DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. T.L.S., Daphne, two pages, 8vo, Menabilly, Par, Cornwall, 18th April 1966, to 'My dear' (Foy Quiller-Couch). Du Maurier writes to her friend immediately following her return from Greece with news of her travels, 'my life was saved at Knossos where I found a shepherd's short white cloak with a hood, and this I wore, day in day out, much to the surprise of the fellow-travellers! Greece we really adored, I would return any day, Delos - uninhabited - my highlight, quite superb, though a larger island to the far north, Thasos, also glorious. In the Peloponnese, Mycenea, Epidauros, Olympia, all quite wonderful. I was rather put off by Turkey, possibly because of the weather. But it was not so inviting, and the people all looked rather grim and hostile, only men in the streets, and the women shut away. Though one day, at one of the ports, the inhabitants came to dance to us on the quayside in national costume, and this was fun….Tessa was wonderful, so friendly with everyone, and had I been alone I know I should have hidden in our cabin, but she dragged me from my shell, and it was really the right thing to do….We vied for the favours of Sir John Wolfenden, and I fear Tessa won - no doubt middle-aged ex University Vice Chancellors have an eye to the young (!) but both he and his wife were extremely kind to us, and - you will have known it in the past - I did find what I call the scholarly intellect stimulating, such rapier-like talk and exchanges between Sir John and Sir Maurice Bowra. Both superb as lecturers, and an Irishman from Trinity College equally good, Professor Luce. In a way it was awfully like being at a University, we were all the pupils, and the dining room might have been a huge Common Room.' In concluding Du Maurier writes of mutual friends and also remarks 'No news on the Menabilly front, except that I asked an architect friend to look around Kilmarth and he was appalled, saying thousands would be needed to make it even habitable today. Oh, dear, Oh, dear, I wonder where I stand.' A couple of light, small tape stains to the head of the first and final pages, only slightly affecting one word of text, and not the signature, 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. Some years previously 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.