2110-5-11-10

March 16 1932

Crossbank Hill Hurworth-on-Tees.

My dear Mr. Buchan

You can't imagine how delightful it is to be understood. All my life I have been a lover of Scott & for years have noted in a card-index anthing I read concerning him but it was with the greatest diffidence that I started in to write about him. Yet somehow he seemed to be saying: 'Tell them what I was really like, I'm bored to death with being sacro-sanct.' & so I began to set him down as I had got to know him in many years of friendship.

Imagine my horror at being told I was 'patronizing', 'contemptuous', and the rest. Compton Mackenzie & "Agnes Mure Mackenzie"

two self-constituted guardians of the Scottish arcana - have been specially virulent & vulgar. How Compton Mackenzie can as Lord Rector of Glasgow University write such appalling slosh for the Daily Mail I do not know.

I dont mind anyone disliking my book but I simply cannot bear the idea that anyone should think I had tried to patronize or throw contempt on my "love of all loves" Sir Walter.

Many letters from unknown persons in Scotland have consoled me in my sadness, by their evident appreciation.

I do think is so charming of you to have written. Thank you very much indeed for your great kindness.

Yours ever sincerely

Una Pope-Hennessy

[ST: Dame Una Pope Hennessey writer of biographies]