A beautiful example of a handwritten letter by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the greatest Indian icon in literature and the first Asian to win a Nobel prize in 1913.
Written just months before winning the Nobel Prize in literature, this letter is addressed to Evelyn Lillian Haseldine Carrington, Countess Martinengo-Cesaresco, a prominent Italian historian and writer on folksong at the end of the 19th and early 20th century. The letter is a polite declination of a lunch invitation because of a pre-arranged engagement at Oxford–this reflects how busy Tagore was during his English tour in May of 1913, delivering lectures at prominent places, mostly universities and private societies and meeting the literary elites throughout London and the western world. Addressed 37 Alfred Place West, South Kensington, and dated 20 May 1913.
During his time in London in May 1913, Tagore was heavily engaged in literary readings, philosophical lectures, and intellectual circles following the acclaim of Gitanjali. Earlier in the month, figures like Sir Richard Stapley presided over gatherings where works like Chitra were discussed (with events planned around May 9 and May 27). On May 26, 1913, he read his second lecture titled “Soul Consciousness” at Caxton Hall, drawing a large and attentive audience. This was part of his lecture series often referred to as “The Search for God,” which was later published as Sadhana. Tagore interacted with prominent British literary and artistic figures, including William Rothenstein, W.B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and Robert Bridges, cementing his deep influence on London’s intellectual scene shortly before receiving the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature.
