Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Wick Green, Petersfield, Hampshire. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/159
WICK GREEN
PETERSFIELD

4. viii 11

My dear Gordon,

God bless you and I
wish could persuade him to do
something really substantial, such as
pay your fare here & keep you well which
you were here. You were mostly right
about the French - The reason I did
not mention Axel is that I had not read
it. I tried last year to get a copy
with out doing the obvious thing - ordering
it at Hachettes', so I did not get it.
But the fact is my knowledge of French
literature is all so sketchy - specially
later 19th century - that I couldn't have
filled up the gaps by any conceivable effort
for this occasion. So I treat him as if he
were an English author Bu the way
Sturge Moore's "Mariamne" is about his
best play. He will soon be doing one in
prose. I should think this would be
perfect on the stage. No damned poetry about
it & yet a very wonderful piece of art.
I look forward to Abercrombie's poem
but not to its dedication.
By the way, have you got "Mariamne'
because if not, you shall have it?
I am writing away furiously at
my [illegible] way. half archeological
writing. Half guidebook. The other half
diluted me.
Yours ever & Emilys'
E T