Letter to Stephen and Agatha Fassett (from 3 Chalcot Square, London, England), 1960 May 14
Scope and Contents
Hughes provides an in-depth description of his and Sylvia Plath's return to England: "the perfect superhuman jungle, through which we have come" and the "two week ordeal of searching London for a flat" with the "baby so near." He credits "our saviors Bill & Dido [Merwin], & without them I don't know what we could have done." He describes how "Dido arranged for us to sign on with her doctor. He informed us that we were too late to get into any hospital--Sylvia would have to have the child at home." But, he states, "we had no home. " He recounts how "like Magic, at the last moment, Dido produced a small flat in a small square" and "Dido & Bill hovered like genuine angels." Then, he states, "at sunrise on April 1st, our little daughter arrived [...] We call the girl Frieda Rebecca. She has enormous eyes, of which she has just acquired free use: they stare at us in intense curiosity & amazement." He indicates that "Bill [W.S. Merwin] went off to their house in France last week, & Dido goes off today. He's lent me his study for the summer, for which I'm thankful. He had a burst of writing over the last three months & produced the best part of another book. He showed us the proofs of his new book, out this summer, his best by far. 'The Native' is dedicated to you both."
Dates
- Creation: 1960 May 14
Language of Materials
English
Physical Description
1 letter
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Extent
.5 linear feet (1 box of 69 letters)Repository Details
Part of the Houghton Library Repository
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