3-057-380 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Letter of admiration and love from Virginia Woolf to George Bernard Shaw, 1940. 'Monk's House, Rodmell, near Lewes, Sussex. 15th May 1940. Dear Mr Shaw, Your letter reduced me to two days of silence from sheer pleasure. You wont be surprised to hear that I promptly lifted some paragraphs and inserted them in my proofs. You may take what action you like. As for the falling in love, it was not, let me confess, one-sided. When I first met you at the Webbs I was set against all great men, having been liberally fed on them in my father's house...But in a jiffy you made me re-consider all that and had me at your feet. Indeed you have acted a lover's part in my life for the past thirty years; and though daresay its not much to boast of, I should have been a worser woman without Bernard Shaw. That is the reason...why Leonard [Woolf] and Virginia have never liked to impose themselves upon you. But...if ever Mr Shaw dropped his handkerchief-to recur to the love theme-we should ask nothing better than to come and see you. As for the Roger Fry picture, I should accept it gratefully. For that offer, and for your letter, and for everything else that you have given me, I am always yours humbly and gratefully, Virginia Woolf. Heartbreak House, by the way, is my favourite of all your works'.