ARLISS ARCHIVES

GA becomes nostalgic for the pre-war days and wonders if these will ever return. At the time he wrote this letter to Grace Hubble, wife of famed astronomer Edwin Hubble, the war was not going well for the Allies who were suffering serious setbacks in both the European and Pacific theaters:

A few days later GA wrote this letter to historian Godfrey Davies who lived in California. The Arlisses are living away from London due to German bombing attacks and GA relates the poor state of Florence’s health, especially her eyesight.

A month later GA writes again to the Hubbles and he’s more upbeat, joking to Edwin that Grace is treating him “shamefully.” Noting his appreciation for how busy Edwin must be, GA relates that he too is busy – trying to buy a new kettle. GA also comments of the “points system” involved in food rationing:

GA discusses his short term memory loss and how it is just as well that he doesn’t have any grandchildren because he would not be able to answer their questions. He closes by commenting on the war news and the defeats suffered by Germany:

By November 1943, the war news was getting better and the common wisdom suggested that the war was certain to be over soon. GA notes how the postal censors interfere with people’s correspondence by literally cutting out parts of the writing that are judged too sensitive. He refers to news that would make Grace “sorry.” No doubt he was referring to the destruction of his cottage at St. Margaret’s Bay that was hit by a German shell the previous year.

As 1943 was coming to end there was widespread optimism that the war would certainly end during 1944. Perhaps as a sign of the times, GA sent this playful invitation to Godfrey Davies, who was living in California, to drop by GA’s London home on Christmas Day to play some bridge: