The following samples taken from a correspondence with Sylvia Townsend Warner, beginning in 1922 and ending a few weeks before her death in 1978, may enable the reader to guess at the quality of a friendship which was enhanced by appreciation of each other's work.

David Garnett

The Nonesuch Press, 16, Great James St, London WC1

Dearest Sylvia,

I was glad to see your hand, though the grey-bordered note-paper portended a sorrow-a death? an animal's death? Or stolen from Vogue?

About Theo [Theodore Francis Powys] : the order of events was this: In the winter of 1921-January or Feb. or possibly Dec. 1920-Tommy [the sculptor, the Hon. Stephen Tomlin] came about 5 o'clock to 19 Taviton st. We talked about Brancusi. He had come to see if we had some Maillol book. I began talking about sculpture and Brancusi whose work I had very much admired in 1913 at the Albert Hall exhibition-before I knew any artists or their work. We became interested in each other. He rushed off & we met again and dined together at Gustave's that evening. Soon after I was invited to Chaldon. At Chaldon Tommy said there was a neighbour who would probably come in-who wrote etc. etc. . . But Tommy was interested in it. He was a solitary but not the bore one would have expected I gathered. Theo came in & I was very much struck by his politeness & his charm. It ...