ID: 1771
Autograph signed letter to Siegfried Sassoon
WILLIAMSON, Henry

Category: Autograph Letters/Manuscripts

Place/Publisher/Date:
Georgeham, North Devon. 27th September 1928.

Description: Autograph signed letter, two pages; 8vo. Williamson starts "Fifteen months ago you bought a copy of a book I wrote called Tarka, and ever since then I have been dreading that you might think it rotten, as it is in parts." Williamson then goes onto a critique of Sassoon's recently published Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man'. "The feeling of shyness, almost of inferiority in places, is very human and wins my confidence; I was just like that, only probably worse. I think most men will see themselves in it too; in degrees of intensity or laziness." He talks at some length on Sassoon's use of the word inhumane with reference to fox-hunting but Williamson is obviously still thinking of the war. He concludes this section "has not enough blood flowed on the face of the earth already, etc. Williamson states he is sending the proofs of a book and tentatively asks if he can dedicate to Sassoon. A fascinating letter, Williamson had not met Sassoon at this stage they both attended the Hawthornden award but were not introduced. He is very self deprecating about Tarka which won the award that year. Two post scripts, in one he asks for an inscribed copy of a Fox-hunting Man, but understands if Sassoon doesn't want to. Very good, folded for posting and short split on centre fold.

Price £750.00