Has received his letter but wants to think about proposal from Reader's Book Club. Not sure she wants her income increased, with income tax taking so much of it. Believes this would cut into regular sales. News from England very bad. Wonders if even Churchill is losing his strength. Undset's book about escape from Norway and journey through Russia is extraordinary. Wishes she had titled it more simply. Willa Cather. P.S.: Has thought about it and does not agree. [Stout #1571]
Please tell Carrie, will write as soon as possible. Was selecting some books from her shelf to send to military camps and found the enclosed about Prague; thought they would enjoy it. Has read Sigrid Undset's book about escape from Norway and except for the title likes it very much. Undset found Russia simply filthy but managed to take an interest in it nonetheless. Fears there will be strong public reaction against Undset's admiration for Japan, but she will not take back what she believes. Willie [Stout #1572]
Please come to dinner at seven on Saturday. Sorry for the short notice, but is on a tight schedule. Is beginning to feel like herself again, and no longer dismal. Would love to see her. [Stout #1583]
Please come to dinner at seven on Saturday, June 6, if she is in town. Seeing Undset again would be a great joy. Is not an invalid now [Stout #1584]
What a heartwarming little book! [Undset's memoir for children Happy Times in Norway, published by Knopf in 1942] It flooded her with memories of days when the world was free, and the beautiful, variegated pattern of different countries lay under a sky undarkened by death. Spent a dreary summer drearily, hospitalized four weeks for removal of gall bladder. Has had a slow recuperation, which has tried her patience. Has been here in the Berkshires a few weeks, and has enjoyed the quiet. Will leave for Boston tomorrow. [Stout #1594]
Received her letter before she left Williamstown. Is amazed she was able to coax the gardenia plant into a second bloom. Has never been able to do so herself. War news is looking hopeful. Looks forward to seeing her. Housekeeper has been ill, but they've had rugs and curtains out for cleaning and the apartment is getting back to normal. [Stout #1597]
The narcissus she sent for Christmas was like a promise of spring, reminded her of Schubert's "Dream of Spring in Winter" [from Die Winterreise, 1827]. Has had a strange Christmas, both secretary and housekeeper ill for weeks and she and Miss Lewis on their own, with just a cleaning woman and a part-time housekeeper. Does not really mind washing dishes, but it keeps her from other things. Has not regained full strength, but has gained five pounds and can at last enjoy eating again, after months of feeling repelled by food even though hungry. This explains her seclusion recently. [Stout #1606]
Thanks for sending her retelling of the story of Thorgils and Thorfinn [Bulletin of St. Ansgar's Scandinavian Catholic League of New York no. 41, Feb. 1943: 1–6; summarizes the medieval Icelandic Floamanna Saga, about hardships endured by early settlers of Greenland and the hero Thorgils's miraculous suckling of his orphaned infant]. Has read it twice. The courage and trials of the early Norse explorers seemed to exceed anything in human experience. Wonders why God lets the long battle in Africa go on. [Stout #1625]
Enjoyed her article in the New York Times Book Review about the lost books of childhood. Would like to see her. Could she come to dinner at seven on Saturday? If she can, please telephone between one and two o'clock; the number is Regent 4-8354. [Stout #1646]
Is delighted with the lovely white calla lilies she sent, but it has been a terrible Christmas; feels impending horrors unparalleled and unknown. For the first time in her life feels afraid of the future—of losing everything she cherished in the world and all the finest youth of the world. The most devilish thing in the world is the cold pride of science, the absolute enemy of happiness. Please forgive such a dreary note for Christmas Day, but it is a dark time. [The horrors referred to are probably the report of the previous day's effort by some 1,300 U.S. bombers to knock out German secret weapons sites.] [Stout #1652]
