Description:

Somerville Edith

4pp ALS inscribed overall and signed by British novelist Edith Somerville (1858-1949) as "Edith OE Somerville." at center of last page. On pale blue stationery paper, the first page with embossed "Drishane House, Skibbereen, Co. Cork" letterhead. Somerville's initials also appear in the body of the letter as "Doctor E. OE. S. Hon. Litt. D." In very good to near fine condition, with expected paper folds, a few rusted paper clip impressions, and some minor weathering to last page. Each page measuring 8.75" x 9.25".

 

In this December 2, 1932 letter, Somerville apprised a  American friend of the state of contemporary Irish politics. "Things here go from bad to worse, + no one can see where the troubles will end. If Ireland escapes Russia's fate she will be lucky. Never was a comfortable, fairly prosperous little country so devastated as Ireland has been by this mongrel Spaniard. There was a prophecy of St. Malachi's … that Ireland would one day be ruled + ruined by a Spaniard, + now it has come true!", Somerville fumed. Somerville's "mongrel Spaniard" referred to Eamon de Valera (1882-1975). Elected as President of the Executive Council in March 1932, this leader of Fianna Fail implemented policies that prompted the Anglo-Irish Trade War. Somerville's dislike of de Valera's government motivated her to deprecate his mixed Irish-Spanish parentage. Later, she wrote about "hopes that 1933 is going to do better for us than 1932 -- (It could hardly do worse for Ireland.)"

 

In 1932, political pundit Edith Somerville was also an established grande dame of Irish letters. She proudly announced in her letter that she had recently received an honorary doctorate degree from Trinity College in Dublin. Somerville, along with her beloved cousin Violet Florence Martin (1862-1915), had co-authored fourteen stories and novels exploring the Irish experience, notably 1899's The Experiences of an Irish R.M. In the letter, Somerville referred to her latest published work An Incorruptible Irishman: Being an Account of Chief Justice Charles Kendal Bushe, and of his wife, Nancy Crampton, and their Times, 1767-1843. She gushed to her American correspondent: "I was so delighted you liked my Incorruptible Great Grand Papa! I think he must have been a very attractive fellow + 'Nancy' too."

 

Celebrated female Irish novelist Edith Somerville opines about her work and Irish politics!

 


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