ACTON HAROLD: (1904-1994)

ACTON HAROLD: (1904-1994) British writer and scholar, a prominent member of the Bright Young Things. A.L.S., Harold Acton, one page, 4to, La Pietra, Florence, 14th September 1976, to [Stephen] Brook. Acton states that he agrees with his correspondent and that Lord Berners deserves a biography, ´which might be very unusual and an amusing "period-piece" depending on the writer´s approach´, explaining, however, that he is unable to take on the task himself, although suggesting that Berners´ friend, Robert Heber-Percy ( ´who inherited his house at Faringdon, near Oxford´) should be able to suggest a worthy biographer, and further adding ´My own suggestion would be Peter Quennell, but I gather he is engaged in his own autobiography. Sir Frederick Ashton might also be able to suggest a qualified writer as Lord Berners contributed much to the ballet, even in Diaghilev´s time´. Together with a second A.L.S., Harold Acton, two pages, 8vo, Piccadilly, London, 26th November 1976, also to [Stephen] Brook, on the printed stationery of the Ritz Hotel. Acton states that he finds ´the whirl of London very fatiguing after Florence´ and regrets that he will not be able to meet Brook, further writing ´ Any book about Lord Berners would involve some knowledge of his music but he has left some characteristic writings and paintings for he was extremely versatile. I fear it would not be an easy task, unless you had access to his correspondence. And I wonder if such a book could interest the average modern reader? Even I am treated as somewhat of a dodo´. A few light creases and one small tear to the edges of the first letter, generally VG, 2 Stephen Brook (1947- ) English author and wine journalist, a former editor of The Atlantic Monthly Magazine and publisher at Routledge, Kegan & Paul from 1976-80. Gerañd Tyrwhitt (1883-1950) Lord Berners. British composer, novelist, painter and aesthete.