FORSTER (Alice Clara, née Whichelo, d. 1945, mother of novelist E.M. Forster)

Autograph postcard signed, to Miss Hughes at 33 Marine Parade, Dover, thanking her for "this pretty little basket. It is many years since I walked through the Arc de Triomphe", and asking her to thank also "Miss P. for the card she so kindly sent me", on the verso is an attractive photograph of the pine woods at Holmbury St Mary, 1 side card, West Hackhurst, 10th June two minute pinpricks in top margin, very faint vertical crease

Alice Clara Whichelo, known as 'Lily', married Forster's architect father in 1877. Her husband died in 1880 when Forster was not two years old. West Hackhurst at Abinger Hammer, Surrey, was left to E.M.F. in 1924 by his Aunt Laura, for whom his father had built it, and Forster and his mother settled there at the end of 1925. He bought a neighbouring wood to forestall developers. Alice died in March 1945, and Forster on returning from India found that he had to give up the house, which was leasehold. Shortly afterwards he made his home at King's College, Cambridge.
Miss Hughes and Miss Phillips were the landladies of his great friend the author Joe Ackerley who lodged with them.

Item Date:  1938

Stock No:  52730      £45

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