page_0002

it.

Claudius has been a very good friend to me ('manus
manum lavat') and has got me free of a crushing
debt that I expected to be on my neck for years. By the
same mail I got a notification that the books have
jointly been awarded the James Tait Black Memorial prize.
My first prize since my preparatory school days; and the
late good widow Janet Coats, who gave it, lets her
prize-winners off the ordeal of a prize-giving; which
makes me feel most grateful to her memory.

I forbid you to answer this letter: you have
many too many to answer. But this is just
to say thank you once more for your help over
Claudius, and how very glad I am that you
are getting this most suitable job. With love to
Susie

Yours ever

Robert Graves.