ELLEN TERRY LETTERS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1931, Page 6

ELLEN TERRY LETTERS

BERNARD SHAW’S BOOK. GORDON CRAIG'S REPLY. (N.Z. Herald Correspondent.) London, Oct. 22. Mr. Bernard Shaw recently published in book form the letters which had passed between himself and Dame Ellen Terry. Mr. E. Gordon Craig, Dame Ellen Terry’s son, is now writing a book entitled “Ellen Terry and Her Secret Self,” and it is to be published next month. One gathers from interviews that have been appearing that Mr. Craig is annoyed because copies of the book of letters are found in Paris shops, surrounded by publications that have been banned in England. It is stated on good authority that & folder at the back of the new book will contain references to Mr. <Shaw. “. . . So far as I know,” Mr. Craig says, “a man who holds in his hands letters from a woman, as Shaw held my m'Other’s, does not part with them or show them to anyone. It’s simply not done. This must have been the action of a man without the sense of ordinary good manners associated with private letters written by and to a woman.’’ A friend of Mir. Craig—Miss Enid Rose, the authoress —said that Mr. Craig had given an undertaking to Mr. Shaw that he would not. upbraid him in. the book or in the Press. “Mr. Shaw’s letters to Ellen Terry were sold by her executors without any reference to Mr. Craig,” Miss Rose explained, “but Mr. Shaw would not Jet them 'be published without Mr. Craig’s approval. “The 'book was unfortunately advertised as containing Ellen Terry’s love letters. That was totally misleading. •Mr. Craig has found the book in- shops in Paris, surrounded by publications that have been banned over here. You can imagine how extremely objectionable it is to him. “Mr. Craig’s book is not at all spiteful; it is penned in sorrow instead of anger. It has caused him so much pain that the ideal —the romantic beauty — of his mother’s life has been so lowered and cheapened.” Mr. Shaw has also been interviewed. “With reference to a report that Mr. Craig tried to prevent the publication of the letters,” he said, “I can say quite clearly that Mr. Craig fully consented to their publication. He was consulted in every possible way and was a party to it. The publication oi the letters was actually held up for some time because I refused to proceed without his consent, which was finally obtained.” Miss Edith Craig, the daughter of Dame Ellen Terry, said: “I have no idea what the book will contain, but the title, ‘Ellen Terry and Her Secret Self,’ seems to me to be silly. My mother had no ‘secret self.’ Her family knew all about her; her friends knew all a'bout her; the public kneAv all about her.”