2110-6-5-10

GARDEN CORNER WEST ROAD, CAMBRIDGE .

July 18. 1933

Dear John

Your book came at a very good time. I kept it till yesterday when I finished a rather hard spell of work and felt much in need of rest and distraction. But it has a core of hardness in it too, which I like just now, as I am feeling for various reasons rather grim but enduring. I wonder if there are such fine people in the world as you write about: I say I wonder in the literal sense - I don't mean I think there arent but that I don't know.

Your books, at least the best ones of which there are plenty, always make me feel a second-rate, lucky little person, which it is good to feel pretty often, for it is at least half and perhaps ¾ of the truth; the remaining ¼ I reserve to feed the peacock that lurks in the heart of each of us. I've so far finished the war and am in the middle of the arctic adventure. I foresee I shall read it all with great pleasure.

I hope Cromwell is marching indefatigably on. I look forward greatly to your visit here in autumn and I sincerely hope (as you have as good as promised) also a visit at Hallington too, with at least one of your family. I shall publish the last of Anne in May, I hope.

I'm glad for both govt. & country that this partial revival in trade & better news from India takes off the edge of the conference and the débacle.

No answer.

GMT