"I can't advise you in my favour because I think it would be beastly for you, but think how nice it would be for me. I am restless; moody; misanthropic; lazy, and have no money except what I earn, and if I got ill you would starve. In fact it's a lousy proposition. On the other hand, I think I could do a Grant and reform; become quite strict about not getting drunk and I am pretty sure I should be faithful. Also there is always a fair chance that there will be another bigger economic crash, in which case if you had married a nobleman with a great house you might find yourself starving, while I am very clever and could probably earn a living of some sort somewhere."
Above all things, darling, don't fret at all. But just turn the matter over in your dear head."
First of all, you would have to give him credit for honesty. Let's throw into the mix that you are nineteen and he is over thirty. Oh, he had previously been married and she had left him. It was reported that he wasn't very nice to her. He was severely depressed and tried to commit suicide by walking into the ocean, but then a jellyfish stung him thus changing his mind and he stormed back to shore.
Laura married him and they had six kids and they remained married the rest of his life.
His name was Evelyn (that's right, Evelyn) Waugh. You may know him as the author of the bestseller Brideshead Revisited which had been made into more than one movie.
He was born in London in 1903 and died in 1966. During his life he wrote Decline and Fall, Vile Bodies, A Handfull of Dust, Put Out More Flags, as well as Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder in 1945.
That is the conclusion of my entry. I just found the marriage proposal curious. And I find it just as curious that they did marry and stayed married. I just thought I would share this nugget of new found knowledge.
Perhaps I need to change my approach to writing love letters.
"Perhaps I need to change my approach to writing love letters."
ReplyDeleteYou cracked me up!!!!!! Amazing they married and stayed married.
It appears she gave him points for honesty, funny how things you think will never work out does exactly the opposite.
ReplyDeleteAs Houdini (apparently) used to say at the end of his performances: will wonders never cease!
ReplyDeleteI guess it also tells us something about the bride...Or maybe, it was just their mutual sense of humor. Either way, an amazing proposal...
ReplyDeleteIf you are still writing love letters you get major points - no matter your approach!
ReplyDeleteI suppose she saw something in him that transcended the words. But you are correct, if I received a "love letter" like that I most probably would have run for the hills. Love works in very mysterious and strange ways. I think attraction is a thing of mystery...no science there. If there were then I guess everyone would be happily married forever. P.S. keep up with the love letters (if you do write them.) We women are suckers for those things!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, about being amazed they married, & then stayed that way! On the other hand... I have a similar story, sadly.
ReplyDeleteSilly me, I would have thought he was just being self-deprecatingly funny and would have married him. Surely he couldn't be serious.
ReplyDeleteAmazing story.
straight to the point, I would say. I supposed it did the trick..
ReplyDeleteHe was a writer...famous..I suppose by then. It must have seemed quite glamorous to a young lady.
ReplyDeleteI guess I've been turning all the wrong guys away. Next time, I'll know better!
ReplyDeleteTalk about being swept off one's feet. This story is reminiscent of Virginia Woolf in reverse... how fascinating. One never knows what love means to someone else.
ReplyDeleteHe was obvious quirky and creative and she was very open and adventurous. I love the story via the letter. I just recently watched Brideshead Revisited on TV late one night...clever in deed.
ReplyDeleteI reckon it was the jelly fish. Does strange things to people's brains. Especially sensitive artistic types.
ReplyDeleteThere's more than one marriage been saved by a jellyfish to the crotch.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea! What an amazing story. Truly amazing. Because when you tell it, with the facts that people probably witnessed first hand and thought she was nuts...it's an even more compelling story.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Gigi, love letters are so much more interesting than gorcery lists. Are you reading bioggraphies this season :}
ReplyDeleteBest to be honest up front.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever received a proposal like that, either I'd run for the hills or, God help me, I might actually elope with the fellow! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteWow. Who knew that playing yourself *down* would work out so well?
ReplyDeleteI found your wording interesting....that they stayed married for the rest of *his* life? I take it that he's passed? She looks pretty good for a lady that had six kids. I've only had half that and I don't think I've held up that well.
She was probably charmed by his swirling handwriting...which wouldn't do anything for her today, 'cause it would be in an email with a default font.
A survey of women once found that, at the top of the list of things they like about a man... a sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteA "can't say I didn't warn you" proposal if ever there was one.
ReplyDeleteHad to laugh at Arkansas Patti's comment that she would have married him.
Patti...! We are not surprised! LOL!
10/10
ReplyDeleteCaroline xxxx
Oh she knew a good thing when she read him! Why aren't more men more honest?
ReplyDeleteI would have married him in a heartbeat!
XO
WWW
Sounds like a good proposal to me.
ReplyDeleteShe must have thought "Well, I'm not sure, but I think he just proposed!" LOL Indeed, love letters go a LONG way! :)
ReplyDelete