A review by miajakobsen
Selected Letters of André Gide & Dorothy Bussy by Dorothy Bussy, Richard Tedeschi, Jean Lambert, André Gide

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing

4.25

Dorothy and André write such beautiful letters to each other. Their friendship is quite amusing, but throughout the tough times, they find love in each other and their words. Dorothy's love for André is charming, despite both being married and him being gay.

I would recommend reading these beautiful set of letters, even if you know nothing about the two and their work.

Here is an excerpt of one of my favourite letters, from Dorothy on May 27th, 1919.

I spent an odd winter with your book. I remember the first time I read it- years ago. I rebelled against it and shrank from it. I wouldn't let it hurt me. It was cowardice. But this time there was no escaping. I leant upon the sharpness of its point - passionately. I drove it home and turned it round in my heart. It has left me, I think, with my own poor little capacity of thinking and suffering and loving enlarged - and oh! I am sure, with an added intensity of wonder and gratitude for the people who can think and suffer and love really. 
And it was my companion. Day and night your voice, your sweet, excruciating voice, spoke to me. I ruminated your words, and their music and their meaning, and let them sink into me and become part of me - I hardly wanted more of you during the winter. 
But now that is over. I have nothing to do, and I am here - in Cambridge - without you - without a single hope of you. It is extraordinarily beautiful in this lovely spring - and extraordinarily haunted - and sometimes I find it very difficult to bear.