do send us a line to the above address. Love to Bob and his family.
Enclosed with many thanks for all your kindness is the cheque for five pounds.
Best love from us both,
Christopher
* * *
30-4-37
West Hackhurst,
Abinger Hammer,
Dorking.
Dear Christopher,
Thank you for the cheque, £5 in repayment for 500 francs. I never tire of helping people in such ways as these. I was also glad to get your letter, though how are you? I don’t suppose you are very well, what an endless run round. When we meet I have much to ask—partly about the inadequacy of Mr Norris.
Now there is Peter Burra, killed while flying, and I keep thinking about death. The worst thing in it is that people seem different as soon as it has pal-zeik-01 4/21/08 10:51 AM Page 70
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LETTERS BETWEEN FORSTER AND ISHERWOOD
happened, and one will seem different oneself. The word “loss” is inadequate. I have lost my fountain pen, but it does not alter.
No doubt everything in human beings is changing all the time; and so, under the surface, is one’s feelings for them—indeed here there are two factors for self ’s human too. O see Proust! But it’s so difficult to remember the change is going on, especially when one establishes what are called “permanent” relationships in daily life. Death turns the dead person into something worse than nothing—something deflecting—where all one’s affection for him or criticism of him becomes false. The most satisfactory dead are those who have published books.
With best love to Heinz and to you. I am hoping for news about the Mexican passport.60
Bob will be spending the weekend of the 8th–10th with me—I suppose in the flat.
Morgan
* * *
Brussels
Tuesday [June 15, 1937]
Sq. Marie Louise 70
Do forgive my not writing. Have been expecting to return to England very soon and do the film: may still do so—they haven’t yet decided if they want me. No news from Germany, except a nice letter from H[einz], who has had rheumatism and a cold but now feels better.61 If only they’d settle things one way or the other. These postponements are getting me down.
Bob wrote such a charming letter, which I didn’t get till after my return. I can’t help feeling that you and he are the only people who really care—for H[einz’]s sake, not merely for mine. I must see you again soon. Jean is very lively and sends his love. He has visions of popping over to Dover—for a Belgian it’s hideously easy. Oh dear, how complicated everything is. Thank you so much for sending the book. It’s waiting for me at home.
Christopher
* * *
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4-7-37
West Hackhurst,
Abinger Hammer,
Dorking.
Dear Christopher,
I think the date is the 7th; please send my love and Bob’s also as soon as it is possible to do so.
Meanwhile I hope you will not find it too dreary in England. I have found it drearier myself since you have been here.—Of course you know what I mean, as they invariably add in England.
I will come up on Tuesday, will bring 2 or 3 of those stories with me, and will ring you up. I hope that your foot is better.
I have written a very emotional poem, and cannot make out whether it is good or not. The title is:
Landor at Sea
I strove with none for none was worth my strife:
Reason I loved, and, next to reason, doubt:
I warmed both hands before the fire of life
And put it out. 62
* * *
I have also been considering what has been most satisfactory in my own life, and ruling out Bob on the ground that he is not in a cheap edition. I have come to the conclusion that it is the
Passage to India
. It’s amazing luck that one’s best book should be the widest read one, and the one most likely to do good, as well. When writing the
Passage
I thought it a failure, and it was only owing to Leonard [Woolf] that I was encouraged to finish it.
[B]ut ever since publication I have felt satisfied, and find very little in it that nauseates or irritates me.
So I shall ring up—probably about 5.0. on Tuesday, or perhaps you might then ring the flat. Bob will be with me and we might meet you later if all are free.
With best love,
Morgan
* * *
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[postcard]
17-7-37
West Hackhurst,
Abinger Hammer,
Dorking.
And you shall have one too. I may ring you up Sunday evening for news, or on Monday morning if not too rushed. I leave for Paris at 10.0. I remarked during a performance of Uday Shankar’s that you were intending to address the Cambridge Majlis.63 It would seem prematurely, for the Indian to whom the remark was addressed simpered that you had not so far replied to him.
Popped over to Brighton last night in a car and gave a certain William there quite a surprise. Wish I was more often surprising, but cannot design the suitable machinery. Am delighted this morning by notices from the
“Right” Book Club[,] so called it says because it gives people the right opin-ions. P.T.O. Can we not form the “Wrong” book club now, and if so what shaped note paper will it require?