James (Edward, art patron, 1907-84) Archive of 24 Letters, envelopes and notes, 6 photographs, and 3 pamphlet volumes of poetry to his Secretary Charlotte Worth, correspondence 100pp., v.s., 18th October 1979 - 10th July 1980 & n.d., on a variety of subjects, including: convalescing from an operation in Houston, Tax authorities and income from trees on the estate, a visit to a neighbour's garden party and having to write a label of introduction he writes, "Anonymous Deaf Mute" and touring the sloping garden to view the work of local artists who seem to be imitating Utrillo, "Dali once asked me, back in the early 1930's 'Why do you suppose Utrillo paints tout avec le kaka d'hirondelles...'", complaining about postal clerks, a short visit to Sark, "Have you ever voyaged to that enchanted isle? In the months of April and May the whole island looks a vivid blue: not just the proverbial blue of distance. No it is the blue from the disdance... Oh do mean 'distance' and close too because of the bluebells, which grow and bloom in the woods, but also in the 'turfy mountains where live nibbling sheep', out in the open. The above line is from Milton; but the word 'disdance' was due to three stout cocktails on an empty stomach", working in his garden at Xilita, Mexico, "All morning, all afternoon and all evening, I have been going about my chores in this my beloved jungle - in a sort of world of emerald trauma... overseeing the builders and planting new trees and rose bushes - they the trees and I are intoxicated by the golden light", a letter described as a stream of consciousness, "... you will see, it is a jumble of nature worship, gossip and reminiscences from various layers of the past, William Blake as a visionary, asking for news of Gerald Heard, "When Christopher Isherwood - another favourite disciple approached that state when he felt, 'The Dark Night of the Soul' coming down on him, he simply gave up being 'good' for good - and latterly turned into one of the nastiest and most spiteful men I have ever known", acceptance by Aldous Huxley, "Both Huxley and the kind little Swami accepted me for what and who I was ...", the woods about Monkton [Sussex] etc., written in a variety of coloured inks, folds; and another, Charlotte Worth's address to the Edward James Symposium, typescript, 11pp., "personal experiences with the most charming, irritating, erudite, perverse and endlessly fascinating man I have ever met"; 6 fine Damask Monogrammed napkins and a table cloth, v.s., v.d. (qty in 2 boxes).
⁂ "The most charming, irritating, erudite, perverse and endlessly fascinating man I have ever met." - Charlotte Worth.
Charlotte Worth (1915-96), James's secretary for over thirty years.