| Description | Includes correspondence of a personal nature almost exclusively concerning the relationship between Nicolson and Luisa Vertova. Nicolson writes about his exhilaration & happiness at the prospect of their marriage; practical arrangements for the wedding and honeymoon; his indiscretion at announcing the engagment to his family before she had told hers; the importance of physical intimacy and anticipation of this prior to visiting Paris where they plan to test the physical side of their relationship by having sex; wedding presents received; practical arrangements such as where to live & buying a house; Vertova's trip to the Netherlands and Germany; the domestic arrangements of Jocelyn Baines, including his relationship with Claire Schiff. Also includes discussion of various art historical matters.
Of particular note:
-letter, dated 18 January, concerning Graham Sutherland's portrait of Winston Churchill
-letter, dated 14 March, concerning an exhibition of works by Renato Guttuso and a conversation with John Berger about the exhibition, due to be published in the New Statesman; urging for their marriage to be agreed and stating that he is 'fed up with boys' and that 'with a little practice, which I badly need, I can be perfectly initimate at my ease'
-letter, dated 23 March, in which it is finally agreed they will be married; concerning Luisa Vertova's life at I Tatti and plans for their future life together. Also includes details of a forthcoming visit to Europe conducted research for the Terbrugghen book
-letter, dated 'Easter Sunday', concerning Ernst Heinrich Bushbeck and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna; also concerns Andrew Pater, 'John Pope-Hennessy's boyfriend' and the physical aspect of their marriage
-letter, dated 1 May, concerning Nicolson's views on religion and bringing up any future children in the Catholic faith; also enquires whether Luisa Vertova is Jewish
-letter, dated 21 May, concerning his parents' [Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson] ill-health
-letter, dated 16 July, concerning an exhibition of the Dresden pictures in Moscow and Vitale Block
-letter, dated 26 July, concerning Nicolson's financial situation and arrangements for the wedding and honeymoon
-letter, dated 29 October, concerning domestic arrangements and Nicolson's work for his book on Terbrugghen
-letter, dated 31 October, concerning Bernard Berenson's dislike of the Burlington Magazine and John Pope-Hennessey's chances of securing the Directorship of the Victoria & Albert Museum
Also includes a newspaper cutting from the Times, dated 20 June 1955, announcing the engagament of Nicolson to Vertova |