Romance

Barbara Cartland ‘The Queen of Romance’ best-selling author of romantic fiction. Typed Letter Signed to Philip Dosse proprietor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ responding to his praise of a speech she has given.

rif. 25527 — ‘From: Miss Barbara Cartland D.ST.J.’ 1 October 1979; on letterhead of Camfield Place Hatfield Hertfordshire. See her entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse often addressed as in this letter as ‘Dossé’ was proprietor of Hansom Books publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See ‘Death of a Bookman’ by the novelist Sally Emerson editor of ‘Books and Bookmen’ at the time of Dosse’s suicide in Standpoint magazine October 2018. 1p 12mo. In good condition lightly aged. Folded once for postage. Large and ebullient signature in red felt-tip pen. After thanking him for his ‘sweet letter and all the nice things you say’ she continues: ‘I was so touched that you liked my speech and what you told me about the review of Lord Mountbatten’s book.’ Meeting Dosse was ‘lovely’ and she thinks that Books and Bookmen is ‘absolutely brilliant and I enjoy every word of it’. She ends in the hope that Dosse will one day ‘come down here for lunch my sons are always here on Sundays’. ‘From: Miss Barbara Cartland, D.ST.J.’ 1 October 1979; on letterhead of Camfield Place, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. unknown