MEYNELL (Viola, 1885-1956, Writer, Novelist and Poet)

Autograph Letter Signed to 'Dear Sir Ronald' (STORRS ) (Sir Ronald Henry Amherst, 1881-1955, Near Eastern Expert and Governor) telling him that "so much of Francis Thompson's handwriting is in pencil, & so much of it unsigned, that a letter in ink, & with the signature, seems the best thing to send you. The article by my mother which it refers to is one called 'At Monastery Gates' which was reprinted in The Spirit of Place in 1896. It was written after she & my father had visited Francis Thompson at the monastery (Franciscan) at Pantasaph. I cannot convey to you - & you can never find out for yourself - how pleasant it is to sit next to you at luncheon. And thank you again for your book. I didn't realise it was inscribed until I opened it in the train ... to my great pleasure ...", 1 side 8vo., Greatham, Pulborough headed paper, 8th July

Her parents were Wilfrid Meynell and Alice Thompson Meynell, noted Roman Catholic publishers and writers. Her father was a publisher and her mother was the sister of the well-known artist Lady Butler. Her parents had a chaotic and busy literary household in Palace Court, Nottinghill Gate. There was a constant stream of visitors such as Eric Gill, Robert Browning, Stevenson, Henley, Coventry Patmore, George Meredith, Francis Thompson, Stephen Phillips, W. B. Yeats, G. K. Chesterton, Shane Leslie, Sir Ronald Storrs and others more or less renowned.

Item Date:  1947

Stock No:  40886      £75

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