Roman Mornings.

Bookseller Notes

A travel book by 'one of the most brilliant and erudite of our younger architectural critics' (blurb), exploring the city's history through eight buildings.A pair of 2pp. letters from the author are laid in, both dated June 1963 (autograph and typed respectively, both on headed paper for Alderley Grange in Gloucestershire): Lees-Milne writes to 'My dear Paul', explaining the 'sad history' of the book, that the publisher had gone 'bankrupt 2 months after it appeared', and he had rescued ten copies from the fire initiated by their creditors - 'of which I am posting you one immediately'; it is, he outlines, 'not a guide book but a collection of [...] monuments of different ages and styles'; the city is one 'I love [...] dearly, but the din is appalling', recommending guide-books for the recipient's trip and wishing that he were able to accompany him. The author's fears about the Italian postal service continue ten days later, when the book still hasn't arrived, here recommending the acquaintance of Georgiana Masson (pseud. for Marion 'Babs' Johnson), who 'knows Rome better than any English person alive', and mentioning that he has given her 'your address' and will provide hers in exchange (this in manuscript at foot of letter); he suggests accommodation in the Hotel Minerva, but directs his correspondent to eat elsewhere, identifying a 'good, inexpensive restaurant' at the neighbouring Sant Chiara hotel - 'it is full of cardinals and monsignores which I find colourful'; he closes in reference to a question he has put to his wife, Alvilde, about 'the white flower you mention' - signing both letters, 'Yours ever, Jim'.