Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from Elses Farm, The Weald, Kent. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/21
1 Gunter Grove
20.x.04

My dear Gordon,
I have not been able to
find a pleasant hour for writing to you
from here. For I have done much work,
my room is so hideous & homeless that
I have been able to attempt little else, & after
work I have rushed to some distraction,
seldom to books, seldom to writing. And
now I am worse off than ever.
For I have just been asked to
write a book on Wales for Blacks. The
fools of course have waited until the last
moment & I expect to have less than three
months for the whole. So I am off to
Wales next week to see some of the country
I know & to make plans & to get into
condition. Meantime I have work to
finish & plans for travel to make & people
to see; & there can be no letter. I am very
sorry indeed. But do help to keep me
alive by sending me a letter sometimes.
It is pleasant to live close
to Ransome, by the way. I don't know what
I should have done without him, with no
other human being within 3 miles.
I have several several tunes for 'The
Gate of Smaragdus' at the "World'
office, & don't suppose it ever got there. I
will try again. If Mathews sent it to
'The Week's Survey', I would try to get
it from the editor. What do you think?
By the way, if you have anything
to lend that might help me in 'Wales', do
sent it (to Elses Farm, not here, tho
I shall be here for another week)
I am glad you like the photograph,
& much surprised & amuse at the supposed
resemblance to Beardsley.
With my love to you all,

Ever yours
Edward Thomas