31 January 1937 Handwritten
The Stores, Wallington, Near Baldock, Herts
Dear Mr Moore,
I enclose the signed agreement.1 I am afraid there was a little delay before your letter was forwarded to me – I got it yesterday – but when I read the agreement I was delighted, as I know my husband will be when he hears the details. I had not fully realised before how satisfactory it was; in your office the other day I was being rather single-minded.
There is quite good news in Spain, though it comes very erratically. Eric has been created a ‘cabo’, which is I think a kind of corporal2 & which distresses him because he has to get up early to turn out the guard, but he also has a dug-out in which he can make tea. There is apparently no ‘proper’ fighting as neither side has efficient artillery or even rifles.3 He says he thinks the government forces ought to attack but are not going to. I hope no crisis will arise needing his decision as letters take from 7 to 104 days to get here.
With many thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Eileen Blair
1. The agreement was for the next three novels Orwell was to write after Keep the Aspidistra Flying (see 357).
2. Orwell refers to his promotion in Homage to Catalonia, see p. 48 [VI/25].
3. Orwell records that rifles were issued on their third morning in Alcubierre, Homage to Catalonia, see p. 42 [VI/16].
4. ‘10’ is possibly ‘16.’ Eileen seems to be more concerned that a battle could affect the publication of her husband’s work than that it might endanger his life. Her objectivity, surely deceptive, might be considered in the light of that attributed to Orwell at the end of her life.