THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking,

8th July, 1948.

Dear Frank,
As you know, I have always avoided newspaper publicity but a case has arisen in which I almost think it will be necessary.
I have, as I think I have told you, nearly a completed an opera on “Pilgrim’s Progress”. Now with this “Daily Telegraph” pageant coming off and various people getting commissions to write operas I feel it quite possible that someone would choose this subject, but perhaps if they already knew that I had got one in hand they might choose another one.
Do you think it would be a good plan to do a little discreet publicising, the sort of thing like a paragraph in a paper “Vaughan Williams is completing an opera on “Pilgrim’s Progress”, or something of the sort.
I hate it all, but I do not want my opera to be put in a corner because I have kept too quiet about it.¹
Yours sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

(R. Vaughan Williams).

Alan Frank, Esq.,
Oxford University Press,
38a Soho Square,
W.1.

1. OUP agreed; see VWL4105. On or about 29th July, several newspapers (including the Daily Express) reported that the opera was nearly complete: ‘ “The libretto will be “chiefly Bunyan,” says Dr. Williams, adding, however, that he is adapting the story pretty freely. Some of the characters, including Faithful and Hopeful, have been left out, and different scenes are being joined together. The opera will probably not take more than two and a half hours to perform. It is said to be nearly finished, but Dr. Williams himself is cautious on this point. “It depends how many other things I’ve got to do,” he points out.’