My dear Mrs Ritchie I am impelled to write to you by your Introduction to Miss Mitford’s Our Village which delights me much. I too have driven through Three Mile Cross and have been much disappointed except that I saw the blessing of wearing rose coloured spectacles I remember it used to be said that Miss Mitford complimented all the neighbouring young ladies but when I read her life I saw that her admiration was ... continue reading

Dear Mr Craik I cannot at all tell whether this is the right length, as the only ‘Golden Treasuries’ I have seen are my own and I do not think they have introductions.

I can easily add biographical details if you wish it to be longer - but I like to write to my own sense of the needs of the subject and to add or diminish afterwards as required.

Do you know whether Mrs Ritchie is abroad. ... continue reading

My dear Miss Christie

I had just been thinking of you, being reminded of your work by the review of Mrs. Ritchie's book, one which carries one along with it entirely, though I am not sure that her power is not greater in sketches of character in real life than in the construction of stories. Indeed she is too true to nature to satisfy one always with poetical justice, which, after all, one does ... continue reading