Letter from Edward Thomas to the poet Gordon Bottomley. Sent from c/o Victoria St, Llaugharne, Carmarthenshire. Archival ref: 424/1/1/1/10/164
℅ Mrs Wilkins
Victoria St
Llaugharne
Caermarthenshire

4 xi:11

Dear Emily,
Thank you very much for your letter. It
made me wish again that I had not been in such a
hurry. But the fact is I meant to begin
my book before the end of October. Then came
the offer which made it possible to set away &
I was itching to begin - not from love of the
thing but from a simple desire to prove to
myself once more that I could begin a long task.
Well I have begun & my wrist is sore with
it after 3 days. I got lodgings here on
Thursday & am quite satisfied. The woman
is kind & not too inquisitive. She gets the
freshest of fish I & I have perfect silence &
the estuary on which Llaugharne & its castle
stand is very noble, guarded by two wooded
cliffy headlands & for my southeast
is the mountainous outline, Gower &
Worms Head. I don't know anybody here. But I
get out for 2 or 3 hours a day & try not to
overwork. I should have been wretched company
for Gordon at present. I have not a spark of
life except what gets into my fountain pen. Still,
if only I could look in. If I get on well with
my work & feel that a change would not upset
it I may come see you yet: or if not before
Christmas - when I shall probably go home - then
afterwards. I hope Gordon will be getting
through his stages as easily & quickly as
possible. It is a pity he is not better fitted
for the world & the world not better fitted for me. Ask him when he is better please
to tell me something to say about Borrow:
Please! Goodby & blame or thank
my wrist for giving away so soon.
Yours ever
Edward Thomas