Beschreibung:

FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964). Series of 8 autograph love letters and notes signed ('Ian') to an Austrian girlfriend, Edith Morpurgo, 11 Throgmorton Avenue, St James's Club and n.p., 2 April 1935 and n.d., in German, in pencil and pen, one partially typescript, approximately 20 pages, 8vo and 4to (one letter torn to shreds and reassembled with adhesive tape), envelope, with a telegram, 7 December 1934 ('Regret this evening impossible goodbye with all my love Ian') and a portrait photograph of Fleming seated on a rock in the Austrian Alps, 1934 (rather worn).
FLEMING, Ian (1908-1964). Series of 8 autograph love letters and notes signed ('Ian') to an Austrian girlfriend, Edith Morpurgo, 11 Throgmorton Avenue, St James's Club and n.p., 2 April 1935 and n.d., in German, in pencil and pen, one partially typescript, approximately 20 pages, 8vo and 4to (one letter torn to shreds and reassembled with adhesive tape), envelope, with a telegram, 7 December 1934 ('Regret this evening impossible goodbye with all my love Ian') and a portrait photograph of Fleming seated on a rock in the Austrian Alps, 1934 (rather worn). Three letters and two brief notes are written in a flirtatious, even outrageous mood: one begins with two sketches, the first showing 'Wo ich Dich küssen will', the second depicting a hotel room with a 'Do not disturb' sign, protesting 'I only want you to be happy. But I also want to hurt you, because you have deserved it ... I want to sleep with you once and do nothing -- only put my arms around you and hold you tight and find you there when I wake up. But it has to be sunny! Where shall we find sunshine in this grey country? But it depends only on you and the sun, and that is only two things and it could easily be so many more' (translation), ending 'Ich küsse Dich wo Du nicht erlaubst'; a short undated letter begins 'Nein -- ich will Dich nur küssen und nichts sagen. Es hat keinen Sinn ... [No -- I only want to kiss you and say nothing. It makes no sense ... ]', while a brief pencil note arranges a meeting and another simply says 'Ich küsse Dich'. The partially typescript letter of 2 April 1935 describes the sad state of his flat since she left, and mockingly asks when she is coming back to do the cleaning, as he cannot use the flat 'weil sie noch immer von Dir stinkt'. The tone becomes darker in the three remaining letters: one protests he cannot understand Edith, but tries to persuade her to remain in London; another letter (torn to pieces for its pains) begins tactlessly 'ich habe deine Freunde nicht gern', going on 'I am sure you were quite right to go away as your life here has been very empty, and I am also not the way you wanted. But it is still sad, because we were good together ...' (translation). In what is evidently the last letter, Fleming reproaches Edith for bringing their relationship to 'ein recht hässliches Ende', protesting 'Ich wollte dich glucklich machen und Ruhe geben ... ich habe so viel Freude mit dir gehabt'. (11)