Splash of orange lipstick

Press, 29 March 1980, Page 17

Splash of orange lipstick

Dearest Andrew: Letters from V. Sackviiie-West to Andrew Reiber, 1951-1962. Edited by Nancy MacKnight. Michael Joseph, 1980. 127 pp. $15.30.

(Reviewed by Mhairi Erber)

Vita Sackville-West was not a remarkably entertaining letter writer. She found writing of any kind increasingly difficult and these letters lack charm and sparkle such as may be found in those of her husband. Harold Nicholson. Although she had a real affection for Andrew Reiber. and he for her, anyone hoping for even a hint of scandal will be sadlv disappointed. And who is Andrew Reiber? A kindly American gentleman who first wrote to Vita asking a favour for a friend's son. Vita and he shared an interest in gardening and dogs. He was the most thoughtful of pen-pals sending seeds (zinnias for St Valentine's Day), newspaper cuttings, cigarettes, “Pepita” nuts, lipstick and, most risque of all, a pillow stuffed with pine-needles and covered with Victoria and Albert print fabric. Many of the letters are thank-you notes for these presents.

Andrew also sent a friend, Ann Merriam, to Sissinghurst. (It is fair to say that Vita and Andrew had no desire to meet face to face). Ann’s letter to her “Dear old Dixie" is the most lively and informative in the whole book, albeit there is a hint of bitchiness in it, “I don't think I ever

met a woman who cared less. . . I might say she was absolutely oblivious to her personal appearance, if it hadn’t been for the fact that from time to time she pulled out an orange (poisonous colour to me) lipstick and did her lips —she smokes as much as you do. . . But she was kindness and cordiality itself.” Later, as if to shame us all for sneering. Vita writes thanking Andrew for sending her a lipstick. “You don't know what an untidy old gipsy I am, and this will grand me up, as Harold says of the flag I fly on the tower: ‘lt grands the place up - . -- ln her introduction Nancy Mac Knight seems sincere enough and the book is quite attractive though I am curious as to the origin and purpose of the odd little black and white sketches of such things as collies and convolvulus. Although little is added to what is already known of Vita Sackville-West the book is interesting if only because it shows the writer as “ordinary person.” Vita describes a typical day. “I lead such a funny mixed life. . . This morr.ins : sat on the Bench. . . Then I came home and changed into my old gardening clothes. . . and I go and tramp about in mud and snow. Then as dusk falls I come in, and write the book I am trying to write — and then I feel really myself — in my tower shut away. . . Another side of my life suddenly barges in. The telephone rings. Will I lunch with the Queen tomorrow, to meet the Shah of Persia.”