PAYNE-TOWNSHEND (Charlotte Frances, 1857-1943, Irish Political Activist, Member of the Fabian Society and wife of George Bernard Shaw)

Autograph Note Signed, returning a printed card to the Secretary of the Friends of the Bodleian, regretting that she “cannot be present at...”, either the Annual Meeting or a performance of “The Taming of the Shrew”, 4½” x 3½”, 4 Whitehall Court, London, together with an unsigned image of Shaw, 7” x 5”, the card postmarked 3rd June

In July 1897, Charlotte proposed marriage to Shaw. He rejected the idea because he was poor and she was rich and people might consider him a "fortune-hunter". Charlotte decided to leave Shaw and went to live in Italy. However, in April 1898, Shaw had an accident; he was living at 29 Fitzroy Square with his mother. According to Shaw his left foot swelled up "to the size of a church bell". He wrote to Charlotte complaining that he was unable to walk. When she heard the news she travelled back to visit him at his home. Soon after she arrived on 1st May she arranged for him to go into hospital. Shaw had an operation that scraped the necrosed bone clean. Charlotte married Shaw on 1st June 1898, while recuperating from surgery. He was nearly forty-two; she was six months younger.

Item Date:  1938

Stock No:  42554      £125

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