V. C. (VIVIAN CHARLES) BUCKLEY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/04 - HFSID 142346

V.C. BUCKLEY [VIVIAN CHARLES BUCKLEY]
English travel writer describes the people of London at the break of the Second World War: "They would rather be bombed than bored in the country!" Extremely rare!
Typed letter signed: "VC Buckley", in black ink, 2 pages (front and verso), 6x8. Kensington, London, England, April 4th (no year, but expected 1940, a few months after the declaration of World War II). On his personal letterhead, to "Dear Sobol" Louis Sobol, New York City, New York, in full: "I have a day off from my war-work so am taking the opportunity to write a few letters. I seem to have forgotten how to type the last few months so you must excuse all the errors! I see in the papers here that Dorothy Thompson is over in Europe having a look round she must be a very interesting person do you known her? Mr. Welles visit caused quite a lot of speculation in the different countries - I bet his head must have ached after hearing all the different statesmen expound their cases to him. Anyway he wouldn't have been shouted at in England or France as he might very well have had to submit to in Germany! London at the moment has returned to almost normal - except to the blackout (which isn't so bad now we have summer time and it's not dark till 9pm) sandbagged public buildings, the balloon barrage and men in uniform on the streets, one would never know there was a war on. Theatres, movies and all the restaurants are doing good business. Rationing of meat, butter, sugar and bacon does not seen [sic] to affect the hotels and in ones home there seems very little difference, except for the bother of detaching coupons, which falls on the housewife. So many people left London when war was declared, fully expecting the most terrible air raids - they will probably yet come - but people have lost that first fear and many have returned and say even if 'they' do come nothing will make them leave their homes again - they would 'rather be bombed than bored' in the country! I don't think that I have seen a single American daily paper since the war - if you ever had a moment, do send me a copy of the Journal - I do get LIFE but it is interesting to see the reactions in the Daily press and the sort of space they are giving to the war in relation to your home politics. Do you think the President will stand for a third period? To me he has always been a very marvelous man I known it is difficult for a stranger to judge but I felt that he saved America from a very nasty situation in 1934 (was that the year he came into office?) and whatever he may have done since to annoy Big Business they owe something to him, for having straightened things out after the banks closed - or don't you agree? I enclose you a copy of the Eton College weekly paper which might interest you to read. I was at school there during the last war at the same time as the present King of the Belgians and the Duke of Gloucester. The little obituary notice which I have marked shows that even school boys today are aware of the trials of the poor unfortunate refugees from the persecuted countries in Europe. I think that the youth of today are much more advanced than they were in my day 25 years ago, I do not remember myself feeling any very real emotion over the plight of the Belgian refugees or any active urge to help them. You said you liked to have a letter so you've got it! Write me a line of [sic] you ever have a moment,". Vivian Charles Buckley (b.1901), known by his penname V.C. Buckley was an English travel writer and war journalist. He is the author of Good Times At Home and Abroad Between the Wars (1979), Stop and Go (1938), and his autobiography Draw Back the Curtains (1971). Pencil marks circling letterhead (unknown hand). Normal mailing folds. Fine condition.