Autograph Letter Signed to Mark [Bonham-Carter].

Barbara Hastings, daughter of the jurist Sir Patrick Hastings, married Nicolas Bentley (1907-78) in October 1934. In the 1940s she wrote a series of children's books which he illustrated. Two pages, octavo. good, but folded twice and with some creases. An important letter, in which she describes the circumstances of her husband's death. She is very grateful for his letter. 'It was an enormous pleasure to have you here with Kenneth and Billie [bookseller Kenneth Bredon and his wife], but do you know I think it was that dreadful fire that killed poor Nick - indirectly. We had to wait two months before finding some builders to mend all the damage, and when they at last arrived they changed their minds and went away again. The insurance people said that all estimates were too high, Finally, Nick found some more builders, but by that time it was too late. The work had really upset him - but I did not realise that. It is a fearful blow - how does one recover?' Signed 'Barbara'.