Accession number
PML 196058.1
Creator
Brittain, Vera, 1893-1970.
Credit line
Purchased on the Kenneth A. Lohf Fund, 2014.
Notes
The incident alluded to in the letter is described in Testament of Youth and in Brittain's published diary, Chronicles of Youth, in which Adelaide Punnett is referred to under her maiden name, Miss George.
Date of letter [i.e. 1934] derived from content, based on the book's publication date and the age of her son.
Date of letter [i.e. 1934] derived from content, based on the book's publication date and the age of her son.
Description
1 item (2 p.) ; 23 cm
Summary
Apologizing for not yet signing and returning the two books she had sent; assuring her she does indeed remember her, "for you are associated in my mind with one of the few happenings in that war which brought me real joy," referring to 5 July 1916 when Mrs. Punnett informed her that her brother, Edward Brittain, had arrived with casualties from the Battle of the Somme at the hospital where Brittain was working as a nurse and was "safe in [her] charge." ... "At least we had a few happy days together that summer before the war, which was ultimately to part us for ever." Mentioning the surprisingly enthusiastic reception of Testament of Youth in England and America and remarking upon her six-year-old son's extraordinary resemblance to Edward.
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