[Dodie Smith, author of 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians'.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'Dodie.') to 'Popie' [W. J. MacQueen-Pope], discussing her dalmatian dogs, failed musical, his latest book and offer of collaboration, petrol rationing.

See both their entries in the Oxford DNB. Two long letters. Both 2pp, 4to. Both letters on aged paper, creasing at the head. Each folded twice. Written in a close, elegant hand. ONE: 23 January 1957. Writing on behalf of herself and her 'friend' and business manager Alec Macbeth Beesley she begins: 'Our dear, dear Popie, | It really is fantastic. This morning I wrote you a tiny fan letter, combined with thanks for your radio mentions of me. I then carried it to the little pillar-box at the crossroads near here, in time to catch the 3.40 post. Soon, from my study window, I saw a nice bright Post Office van drive past to collect it. And on its way back the van delivered your lovely present of Nights of Gladness! [MP's history of the British 'Musical Play', just published] Thank you so very much - for the book and for the charming dedication.' She describes the 'spot' in which she thought she was placed, regarding the book, after he had mentioned in a letter that he was going to send it. 'But now all is well and it will join our much valued collection of your books - most of which came back from America with us. That is, it will join them after we have read it [...] The description of it on the wrapper would attract me even if I didn't know it was by you. I still find myself wishing I had had a hand in a musical comedy. It's a pity our Three for a Wedding never got itself born.' After discussing the 'posts' and a 'previous note' she ends in the hope that the book 'is having the great success all your books deserve to have'. TWO: 28 January 1957. After acknowledging his 'two letters' she refers to Henry Neville, noting 'I began my theatre going years before I could read. I had a theatre-mad family, thank heaven.' She notes that he is 'working on a musical play', adding that she has herself 'just cleared the decks to start work on a new play and I simply dare not distract myself from it or it may go right off the boil. (That happened over Three for a Wedding[]. A play I was planning before discussions started just melted into thin air.)' She discusses the slight possibility that they 'might get together' over MP's musical, adding: 'I don't, honestly, believe I am capable of writing the complete book of a musical and I am very bad at working on other people's ideas.' However she would 'love to try' and offer 'helpful thoughts': 'With musicals, it is the ideas which interest me. I feel lost as regards the actual writing of the book. That was why Three For a Wedding fell through. I had great fun, planning a huge, expensive show, and then could not tackle the writing.' She discusses at length the problems involved in visiting London: 'We have not spent a night there since we brought the dogs from quarantine and settled here nearly three years ago. We've only been up for the day half-a-dozen times - usually to the dentist - and then the dogs had to come with us and we had to have our lunch in the car with them.' Matters have worsened with the petrol rationing. 'So we really are isolated. Not that I mind that too much, especially when I am at work. This new idea of mine is the first one I've felt might be particularly right for the present day so I do want to work hard on it.' She turns in conclusion to MP's cats, and her own dogs: 'I haven't asked about Scruffy lately because I felt even such a phenomenal cat could hardly still be living. Only one of our dear dalmatians is left to us now: Dandy, aged 13 1/2. His father and mother, Buzz and Folly, lived to be 14 1/2. We do miss them. Much love from us both. As always, Dodie.' A postscript reads: 'I'm well into Nights of Gladness and loving it.' The novel, The Hundred and One Dalmatians was published the year before in 1956, the anumated feature film in 1961.