Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Minsmere, Dunwich, Suffolk. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/101
Minnsimere [illegible]
Dunwich
Saxmundham
Suffolk
7-ii-08
Dear Gordon
There seemed just a machine [sic] lately for turning out lengths of stuffiness almost copying everyday - some days I
had to jive up to reviewing, those days! I fear the brave
days when I could make a fine living from the Chronicle
alone are gone: for 6 to 8 months I have had
less than 1/2 of my old amount of reviewing printed and therefore less than 1/2 of my old earnings. Milne is (unintentionally
I firmly believe) so neglected and rude that I have
several times vowed to throw them over before they throw
me, and see what I can make by books alone over
almost alone. But I fear quantities of books would
soon reduce such quality as I have. So I hang about
the skirt of the 1/2d Press. I have got tomorrow
after all ( there was a doubt): and that must be a
bad book unless I get really well and incredibly
exuberant.
I don't know a bit what Jeffries will be like.
I have had to gush so much in order to make my
special claims for him quite dear and I shall be honoured