| Admin/Biog History | Sally Toynbee (neé Smith) was the wife of Philip Toynbee, Nicolson's best friend. She met Philip in Tel Aviv where she was working as a secretary for the American Embassy and he as a foreign correspondent with The Observer. They married in 1950, following Philip's divorce from Anne. Sally and Philip had three children.
Nicolson remained close friends with the Toynbee's throughout his life, socialising with them regularly. They often stayed at each other's houses & resepctively provided supported through various personal difficulties. |
| Description | Includes correspondence of a personal nature concerning family, mutual friends, children and arrangements to meet. Also concerns arrangements for Nicolson's daughter, Vanessa, following the breakdown of Nicolson's marriage.
Or particular note:
-letter dated 17 October 1961, concerning Stephen Spender's views of Philip Toynbee's novel 'Pantaloon'
-letter, undated, concerning difficulties in the relationship between the Toynbees & the Nicolsons
Also includes a thank you letter, dated c1970s, from Sally's daughter (Clara Toynbee) to Nicolson; a letter to 'Dave', dated 21 April 1978, concerning criticism of the Toynbee's alternative lifestyle and self-sufficient farming community; and two letters from Sally Toynbee to Vanessa Nicolson, dated 16 April 1982, concerning the whereabouts of letters written by Philip Toynbee to Nicolson, and a proposal to publish some of this correspondence |