Perhaps she is saving it for you. At any rate I can promise you a gala welcome here, so please try and arrange it.
I miss you and think of you. You know that I love you.
T
[Collection Unknown]
TO ROBERT LINSCOTT
note the new address
Fontana Vecchia
Taormina, Sicily
[7 May 1950] Dear Bob,
I recieved [sic] your letter about the proofs just as I was sending one about the picture releases, and so scribbled an answer on the envelope which you probably did not notice.88 I think it best that you do not send the proofs; it would be far too involved.
We have had luck, at least I hope it is luck, in finding a place to live; it is the top two floors of a little villa about twenty minutes walk from Taormina … very isolated, but plenty of room and a wonderful view. It is the house where D.H. Lawrence lived for many years. It costs fifty dollars a month, which is rather a lot, at least by Italian standards, but I like it tremendously.
As I guess I wrote you, Gide is living here, and I enjoy him except that he is so vague. Otherwise, the scene is blessedly free of literary folk; in fact, folk of any kind.
I think I will send you parts of my book as they are done; not only because I want you to see it, but it will be safer to have a copy of it elsewhere. I’ve sent a story to Marian [Ives] that I long for you to see. Write me a newsy letter. Love
t
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO ANDREW LYNDON
Fontana Veccia [sic]
Taormina, Sicily
May 15, 1950
Light of the world—
As I wrote Phoebe, we have a lovely little villa and it is working out beautifully, at least is seems to be. I know it will be hot here, the days already have a certain fire, but the nights are cold, and after supper we have a fire in the fireplace: god, all that fire! So now you and Harold must pull yourselves together and come hither: maybe in the fall. It is a wonderful place to work (I think), and I’ve written another story, The Bargain.89 I’m so happy to be writing stories again—they are my great love.
Perhaps there has not been time, at least I’ve not heard from you since Naples, and I long for your news. Here, very little happens that is newsworthy. On the way down, we stopped a few days in Ischia, and it was the same, except the Auden circle were all adither because the master is writing a movie scenario based on The Odyssey (to be filmed in Ischia) and Ingrid B. [Bergman] was expected to star in it. Oh dear.
Gide’s daughter is here to keep him company. She amazes me by being 1) ugly as a wood-stove, and 2) younger than you can imagine, only twenty-three or four. Do you suppose that old goat is really responsible?
Honey, how goes MIRTH? I hope that you are going to talk with Audrey.
Kelly is filled with ticks and burrs. Our spare time is given over to picking them off him. Jack is hale and active: he even manages the half-mile hike down to the sea and back—I’ve managed it only once, and I thought my heart would stop. He sends you both his love.
Tell Phoebe that I love her, tell Harold, too. Do I need to tell you anything?
T
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO CECIL BEATON
Fontana Veccia [sic]
Taormina, Sicily
May 20 1950
Cecil love—
Such a lovely letter, angel—how alive you are! And I do hope Miss Cleghorn will [unclear] the dreamier routines of your life.90 The costumes and decor for “MRS T” sound charming—indeed, I should adore to wear the orange-lined cloak: I do feel the need of something spectacular for promenading in the piazza.91 But why are you going to Brittany? Absolutely you must take a holiday here. I love my home, it is very beautiful, but I haven’t much chance to enjoy it, for, thank God, I seem to be working all the time. I have written three stories, and am finishing a fourth: one I sold to the New Yorker, another to the Bazaar, and the third I’ve just sent to my agent. Very soon I hope to be started on my new book. No, dear, I have not read Denton Welch’s novel, and I long to, for I do think him infinitely gifted, and his death was a true tragedy. I would be so grateful if you could send it to me.
The Merman thing92 sounds fun; on the contrary, I think you should do it, especially since it could not fail to bring you quite a lot of dollars—on the other hand, if it would in any way interfere with the production of The Gainsborough Girls, then certainly you must do your own play first.93 At this point I think it really important that your play be put on, particularly for your own peace of mind. I must say, I don’t at all see [Thornton] Wilder’s play as a musical, or am I wrong?94
My news from New York is uninteresting. Friends who saw the preview of The Glass Menagerie (movie) say it is appalling, and that Gertrude Lawrence is pathetic. Tennessee [Williams], I’m told, has asked that his name be taken off the screen. This morning there was a letter from Janie [Bowles], who seems still to be in Paris; she suggests that she and Oliver S. [Smith],95 who is arriving there shortly, are going to Broadchalke to stay a visit—I envy you Jamie, but not the other, especially since I hear he is traveling with his mother (who, of course, may turn out to be charming).
David and friend may remind you of Tatiana [sic] and Bottom (which, by the way, is Titiana? not David certainly), but they remind me of the comic strip, Mutt and Jeff.96 God knows they deserve each other, and after all it is only right for two of the same species, in this case Reptile, to mate. Or am I too harsh?
It delights me to know my roses are blooming on the library wall. You please will not allow anyone to pick them.
Jack is fine, except that he is having to go to the dentist, and my dear after you have faced a Sicilian dentist you could face a firing squad with the merest tremble.
Dearest squire of Broadchalke, I miss you 25-hours a day, and love you like an old Kentucky colonel loves his rock n’ rye—which is to say, you are very dear to me, bless your heart
T
Write soon
[Collection St. John’s College, Cambridge University]
TO ANDREW LYNDON
Fontana Veccia [sic]
Taormina, Sicily
May 24 1950
Magnolia love—
Loved your letter, darling, and thank you for all those clippings. I agree with you that Newton’s reviews are especially inane, but perhaps the magazines will do better by him. Did you have a good evening together?; how wonderful it would have been to be with you, the two people I love so much. There is no one much that I love here, except Jack. Heavens no, Donny is not living with us; I’m fond of him, really, but he has become more than a bit of a bore: as Jack says, Donny looks in a mirror and doesn’t see Boswell but Johnson. His ego, perhaps because at this point it is wounded, smothers you like some fast growing vine.
I do love the house, and long for you and Harold to come here. Perhaps your script on anti-biotics will do it. Joky as you made that sound, I think it [is] actually a good idea.
I am still working on stories. Marian sold A Ride Through Spain to the New Yorker, and A Diamond Guitar to the Bazaar: can’t you ask Pearl to let you see it? I do so want to know what you think. I’ve sent Marian another story, The Bargain.
Tomorrow I’m having a little lunch party that could be amusing; it is to introduce those two eminent Frenchmen, [André] Gide and [Christian] Dior.
It is getting real hot here, but Fontana is cool enough and the nights downright cold. We have a girl to clean and cook lunch but make supper ourselves; except for gin and cigarettes, and even here we use Italian brands, ugh, we are living economically—and in such style.
Kelly and Jack send their love to Harold, to you. We all miss the Halma-Lyndon’s. Write me, my precious heart, for your adoring friend has you always in his thoughts. Many kisses
T
[Collection New York Public Library]
TO ROBERT LINSCOTT
Fontana Vecchia
Taormina
June 14 1950
Dear Bob—
About the Bazaar: I am outraged, aghast—my only arrangement was to credit them, which I did very adequately on the thank-you page. Please do nothing about it—please, that is, do not have the plates altered, as I am sending a letter in this same mail to Frances McFadden, which I think will be effective. Incidentally, those particular Haitian photographs by Bissinger never appeared in the Bazaar. Here are the pictures that were in the Bazaar: Cartier-Bresson’s New Orlean’s [sic] pictures, Bill Brandt’s seagull, Bissinger’s picture of Spain, and Hoynigen-Huene’s [Hoyningen-Huene’s] picture of the Spanish castle. None of the within photographs have ever appeared anywhere. All I hope is that nothing has been done about changing these plates—wait until we see what effect my letter has.97 I am
