[Erminda Rentoul Esler, Irish novelist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('E. Rentoul Esler') to 'Robert' [the essayist Robert Lynd], commending his book 'Irish and English'.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with damp tide mark across the two leaves. 92 lines of closely-written text, regarding Lynd's book 'Irish and English' (London: F. Griffiths, 1908). The letter begins: 'My dear Robert | I have purchased (please commend this virtuous action) and read your book "Irish and English" and now write to congratulate you on its quality. It has this, sections of it are quite admirable. You have style my dear boy, and in spite of the fact that this is far from being a pecuniarily profitable possession, as compared with lack of style, I nevertheless hold that it is the very proudest possession available for a writer, and conveys joy and comfort to him, even when more sovereigns than he will amass are chinking their way into the pockets of the author whose product is sinfully bad.' She continues with reference to 'literary discrimination' and 'athleticism and philistinism', and comments: 'For myself my time is so torn to tatters with disturbances from the outside that I have almost given up the thought of being able to do anything of any account again. | How proud your father who knew good work when he saw it and your brave unselfish little mother would have been of your book!' The final page gives news of 'the Irish Circle in the Lyceum Club'. From the Lynd family archive.