BIB_ID
80013
Accession number
MA 8943
Creator
Bell, Robert Courtenay, 1816-1896.
Display Date
1894 January 13.
Credit line
Purchased, 1969.
Description
1 item (2 pages) ; 20.4 x 13.2 cm
Notes
Previously accessioned as MA 4452 and previously attributed, in error, to Robert Anning Bell.
The letter is addressed "My dear Kicky". Kicky was Du Maurier's nickname.
Bell's wife, Clara Bell (1834-1927) wrote to Du Maurier on the same day sending her congratulations on the first chapter of Trilby. (MA 8940). She incorrectly gives the year as 1893, but Trilby was first published in Harper's in 1894. This letter correctly provides the year.
The letter is addressed "My dear Kicky". Kicky was Du Maurier's nickname.
Bell's wife, Clara Bell (1834-1927) wrote to Du Maurier on the same day sending her congratulations on the first chapter of Trilby. (MA 8940). She incorrectly gives the year as 1893, but Trilby was first published in Harper's in 1894. This letter correctly provides the year.
Provenance
Purchased on the Fellow Fund, 1969.
Summary
Congratulating him on the first chapter of "Trilby" and expressing his delight with the characters and the illustrations; commenting on the character of the girl and saying "I have always resented the one sided justice of the world a man may err a thousand times with no extenuating circumstances and [illegible] aggravation of his offence, and is hardly blamed [-] an unfortunate girl slips and all is over no forgiveness & no hope of pardon, but I must not try your eyes with my feeble moralities. The only drawback to my pleasure is the waiting for a month for another instalment, my banking propensities will creep out and I hope sincerely that Messrs Harper will act generously by artist & author. I was glad to see that Gerald has his foot on the ladder, Yates I see in the World managed skilfully to give him a little mention;" sending his good wishes to his wife and his hopes "...for the coming year & that Trilby may go on prospering from month to month."
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