August 28, 2006

A lost love letter purported to be from poet John Betjeman turns out to have an altogether different message for one of his feuding biographers, the somewhat controversial AN Wilson.
posted by Abiezer_Coppe 18 years ago
  • "It is quite childish of somebody and I have absolutely no interest in who wrote it." Suuuuure. Bet he's been googling.....
  • Hrmm. Only one tiny pity-comment from our gomichild -- that should teach you, Abiezer! Posting when you should be fircing. For shame!
  • It wasn't a pity-comment. That much. I find it hard to believe that this AN Wilson person is not curious about who sent this letter.
  • Seeing as how the letter-writer both insulted him and made a first-rate dupe of the guy at the same time, effectively trashing the credibility of his entire work. No, not curious at all. Riiiiiiight.
  • I'm curious about who sent it anyway...
  • Here's the letter:
    Darling Honor, I loved yesterday. All day, I've thought of nothing else. No other love I've had means so much. Was it just an aberration on your part, or will you meet me at Mrs Holmes's again - say on Saturday? I won't be able to sleep until I have your answer. Love has given me a miss for so long, and now this miracle has happened. Sex is a part of it, of course, but I have a Romaunt of the Rose feeling about it too. On Saturday we could have lunch at Fortt's, then go back to Mrs H's. Never mind if you can't make it then. I am free on Sunday too or Sunday week. Signal me tomorrow as to whether and when you can come. Anthony Powell has written to me, and mentions you admiringly. Some of his comments about the Army are v funny. He's somebody I'd like to know better when the war is over. I find his letters funnier than his books. Tinkerty-tonk, my darling. I pray I'll hear from you tomorrow. If I don't I'll visit your office in a fake beard. All love, JB
    The capital letters spell: DIANWILSONISASHITIA. I'm still trying to work out who Dian Wilson is. And what "shitia" means.
  • All right, jb, who's this hussy you've been writing to?!
  • *fans self, faints*
  • jb's been writing love notes to Honor Blackman? What? That's some hawt cuckolding...
  • I will admit to being curious as to who would revive this popular and instructive thread.
  • I felt it was my duty to the community Wolof. We needed closure on this vexing and divisive mystery.
  • I have been experiencing night sweats and terrors since this enigma was first posted, and thus thank you deeply for your thoughtfulness in providing timely resolution.
  • If I had written the letter, it would have been steamier, and the anagram would have been wittier.
  • Oh, tinkerty-tonk to you, jb.
  • "..and the anagram would have been wittier." But then it wouldn't have been mistaken as being by Betjeman. Because the guy was no wit. In fact I think he sucked. Larkin all the way, dude, even though he was a horrid racist. (They all were.) We need bees in here, stat. His opinion on this is vital.