LAWRENCE (Frieda, 1879-1956, wife of the author D. H. Lawrence)

Autograph letter signed to "Grace, Lawrence, Margot" (Grace Rogers, the artist) saying that they had written her "such an enchanting trinity of a letter, thank you very much - It pleased me so much that I dashed into Florence & bought some of the paper, that Lawrence and I bought in the past, it may come in useful. Well, I know you will rejoice with me, no operation was necessary so I am a fraud, very glad to be one - I am quite alone & realised how alone one is these days. Orioli & Douglas I think got scared, thinking they might have a really sick woman on their hands, so they went away, but Giglioli the doctor is awfully good. The sun is gorgeous & I wish you could all appear here & I'd show you all the lovely places, one day you must - you sound so jolly and busy - soon I'll come back, I'll let you know when ... I feel fit & wont [sic] to win ... Medley comes here on the first to take Orioli's & Douglas evidence ...", 2 sides 4to., Pensione Bal[l]estri, Firenze, no date circa end of 1931 or beginning of somewhat stained and lacking the bottom corners without loss of text

In 1919, while Frieda went first to see her relatives in Germany, Lawrence went to Italy, arriving in Florence on the 19th November. He stayed at the Pensione Balestri till 9th December 1919 and later recommended it to his friends. He also contacted the writer Norman Douglas, who from 1920 to 1937 lived with the Florentine publisher Giuseppe ('Pino') Orioli. Douglas and Lawrence became firm friends, later falling out and reconciling.
At the time of this letter, Charles Douglas Medley, 1870-1963, the London solicitor, was acting for Frieda over the probate of Lawrence's will. On the letter, at the head, she has written, upside down, "I don't think I'd like the Pepys spinet, it might be spiteful". Frieda came to London for the probate hearing in January 1932 and wrote to Grace, inviting her to tea at her hotel, and bringing a scarf for her and for her daughter Margot {later Margot Sharman). Grace was a friend of John Middleton Murry, and at the latter's Adelphi Centre Summer School in Essex, in August 1936, gave a talk on 'Society and the Family'.

Item Date:  1932

Stock No:  37147      £475

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