MANUSCRIPT LETTERS and DOCUMENTS. This is a most remarkable ...

Estimate

£60 - £120

MANUSCRIPT LETTERS and DOCUMENTS. This is a most remarkable set of letters written and received by an upper middle class lady and her daughter (including examples from the lady's two husbands and her acquaintances) for the period 1930s-1960s. Contained in three small briefcases with a few keepsakes (pens, stamps etc.). Also included are marriage and divorce certificates. The story as far as we can discern is that the lady married her first husband in the mid-30s. He was in the war and letters are exchanged. They appear to have had one daughter, educated at a public school who has various health problems. There are letters from various London doctors, for example. The marriage then broke down and the lady fell in love with another man whose marriage has also failed. She 'follows' him out to Egypt where he is with a British military community. At one point, the clergyman at the mission gets involved, writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury for guidance. It appears the pair are living together and this is causing some disquiet in the ex-pat community. The archbishop repiles explaining that as they have broken their vows, they cannot take part in Holy Communion, going on to suggest that they should live apart for a year and must take a vow of celibacy even after the year apart if they want to take part in church services (they are allowed to attend). It's rather heartbreaking: they 'cannot bear to be parted'. They do appear to marry and come back to England. The daughter appears to be much improved as an adult and has kept all of these letters and the ones she receives. There is a real sense of how, by the 60s thinbgs have changed (the daughter has a job in London). All letters are articulate and tell a remarkable story. The insights into the mores, expressions and culture of the time make this a fascinating survival, despite, perhaps making the reader feel a little intrusive. Includes telegrams. There is too much material for us to have been able to read everything which also includes: various receipts; banking/investment information of the time; letters from L-Gen C.H.P.Harington 'Middle -East Command'; day-to-day appointment diaries and more.