Following is an example of a letter C.S. Lewis wrote an old friend.
A typed letter signed "Jack" (although known as Jack to all, he rarely signed his name thus except to his closest friends): "18th January 1961 The Kilns, Kilns Lane, Headington Quarry, Oxford My dear June, Many thanks for your letter, and we are both delighted to hear that a Freud descent on the Kilns may be anticipated. Of the two dates you offer, 29 Jan would be the most suitable for me. I hope you all had a good time in Suffolk. Yours ever, Jack" The letter was typewritten by his brother, Warnie, who typed all of Jack's letters whenever he was present at the Kilns and not on an alcoholic binge in Ireland. "June", who lives in London with her husband, Sir Clement Freud (grandson of Sigmund Freud) is now Lady Jill Freud, having adopted the name "Jill" for her career on the stage. As teenager June Flewett, she lived with the Lewis brothers for almost two years during World War II, helping Mrs. Moore with the housekeeping. The two bachelors loved her dearly and maintained a close relationship with her and her family throughout their respective lives. In his diary, Warnie wrote: "I have met no one of any age further advanced in the Christian way of life. From seven in the morning until nine at night, shut off from people of her own age, almost grudged the time for her religious duties, she has slaved at The Kilns for a fractional one pence an hour. I have never seen her other than gay, eager to anticipate exigent demands, never complaining, always self-accusing, in the frequent crises of this dreary house." Jack thoroughly enjoyed her company, finding her to be a child of exceptional intellect and treating her like an equal -- and always called her "June" ever after she adopted the name Jill for her acting career. Bookseller Inventory # 0100.
Currently (3 February 2009) for sale for the price of $2,900.
