ELIOT, T. S — TYPED LETTER SIGNED (TLS)

London. One-1/2 page typed letter on both sides of THE CRITERION stationery SIGNED by the poet and addressed to “Mrs. Roberts.” Eliot asks what topics would be appropriate for a speech he is to give for the “St. George's Renovation Fund.” He writes, in part: “...in order to make it easier for me, I should be grateful I if you would give me some notion (1) of the kind of subject suitable and (2) of the kind of audience you expect. (1) really depends on (2). Will it be parishioners, or people interested in literature, or interested in something; or will it be prosperous snobs whose half-guineas we are to extract for a good purpose? Perhaps it would help me if I knew who are the other speakers, and what they are to talk about. You see, it is rather important to me to be able to prepare something that I could use later in some other way. I will make suggestions for a chairman, if necessary, when I hear from you.” SIGNED “T. S. Eliot” with an annotation in blue ink in another hand at the end: “He spoke about Dante, and Susan Stebbing took the chair.”. Lightly toned with smoothed folds; minor edgewear. Near Fine