14 November
14 November
14 November 1920
Villa Isola Bella, Menton, France
INTREAT YOU LET NOONE HAVE HIDEOUS OLD PHOTOGRAPH PUBLISHED IN SPHERE IMPORTANT BURN IT
TIG
Dearest Bogey
I wired today about my photograph in the Sphere. I can't think who gave it to the papers. My vanity is awfully wounded. What a dogs life it is! Really I haven't got such beastly eyes & long poodle hair & a streaky fringe. Thats one for R.M. and Sheila K. & all the rest of them. I feel quite ill with outraged vanity. Ive written to Sadler & sent him a postcard. Ill take the front page of the Daily Mirror for two pins & denige this other. I know you know how I detest it. Its not me. Its a HORROR. If its given to anyone please get it back. Fool I was not to have burnt it!
Tig.
[To J. M. Murry in Collected Letters, 10 November 1920]
Dear Michael Sadleir,
My press agency posted me today a most AWFUL photograph of myself published in The Sphere. It was like a turnip or even a turnip manqué. Where it came from I dont know. But only beautiful people can afford to let such frights of themselves be laughed at; plain ones have to be more cautious. So, in case anyone should ask my publishers for a more-or-less likeness would you see they are given this postcard? Its very unlikely the occasion will arise but after my horrid shock this morning I'd like to be prepared. With all good wishes -
Yours sincerely
Katherine Mansfield. [Letter to Michael Sadleir in Collected Letters, 10 November 1920]