William Empson's letters

selected and edited by John Haffenden and reviewed by Matthew Creasy at FT.com:

Two days after she gave birth to a child by her lover, Peter Duval Smith, poet and critic William Empson wrote to his wife:

My dearest Hetta,
Very glad to hear that all went well. I shall come home next Thursday 13th, and will visit you on the Friday (if they allow that, as they presumably do; no doubt Helena will know). Helena wrote and told me how things were going, also that she was improving Jacob's Latin.

Much love, and I am glad you are happy.
William