Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Elses Farm, The Weald, Kent. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/50
The Weald
11.1.06

My dear Gordon

Along with my Natural History
job I have accepted the position of
collaborator with Frank Podmore in
a series of articles on Apparitions, Thought-
Transference &c for The Grand Magazine.
He exudes information and I string it into
ropes & coils Of pearls. For this humble
Office I am paid 31/6 a 1000 words. There
was no choice: I cannot pay my rent or
anything but daily expenses just now, &
my prospects - since Harmsworth bought
the 'World' & the Academy took
to the paths of virtue which lead but to
the grave - are bad. Yet you
desert me and cannot produce a
prose poem on Pond Life in January. - So
far I have taken no notice of Fisher Unwin.
I thought of saying I would do a book on
The South Country - with more landscapes
& persons - but after all, why should I?

I read Midsummer Eve the
Other day with complete delight & shall

struggle to say so in a way that
please you. I shall not review you with
the Multitude : so you may have to wait.

The Acadamy(sic) sent your [illegible] elsewhere in
spite of my request & their promise.
The levity with which they treat Chronicle
reviewers is worthy of a better newspaper.

If I can't read Virgil to you at
Well Knoine I shall have proofs
Of articles on stoats, reptiles &c . In
any case I should like to come - and I do
know a few more songs which you
may be able to enjoy.

But I have only been able to do
three days work since Christmas until
Tuesday last : so I must haste to a
little ambuscade on that fat abbot -
Churton Collins - & some preparation
for my Ghost articles So goodbye
to the lady & you & our love
to all & a happy new year to the
lamp glass.
Edward Thomas

*The same one still
G.B.