![]() ![]() Hale wrote that up until 1935, “I had no feeling except of difficult but loyal friendship.” In the ensuing years, however, the two spent summers together with her relatives in England, and “I found by now that I had in turn grown very fond of him,” she said. In one dated August 2, 1934, Eliot addressed Hale as “Dearest Lady” and wrote that “I would literally give my eyesight to be able to marry you, though unworthy of such happiness.” Two years later, however, he married Cambridge governess Vivienne Haigh-Wood to, in his words, “burn my boats and commit myself to staying in England.” The pair separated in 1932, but stayed married until Haigh-Wood died in 1947 after spending a decade in a psychiatric hospital.Įliot and Hale exchanged affectionate missives in the meantime. Hale wrote that Eliot first professed his love for her around 1913, before moving to Europe. While researchers hope the letters give insight to a wide range of topics - Eliot’s experiences as a writer, critic and editor his conversion to Anglicanism and his thoughts regarding the contemporary literary scene - a cursory viewing revealed ample material for those who have long wondered about the extent of their romantic involvement. (Ashley Gamarello/courtesy of Princeton University Library) universities, including Scripps College in California.Īn envelope addressed to Emily Hale at 41 Brimmer Street in Boston, Massachusetts, handwritten by T.S. The two met in 1912 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but did not rekindle their friendship until 1927. Hale and Eliot exchanged letters for about 25 years, beginning in 1930. ![]() Many scholars consider Hale to have been Eliot’s close friend and muse, but have wondered about the nature of their relationship. He went on to write “The Waste Land,” “The Hollow Men” and “Four Quartets,” which are now considered classics.Įliot’s 1939 book of whimsical poetry, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” was adapted into “Cats,” the award-winning musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. ![]() He was only 26 when his poem “The Love Song of J. Louis in 1888, Eliot gained notoriety as a poet early in life. (Photo courtesy of Princeton University Library)īorn in St. Eliot poses for a photo with Emily Hale in Dorset, Vermont, during the summer of 1946. Vivienne nearly was the death of me, but she kept the poet alive.” In contrast, Eliot wrote, “Emily Hale would have killed the poet in me. I am grateful that this period brought some of his best writing.” WHYY thanks our sponsors - become a WHYY sponsorįor example, Hale wrote, “The memory of the years when we were most together, and so happy, are mine always. However, they offer conflicting portrayals of their intimate friendship. In dueling narratives about their relationship, the pair talk about the comfort they found in one another during Eliot’s unhappy marriage to his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood. (Shelley Szwast/courtesy of Princeton University Library) In his will, Eliot asked that Harvard publish his side of the story at the same time Hale’s collection was made public.Īn envelope in a bundle tied with ribbon is addressed to Emily Hale at her address in Massachusetts. Hale died four years later.Įliot had the letters Hale sent to him destroyed. In 1956, Hale donated the letters under an agreement they wouldn’t be opened until 50 years after either her or Eliot’s death, whichever came second. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale were unveiled at a Princeton University library on Thursday, revealing an intense, ill-fated love affair that spanned decades but apparently was never consummated. After more than 60 years spent sealed up at a storage facility, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |