| Admin/Biog History | Sir Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997) was a Latvian-born British social and political theorist, philosopher and historian of ideas. He met Nicolson at Oxford where they socialised in the same circles. They remained friends until Nicolson's death. Berlin, referred to by his nickname 'Shaya', is mentioned regularly in Nicolson's journals and the letters are best read alongside the relevant entries. |
| Description | Includes correspondence of a personal nature concerning travel, literature, politics, mutual friends, social arrangements and life in Oxford.
Of particular note:
-three letters, sent 1 & 5 November 1937 & undated concerning an incident in Salzburg that caused a rift of the 'enlightened London & Oxford Society', involving Cressida Bonham-Carter, Isaiah Berlin, Jasper Ridley and Stuart Hampshire. Undated letter also includes Berlin's views on Giles [?Robertson], Venice and the literature of Henry James, Proust, Dostoevsky, and Aldous Huxley.
-letter, sent September 1938, describing his new colleague David Cecil
-letter, dated 3 January 1939, concerning his father, the political situation in Europe, Elizabeth C's book, his own book, a stay in Switzerland with Miss Rothschild, and a visit to Paris
-letter, sent 20 June 1939, concerning his, and Nicolson's, views of David Cecil
-letter, sent 5 January 1941, concerning his enlistment for war work and his attachment to the British Information Service
-letter, undated, concerning a visit to Ireland where Berlin was staying with Stephen Spender, preparing to 'read through a book by him on communism, liberalism etc.', Discusses Spender, Stuart Hampshire, Rosamund Lehmann and Hugh Walpole. [A digital copy of this letter can be found below]
-letter, undated, concerning his views on the breakdown of Philip and Anne's Toynbee's relationship
Also includes a letter from Nicolson concerning Berlin's impending visit to Washington in relation to his work for the British Information Service and the reasons behind Nicolson's decision not to write a diary in wartime, c1941
Also includes a letter from Stuart [? Hampshire], undated, concerning social arrangements |
| Image Caption | Letter from Isaiah Berlin to Nicolson, undated, concerning a visit to Ireland where Berlin was staying with Stephen Spender (3pp) |