'James Hanley's workmates laughed when he taught himself French by reading the Mercure de France...Working the night shift at a railway station, Hanley withdrew into the work of Moliere, Hauptmann, Calderon, Sudermann, Ibsen, Lie and Strindberg until he grew quite cozy in his literary shell. His parents were appalled that he had no friends. But I've hundreds of friends he protested. "Bazarov and Rudin and Liza and Sancho Panza and Eugenie Grandet". His father countered with Squeers, Nickleby, Snodgrass and Little Nell: "And they're a healthy lot I might say, whereas all your friends have either got consumption, or are always in the dumps".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: James Hanley Print: Book
'Yes I know Sudermann ? his play ?Magda? was one of Mrs Pat. Campbell?s great parts ? and I believe he was the author of a book called ?The Song of Songs? that Billie Wood lent me ? and that I was shocked to find you reading. I have just got through Susan Glaspell?s ?Road to the Temple?, and C.E.Montague?s ?Right off the Map?. For lighter reading I?ve had Rose Macauley?s ? Keeping up Appearances?, and I?m reading all sorts of things about Shelley for my possible literature class. The present one is ?Shelley and the Unromantics?. The author lives in Birkenhead.'
Century: 1850-1899 / 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Winifred Agnes Moore Print: Book
'I have already [read] The Song of Songs , and commented on it, a long time ago. As to the translation let me tell you at once what I think. It is a bad translation . . . '
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Arnold Bennett Print: Book
'I am sending you a play of Sudermann's, "Heimat", which I have just read and which I must say I thought tremendous. I fancy it will suit Mr Hyde's taste and I wonder if Dr Jekyll could not make something out of it. It would be better for a little cutting and pulling together — 3 acts instead of 4 perhaps — but that is just what Dr Jekyll does so well. Do write and tell me what you think of it; the last act so carried me away that I can't help suspecting I must be exaggerating its value. Anyhow the fact remains that it has had the desired effect upon one person at least. I believe it has been acted in Berlin, but with what success I don't know.'
Century: 1850-1899 Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Bell Print: Book
