Letter from Billy Turner to James McBey (Letters and Memorabilia Belonging to James McBey)
RecipientReceived by
James McBey
(Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
SenderSent by
Eileen Arbuthnot Robertson
(1903 - 1961)
Datec. 1931
Object NameLetter
Mediumpaper and ink
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions25.1 x 20.3cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Aberdeen City Council (McBey Collection)
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG008357.9
Keywords
Billy then talks about her meeting with "an important Yankee literary critic and wife" and her horror when she learned that friends of this couple had been at West Mersea when Billy lived on "Esna." This did not bode well for Billy as she explains, "my name was, most unfairly as we know, just mudcoloured in that neighbourhood." To make matters worse, one of these friends was at that dinner, and met Billy with "an expression of lofty disgust!"
In an attempt to rectify her reputation Billy mentioned James McBey in the conversation, pretending they first met when she was 14 years old, rather than 17 years. She also claimed that McBey was the only person who made her do as she was told as a child. This seemed to calm the situation, and Billy felt her reputation had been saved through the couples' admiration of McBey and his connection to her. To prevent her lies from being discovered, Billy then asks McBey to continue the tall tale if he ever met a "Brickell", though she doubted they would ever cross paths.
Billy ends the letter by telling McBey that her latest book had been out for a fortnight and the reviews were due that Monday.
This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this letter.
