Argus

réf. 27102 — 4 January and 27 February 1941. Letter One 4 Jan. 1941 two pages 4tofold marks good condition. He's been asked about The Miscellany which never appeared. He avoids the subject and goes on to discuss his involvement with the book Trade Winds Christopher Morley and Old Q's Almanac and an eccentricity of Morley's "the exact date of the vernal equinox" so that he can sell a copy of the book no matter if open shop at 3a.m. He intends to edit a letter from Guthrie for "the Miscellany". He continues "The letters that I receive from England continue to be astounding. The magnificent courage of teh English in the face of the terror and the destruction that I have witness sic in the newseels is somethting too great to be expressed in words". He asks about the reception of the President's speech which represented the general view. The letter tails off with New Year's wishes etc.; Letter Two 27 February 1941 three pages 4to good condition. He explains how many copies he makes of letters and his exoresses astonishment that "all books we have ordered since the War started have been safely received.". He then comments on the "fire raod" that led to so much desruction of publishers' stocks "millions of books destroyed . but the spirit of the men who printed those cannot be destroyed". He discusses his policy of over-buying books from England. He is rearranging the look of his stock and culling it of those tht havene't sold. He mentions the effects of flu on staff and he has been working of Trade Winds.Then he mentions his working habits dictation at night etc followed by a critique of a Ford Madox Ford novel then quoting "Low Sarrett's Requiem for a Modern Croesus" claiming that he doesn't disoarage wealth. He would welcome it. "But love of wealth must be tempered with a love of wit or life is barren". He takes his leave. 4 January and 27 February 1941 unknown