Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Elses Farm, The Weald, Kent. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/69
[printed address cut off] The Weal, Nr Se
4.ix.06
My dear Gordon,
I can't tell you how glad I am of your letters and your proofs. My delay is such to my being away from Thursday until Tuesday. Your praise has delighted me and I feel that I can hardly ever be quite down hearted again. It was - you will understand - particularly good to have you sharing my own preferences. The articles you like best I also thought best and you do indeed fortify me in some timid measure of confidence. I think the 'Earth Children' - the old man and his wife - the best thing of all, and am only surprised that you seemed to think I should disagree.
The way you have corrected my proofs is wonderful. I adopt every suggestion that you make, and only where you are uncertain have I left things as they were - once. I know, in the detriment of this sense, ut that can't be expected. Do you notice how careless of the minutiae of form I get - long rambling sentences which I know to be imperfect? I hope it means that I am getting into a truer method and not merely
[printed address spit] ld, Sevenoaks
becoming a pure journalist.
I know you are right about the piling up of landscapes - but then could I in the time I had have made a good book as well as make good chapters? I am not sure about the formality of my murderer's talk. It was so easy to know it with colloquial forms that I hesitated. But I can't feel sure that the dialogue is really natural.
About Adelaide in my 'Golden Age' - there is no reference to anything except an episode at the time of waiting it and I have therefore killed her and thrown her away. Thanks for Hardy. I hesitate between your choice and 'A Darkling Thrush' in Poems Past and Present'. Tranter Sweatley is too long.
I will hole at Allingham's poem. Of Barnes I already have the 'great old work' and a description of an old farmhouse, both pretty good, yet I will look at "A comon Sun from Gramger's". Davenant's poem is too well known, and I have never felt it to be very good
about [illegible], I think 'The Davismaids to Pan' or something from Midsummer Eve, but perhaps the sheep-shearing girls, in which I can't altogether like the rough rusticity of the intention. 'Sanctuaries' I like, especially verse II, yet so far (in haste) I quarrel with 'one fluttering mote and blind' and seem to allow more fulfilment to the idea than you have really got into such a small space.
I can't agree with you about your expecting to salute all beauty in English things any more than you could salute beauty in what is loveliest to West Africans or Australian aborigines. It is too godlike - not for a claim - but it is an achievement. You shall have Doughty soon. He refuses in admirable English to let me use a page of him in my anthology.
You will see that I have tried to get away from oast houses in there last proofs. Shall I cut some of 'ein out? You will dislike all the mountains, but not all the sea, - and will you come for 'the fox hunt'? It has been

doctored a little by a gent who says he knows how short stories should be wrote.
I must see 'The Column'. Yes, you told me about Dalman. By the way, can you use anything of the magnificent lady, Lawrence Hope, in your anthology? - see her 'Indian Love', 'Garden of Kama', 'Stars of the Desert' (Heineman). Or Morley Roberts' 'Songs of Energy'.
Goodbye. I have already written 4 letters to naturalists, one to Fisks Unwin (who wants a book once more), and many more, since I got home, and it is still 'speechless heat.' Forgive me for being short.
Helen's and my love to Emily and you.
Ever yours
Edward Thomas
PS Dent is in a hurry for the proofs. Can I have them within a week?