Anthony HOPE HAWKINS (1863-1933)

Autograph Letter Signed (“Anthony Hope Hawkins”) to his cousin Edith sending her a “modest guinea” in response to her request.

1½ pages 8vo, Savoy Mansions, 2 October 1907.                                         

"Since the request is yours, I must respond to it, but I fear my response must be a small one. I have so very many calls made on me from nearer home. If I met all I should soon cease to belong to the class of men “who have a little spare cash”. So I send the modest guinea, and wish you luck in your efforts.

I am sorry to hear Archie has been seedy. Yes, the “worry” is the worst of what they call the artistic temperament. Lots of oil of cloves is the best remedy – but that’s not always possible. My father is very well indeed, thanks.”

Anthony Hope may have started his career as a very promising barrister, but soon abandoned the legal profession to become a prolific and popular writer and playwright. Today, he is best known for two novels, The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, which brought the term “Ruritanian” into the English language. The writer and sometimes critic Andrew Lang was an admirer of these works.

The letter is slightly dusty and the bottom half of the second page has unfortunately been cut away, most likely when it was included in an album. The bottom of the verso of the first leaf shows traces of glue from when the letter was mounted in an album.

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