Details
SIEGFRIED SASSOON (1886-1967)
A 2pp. a.l.s., signed with initials, dated Heytersbury (cold storage), 20.2.56., to H.M. Tomlinson discussing the harsh winter, Thomas Hardy, literary critics, and his own work: 'This afternoon, in snow showers, I was hacking the ice out of a cattle trough, frozen half solid. Three large cows and a party of heifers stood around, personally interested. I thought of T.H.'s quintessential T.H. poem as I fraternized with "The meek mild creatures", nor did it occur to one of them there to doubt that I was doing them a good turn. ...[Sir Herbert Read] went on to assert that I am no longer the man who wrote "Counterattack" ... he is a crank of the first order. And in 1930 he wrote a review of "The Infantry Officer" in which he said that what was wrong with it was that it wasn't the real War at all -- just a foxhunting man indulging in literary artistry! ... Why is it, that to so many clever people, essential humanity is an unknown quantity.' essential humanity essential humanity is an unknown quantity.'
A 2pp. a.l.s., signed with initials, dated Heytersbury (cold storage), 20.2.56., to H.M. Tomlinson discussing the harsh winter, Thomas Hardy, literary critics, and his own work: 'This afternoon, in snow showers, I was hacking the ice out of a cattle trough, frozen half solid. Three large cows and a party of heifers stood around, personally interested. I thought of T.H.'s quintessential T.H. poem as I fraternized with "The meek mild creatures", nor did it occur to one of them there to doubt that I was doing them a good turn. ...[Sir Herbert Read] went on to assert that I am no longer the man who wrote "Counterattack" ... he is a crank of the first order. And in 1930 he wrote a review of "The Infantry Officer" in which he said that what was wrong with it was that it wasn't the real War at all -- just a foxhunting man indulging in literary artistry! ... Why is it, that to so many clever people, essential humanity is an unknown quantity.' essential humanity essential humanity is an unknown quantity.'