“I DO NOT WANT PETER TO APPEAR EVEN MORE OF AN INTELLECTUAL PRIG AND A PEDANT THAN HE ACTUALLY IS....” SAYERS (Dorothy L., 1893-1957, Detective Novelist, Creator of ‘Lord Peter Wimsey’)

Fine Typed Letter signed to Michael MacOWAN (1906-1980, Actor and Director) saying that he has “looked the thing up in Wyld, and so far as I can see you are quite right about the pronunciation of Donne. The past particle ‘done’ was apparently already pronounced ‘dun’ by the end of the 16th century. The tendency nowadays seems to be for the ordinary man to pronounce according to the spelling, and I left it like this since I do not want Peter to appear even more of an intellectual prig and pedant than he actually is! Nor did I want another long academic wrangle with Mr Arundell; but if your people pronounce it happily in the 17th century way I should not interfere with them, since you are perfectly correct...”, 1 side oblong 8vo., 24 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, headed paper, 29th November

She is doubtless referring to her best-known character, Lord Peter Wimsey.

Item Date:  1936

Stock No:  42552      £475

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