WOOLF, Virginia (1882-1941). Novelist.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Virginia') to Clive [Bell], 1 page 4to (small paper-clip stains), 52 Tavistock Square, 'Thursday' no date [?30 December 1937]. Thanking him for his card, explaining that they had come up to London on account of Leonard's illness, and asking whether they might meet.
The present letter, dated 18 February 1937 in The Letters of Virginia Woolf [ed. Nigel Nicolson, vol 6, page 109 (possibly from the photocopy at King's College, Cambridge)], is more likely to date from 30 December of that year. The reference to having come up from Rodmell the previous day does not reconcile with the fact that Virginia was already writing from Tavistock Square on 15 and 17 February. Leonard Woolf had indeed fallen ill in February, with what was at first suspected to be diabetes and later either a kidney infection of a problem with the prostate. Exhaustive tests were inconclusive, and he was to recover spontaneously. It was, however, a period of considerable anxiety for both of them. The anxiety was to get worse in December when the trouble flared up again, and Virginia's letters at this time almost all dwell on the subject.

'Dearest Clive, / Your card has just come. We left Rodmell yesterday, as Leonard was ill. The doctor yesterday was inclined to think it serious - probably prostate gland [note, no mention of diabetes at this time]. ... How long are you staying? We should like very much to see you & Janice [these last two words slipped in an as an afterthought - in any case Virginia did not like her brother-in law's lover and was frequently and sometimes amusingly catty about her in her correspondence with others].'

[No: 22049]