Love Letters: Leonard Woolfe and Trekkie Ritchie Parsons, 1941-1969"It was the middle of the Second World War, and Trekkie, a painter and book illustrator, was married to the publisher Ian Parsons, who later became Leonard's colleague. Leonard was 61, Trekkie 39. He wanted her to get a divorce and marry him but instead she persuaded him to move next door in London and spent the weekends with him at Monks House in Rodmell. When Ian came back from the war, the Parsons moved into the flat above Leonard's, and also bought a house near his in Sussex. Trekkie was a feisty, principled, Scottish feminist - she had never wanted a husband and now, it seemed, she had two at once. She spent the weekends with Ian and the week with Leonard: she took holidays with them separately, acted as hostess for them both, and told no-one about the way they lived. The arrangement worked smoothly for the next twenty-five years - an inventive and honest solution for a woman who loved two men in different ways at the same time.When Trekkie and Leonard were not together they talked by post - a letter scribbled while she cooked the dinner could reach him before breakfast the next morning. Apart from a handful of letters, no one has read their correspondence, which Trekkie sea |
From inside the book
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Page 14
... Rodmell . Yours ever T. 19 : Saturday [ 13 February 1943 ] My dear Leonard Vic Sq I could have come another night when you were going to be in town . I feel rather appalled that you should come on purpose , I know the painting is dull ...
... Rodmell . Yours ever T. 19 : Saturday [ 13 February 1943 ] My dear Leonard Vic Sq I could have come another night when you were going to be in town . I feel rather appalled that you should come on purpose , I know the painting is dull ...
Page 117
... Rodmell . You spoil me so for the hard world . I am coming on Thursday all the same . Love T. 146 : [ probably Monday 13 March 1944 , left at 24 Victoria Square ] Dearest L. Am doing the shopping . Will be back in 1⁄2 an hour & come in ...
... Rodmell . You spoil me so for the hard world . I am coming on Thursday all the same . Love T. 146 : [ probably Monday 13 March 1944 , left at 24 Victoria Square ] Dearest L. Am doing the shopping . Will be back in 1⁄2 an hour & come in ...
Page 118
... Rodmell as Pat says he ( Ian ) might have to hang about so I have cabled him to ring Rodmell on arrival in Scotland . If I hear no more I will most likely come . My nose is bad my cough is better my rib is the same . Love T. If a small ...
... Rodmell as Pat says he ( Ian ) might have to hang about so I have cabled him to ring Rodmell on arrival in Scotland . If I hear no more I will most likely come . My nose is bad my cough is better my rib is the same . Love T. If a small ...
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Common terms and phrases
afternoon arrived asked August beautiful believe called cold coming course darling dear Dearest dinner don't door everything eyes face feel felt flowers Friday friends garden give glad head hear hope July kind last night leave Leonard letter Lewes lithography lived London look lunch mean meeting Miss Monday Monk's House morning never nice October once painting Parsons perhaps Press probably published rain returned Ritchie Rodmell Rose round seems sent September side sitting stay Sunday suppose talk tell Thank thing thought Thursday tiger told took trees Trekkie Tuesday turned usual Victoria Square walk weather Wednesday week wind wish Woolf write written wrote yesterday