International Autograph Auctions Ltd.
Los 161
‘It was probably the proudest moment of my life’DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. An early, lengthy A.L.S., Daphne, six pages, 4to, Bodinnick, n.d. (‘Bank Holiday’), to [Foy Quiller-Couch]. Du Maurier commences her letter in a playful, jovial manner, announcing ‘This is quite absurd, if you send me any more little “chits” from railway stations I shall take aeroplane at once and come and find you’ and continues ‘If you have already lost your ticket and your luggage I tremble to think what you will lose next – No, I hav’nt “told Mother” but I think you deserve to be spanked….Is this the efficient mysteriously intriguing person who rescues Japanese sailors and cooks chops over a camp fire? No – she’s a sham, she’s a pathetic little Victorian lady….who can’t journey to see her nurse without disaster overtaking her! Oh Gosh….as a matter of fact its typical of you and is causing me exquisite joy!’ Du Maurier continues to send news of her recent activities, ‘My last 2 days have been exciting. Believe it or not Grose honoured me by inviting me to sail “Jigsaw” with him last Saturday afternoon. It was probably the proudest moment of my life. He said to me “I want to see you sail her, Miss, you’re no greenhorn”, and I felt like the Black Prince winning his spurs! We led out of the harbour with a corking start….and I can’t even explain what I felt, except that I was sailing your boat for you and nothing mattered in the world. Well, to come to earth….a few others crept up and passed us, my bad sailing I expect, though Grose with exquisite delicacy blamed the freshening wind!’ and further recounts ‘as we sailed to our moorings old Moon….called out “It’s your first race isn’t it?” and before I could meekly reply Grose shouted out “Yes – and she’s done very well”!! What a marvellous person he is!’ before also writing of another outing, ‘Sunday I sailed in Marie Louise in a very strong northerly wind….and our engine wasn’t working so we just had to sail in and out….the wind was strong. It was grand. Coming in the wind fell light, and we had to sail to our berth which was utterly hemmed in by yachts, awfully sort of coping, well anyway we did it – I had the helm all the time, and the Diana crew watched looking very sheepish! Listen – are you bored? I don’t know, I felt p’raps you’d be glad we did it – say you’re glad’. Du Maurier concludes her social letter by writing of various features of home life in Cornwall shared by herself and her friend, ‘…Menabilly before dawn….the smell of honeysuckle, and all the azalias (sic) in the world’. Some very light, extremely minor age wear at the folds of the letter, otherwise VG Foy Quiller-Couch - daughter of British writer Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863-1944), and a life-long friend of Du Maurier. Indeed, Du Maurier was accompanied by Foy Quiller-Couch when she became inspired with the storyline for her novel Jamaica Inn, mentioned in the present letter. In 1930 the two ladies were staying at Jamaica Inn and went riding on Bodmin Moor. They became lost in bad weather conditions and apparently sheltered for some time in a derelict cottage on the moor but were eventually led back to Jamaica Inn by their horses. Grose, the gentleman whom Du Maurier refers to being accompanied by on her sailing trips, was the landlord of Jamaica Inn.
