Letter from Edward Renouf to Anny Schey von Koromla

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27 June

Dearest Annerl,

Edda, my sister, is taking the new Dutch steamer to England at the end of July. I’d be really glad if she could see you, touch you, talk to you in person and bring all your news back to New York for me. Will you be in England? If so, where? (If only it were me coming to England instead of Edda!) If only Edda could see you then I too would no longer feel so far from you all. Sometimes you’re almost like a dream to me, and the time and the distance across the ocean seem unbridgeable. But your Etl hasn’t died (to make way for Catharine’s and Hester’s and New York’s Etl). He’s still alive, at peace, loves you all very much, often sings your praises and cherishes the memories of you as a precious treasure that ties him to you like a living root. But enough declarations of love! Edda is employed as a lecturer at the museum in Brooklyn, New York, and goes from strength to strength in her career there. The main reason she’s travelling to Europe this summer is to study the picture galleries. She loves modern art. It would be marvellous if Beate could tell her all about the various museums in London. By the way, do you happen to know about hotels in London, somewhere cheap to stay, perhaps not too far from the museum district? Edda will be staying in England for fourteen days, then she’s travelling through Belgium, Holland, France and so on. If you were going to be in France this summer, perhaps she could even come and find you there, assuming you’re not somewhere too far from Paris. Do write straight back to me, Annerl, even if it’s just a couple of lines, so I can give Edda your address when she sets out on the steamer.

Lots of love,

Etl

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