Letter

Scope and Content

Letter from RD to his brother John, relating to: his parents, who are now staying with John; RD's forthcoming move to Liverpool Repertory Company; his recovery from a recent nose operation; a recent radio play; his current reading matter (Howard Carter on Tutankhamun's tomb); the importance of reading widely, and his own practice of reading multiple books at one time (his current reading matter also includes Dickens, Keats, Galsworthy, Hardy and [Arthur Conan Doyle]); the possibility of visiting his family across the Atlantic, and trying his hand at talking films; his hope of gaining varied acting experience before perhaps devoting himself to Shakespeare [in the role of actor-manager]; his personal life, including the ending of his relationship withElaine [an actress he met in Alfred Wareing's company] and the break-off of his engagement with Ella, with whom, nevertheless, he is still in love.

Dated at: Alderley Edge [Cheshire]. Holograph.