QUENTIN BELL ABOUT THE BLOOMSBURY GROUP BELL (Professor Quentin Claudian Stephen, 1910-1996, Painter, Sculptor, Potter, Author and Art Critic)

Fine Long Typed Letter Signed to Mrs Dupré (Catherine, 1926-2014, Writer) saying that he sees “the force of the arguments presented by Frances and the Masons and, if you are going to write about Bloomsbury, there is a lot to be said for seeing Charleston. The trouble is that I am cast in the role of a dragon and, when American Professors, Ph Ds, students etc etc tell me that they want to see Charleston I automatically adopt a draconian stance and say, ‘Mr Grant must not be disturbed’. If I did not his life would really become too difficult. But in your case I will abandon the role, you need hunt for no St George and no fire shall be exhaled in your direction. I think that probably its a very good idea that you should write a book about Bloomsbury, the more books that can be written by sensible and sensitive people the better chance there is that the flow of appalling journalistic rubbish that is talked about Bloomsbury may be checked. I read in today’s Guardian someone writing about Gertlers ‘Roundabout’ he says ‘it alarmed Bloomsbury’, what does the poor woman mean? Probably that she suspects that Lytton Strachey didn’t much care for it. Six years ago when Gertlers letters were published the voume. was reviewed in the same. journal and I daresay by the same journalist under the heading “Bloomsburys Pet Artist’. I must confess that these meaningless phrases irritate me a good deal... As for Holroyds book and mine they surely ought to provide the foundation of factual knowledge upon which writers like you, who have the imaginative insight... can build...”, 2 sides A4, with original envelope, Cobbe Place, Beddingham, Lewes, headed paper, 24th April

Bell was the son of Clive Bell and Vanessa Bell (née Stephen), and the nephew of Virginia Woolf (née Stephen). He was educated at the Quaker Leighton Park School and at Cambridge.
Duncan GRANT (1885-1978) was a Scottish painter and designer of textiles, pottery, theatre sets, and costumes. He was a member of the Bloomsbury Group. He lived at Charleston Farmhouse near Firle in Sussex.

Item Date:  1971

Stock No:  43685      £225

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