[‘Isobel English’ (June Guesdon Braybrooke), novelist.] Two Autograph Letters Signed, one to Margaret (‘Peggie’) and Derek Stanford and the other to ‘Peggy’ alone, including a discussion of her relationship with Muriel Spark.

See her entry and that of her husband Neville Braybrooke in the Oxford DNB. ‘Peggy Stanford’ is Derek Stanford’s first wife Margaret (née Holdsworth), who wrote under the pen name ‘Margaret Philips’ (see his Guardian obituary, 26 March 2009). Two long letters, written in a neat close hand. Both in good condition and folded for postage. ONE (22 September 1973): To ‘Dear Derek and Peggie’ and signed ‘June’. 4pp, 12mo. With envelope addressed to the Stanfords at Seaford in Sussex. Having enjoyed their meeting the previous week she ‘kept saying to Neville: how I wished that you lived in Cowes'. (According to her ODNB entry 'From 1969 the Braybrookes divided their time between Gardnor Road and a house they bought at 29 Castle Road in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.') She continues: 'There are not many of one’s friends (either old or new), that it would be possible to envisage (with joy), sharing a small seaside town with’. She thanks him for ‘the lovely piece you have written about me. I found it nostalgic and moving - you have a very good memory; and the long backward glance is so very much in foccuss [sic] & so clearly defined’. She is flattered and praises his ‘perceptive’ assessment of her character, ‘and the perennial battle I fight against fear of being actually afraid . . . .’ Regarding Muriel Spark she writes: ‘Over Muriel: I did not consciously feel that I was ever deferring to her - not in those early days anyway. Later, it could have been the case, but by that time I would have done it more to placate her, in her new found glory: and because I am something of a chameleon; [sic] & if people are very certain of the kind of thing they want said t them - either in praise or agreement; then I will probably say it!’ She apologises over having ‘nicked’ his poem ‘& used it in Breath of Love’. She anticipates forthcoming reviews of her latest book (the collection of short stories ‘Life after All’) from ‘Kg’ in the Scotsman and Francis King in the Sunday Telegraph. ‘Did Neville tell you that I had a very nice & flattering letter from William Plomer a week ago last Monday. He wrote it on the Sunday. I had planned to answer it last Saturday; & then, I saw the Orbituary [sic] notice in the Times. I felt very sad.’ She ends by urging them to ‘come to the Island again soon’, recommending ‘a sort of shabby-grand & rather cosy hotel’. TWO (‘Tuesday’): To ‘Dear Peggy’ and signed ‘June’, with postscript signed ‘J.’ 4pp, small 4to. Bifolium of ruled paper extracted from exercise book. With respect to the Braybrookes’ two cats, she thanks the Stanfords for agreeing to ‘come and look after our Boys while we are away in Menton. I am dreadfully nervous about everything: the right clothes to pack, appearing in public, and finally the speech which I must make on Sunday at 5 pm - in French.’ Although ‘Neville will be very good at giving all the details about the running of the house & the feeding of the Boys’ she has decided to ‘add a few points’. These relate to heating and cover the following thirty-three lines, indicating an anxious and obsessive disposition. An eleven-line postscript concerns the animals’ movements (‘Both cats are very quick at running into wardrobes or drawers & also the airing-cupboard in the kitchen.’).