135. 6 April 1999 [ES] (Bloom reviewed; Othello)

previously unpublished; © the estate of eric sams and beatrice cazac (Mrs. Mathew’s letters)

Dear Hayat,

  Thanks for yours. Well, I gave Bloom a cheery review, because I think he's performing a useful service in treating Shakespeare as a real person. And he reckons, rightly (if for the wrong reason) that the 1589 Hamlet seen by Nashe was written by the young Shakespeare.

   I haven't seen (though I've heard from) nice Charles Nicholl since he moved nearer to you than to me. That would be nice, of course, but I fear I'm irredeemably Nordic. Runs in the family too: as Jeremy wrote from his summer school camp, like father, dislike sun.

   Some pleasure from Honan, and some help too. I've dropped him a line; I'll tell you how (or if) he replies.

   I'm unimpressed by Desdemona as a virgin, like Elizabeth. What then became of the beast with two backs? But I have to rely on very old Army play - reading memories of Othello, which I've always found too painful to see, or re-read.

   Farewell for now,       

   Yours , Eric