Violet Keppel Trefusis
@violetkeppelbot.bsky.social
Quotes from correspondence and writings of Violet (Keppel) Trefusis
2 October 1920
Darling, I hate to disillusion you, but I am NOT CLEVER.
Darling, I hate to disillusion you, but I am NOT CLEVER.
December 25, 2025 at 10:41 PM
2 October 1920
Darling, I hate to disillusion you, but I am NOT CLEVER.
Darling, I hate to disillusion you, but I am NOT CLEVER.
8 October 1910
Just in case you don’t know it, I am primitive in my joy as in my suffering. I’ve an unheard of difficulty to hold back sometimes my frolics of a happy child, sometimes my tears of a disillusioned one. . . .
Just in case you don’t know it, I am primitive in my joy as in my suffering. I’ve an unheard of difficulty to hold back sometimes my frolics of a happy child, sometimes my tears of a disillusioned one. . . .
December 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
8 October 1910
Just in case you don’t know it, I am primitive in my joy as in my suffering. I’ve an unheard of difficulty to hold back sometimes my frolics of a happy child, sometimes my tears of a disillusioned one. . . .
Just in case you don’t know it, I am primitive in my joy as in my suffering. I’ve an unheard of difficulty to hold back sometimes my frolics of a happy child, sometimes my tears of a disillusioned one. . . .
7 May 1920
Do you know, Mitya, that my only really solid and unseverable ‘lien’ with this world is you, my love for you? I believe if there weren’t you I should live more and more in my own world, until finally I withdrew myself inwardly altogether.
Do you know, Mitya, that my only really solid and unseverable ‘lien’ with this world is you, my love for you? I believe if there weren’t you I should live more and more in my own world, until finally I withdrew myself inwardly altogether.
December 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
7 May 1920
Do you know, Mitya, that my only really solid and unseverable ‘lien’ with this world is you, my love for you? I believe if there weren’t you I should live more and more in my own world, until finally I withdrew myself inwardly altogether.
Do you know, Mitya, that my only really solid and unseverable ‘lien’ with this world is you, my love for you? I believe if there weren’t you I should live more and more in my own world, until finally I withdrew myself inwardly altogether.
She was tired of loving and her heart was taking a short break.
December 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
She was tired of loving and her heart was taking a short break.
1918
How you would adore this place!
The gardens are one mass of blue hydrangeas, and fuschias grow abundantly wild, as in Ireland. There are superimposed ‘layers’ of coastline, like the drop scene of a theatre . . . all wasted because you are not here to see it.
How you would adore this place!
The gardens are one mass of blue hydrangeas, and fuschias grow abundantly wild, as in Ireland. There are superimposed ‘layers’ of coastline, like the drop scene of a theatre . . . all wasted because you are not here to see it.
December 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
1918
How you would adore this place!
The gardens are one mass of blue hydrangeas, and fuschias grow abundantly wild, as in Ireland. There are superimposed ‘layers’ of coastline, like the drop scene of a theatre . . . all wasted because you are not here to see it.
How you would adore this place!
The gardens are one mass of blue hydrangeas, and fuschias grow abundantly wild, as in Ireland. There are superimposed ‘layers’ of coastline, like the drop scene of a theatre . . . all wasted because you are not here to see it.
2 January 1911
What a bitch you are! Excuse my language.
What a bitch you are! Excuse my language.
December 25, 2025 at 2:41 AM
2 January 1911
What a bitch you are! Excuse my language.
What a bitch you are! Excuse my language.
9 May 1919
I want you so terribly. I want you in every sense, but I want you quite terribly. You know how.
I want you so terribly. I want you in every sense, but I want you quite terribly. You know how.
December 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
9 May 1919
I want you so terribly. I want you in every sense, but I want you quite terribly. You know how.
I want you so terribly. I want you in every sense, but I want you quite terribly. You know how.
7 May 1920
Because you don’t see things as I see them, because you don’t really understand, you think I am wicked and immoral and selfish – so I am, according to your standards. According to my own, I am singularly pure, uncontaminated, and high principled.
Because you don’t see things as I see them, because you don’t really understand, you think I am wicked and immoral and selfish – so I am, according to your standards. According to my own, I am singularly pure, uncontaminated, and high principled.
December 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
7 May 1920
Because you don’t see things as I see them, because you don’t really understand, you think I am wicked and immoral and selfish – so I am, according to your standards. According to my own, I am singularly pure, uncontaminated, and high principled.
Because you don’t see things as I see them, because you don’t really understand, you think I am wicked and immoral and selfish – so I am, according to your standards. According to my own, I am singularly pure, uncontaminated, and high principled.
September 1919
You are beautiful, splendid: full of fire and youth, creative, invigorating, not human!!?? NO !
(How I adore you)
You are beautiful, splendid: full of fire and youth, creative, invigorating, not human!!?? NO !
(How I adore you)
December 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
September 1919
You are beautiful, splendid: full of fire and youth, creative, invigorating, not human!!?? NO !
(How I adore you)
You are beautiful, splendid: full of fire and youth, creative, invigorating, not human!!?? NO !
(How I adore you)
11 May 1920
I have been ardently wishing we were ten years older, then people wouldn’t care what we did or where we went – of even twenty years older. I don’t care how old I am provided I may be with you.
I have been ardently wishing we were ten years older, then people wouldn’t care what we did or where we went – of even twenty years older. I don’t care how old I am provided I may be with you.
December 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
11 May 1920
I have been ardently wishing we were ten years older, then people wouldn’t care what we did or where we went – of even twenty years older. I don’t care how old I am provided I may be with you.
I have been ardently wishing we were ten years older, then people wouldn’t care what we did or where we went – of even twenty years older. I don’t care how old I am provided I may be with you.
21 October 1918
All the frills and furbelows, conceits and coquetries have vanished utterly, leaving my love gloriously and brutally naked, to take or leave – as you will.
All the frills and furbelows, conceits and coquetries have vanished utterly, leaving my love gloriously and brutally naked, to take or leave – as you will.
December 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM
21 October 1918
All the frills and furbelows, conceits and coquetries have vanished utterly, leaving my love gloriously and brutally naked, to take or leave – as you will.
All the frills and furbelows, conceits and coquetries have vanished utterly, leaving my love gloriously and brutally naked, to take or leave – as you will.
August 1920
How I loved you then! I was always afraid of your guessing how much I loved you.
How I loved you then! I was always afraid of your guessing how much I loved you.
December 24, 2025 at 2:36 AM
August 1920
How I loved you then! I was always afraid of your guessing how much I loved you.
How I loved you then! I was always afraid of your guessing how much I loved you.
Do you like orchids? I adore them.
You would have the same feelings if you could see them as I do at this moment: meaning, in clusters, purpled, narcotic, with here and there some shameful misalliance as is suitable for plebeian orchids.
You would have the same feelings if you could see them as I do at this moment: meaning, in clusters, purpled, narcotic, with here and there some shameful misalliance as is suitable for plebeian orchids.
December 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Do you like orchids? I adore them.
You would have the same feelings if you could see them as I do at this moment: meaning, in clusters, purpled, narcotic, with here and there some shameful misalliance as is suitable for plebeian orchids.
You would have the same feelings if you could see them as I do at this moment: meaning, in clusters, purpled, narcotic, with here and there some shameful misalliance as is suitable for plebeian orchids.
a little music is what we need to soothe our savage breast.
December 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
a little music is what we need to soothe our savage breast.
23 October 1910
You do ramble on, or do you like receiving infuriated letters; really, do understand, you exasperate me when you make yourself so – dumb! – excuse the epithet.
You do ramble on, or do you like receiving infuriated letters; really, do understand, you exasperate me when you make yourself so – dumb! – excuse the epithet.
December 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
23 October 1910
You do ramble on, or do you like receiving infuriated letters; really, do understand, you exasperate me when you make yourself so – dumb! – excuse the epithet.
You do ramble on, or do you like receiving infuriated letters; really, do understand, you exasperate me when you make yourself so – dumb! – excuse the epithet.
December 1910
I flatter myself I am the possessor of one of the most adaptable natures in existence.
I flatter myself I am the possessor of one of the most adaptable natures in existence.
December 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
December 1910
I flatter myself I am the possessor of one of the most adaptable natures in existence.
I flatter myself I am the possessor of one of the most adaptable natures in existence.
March 1919
You could have made anything of me. I would have walked among the stars.
You could have made anything of me. I would have walked among the stars.
December 23, 2025 at 6:35 AM
March 1919
You could have made anything of me. I would have walked among the stars.
You could have made anything of me. I would have walked among the stars.
March 1921
Damn you, I say. Curse your insolence. I am not your slave. How dare you trifle with my most sacred sentiments!
Damn you, I say. Curse your insolence. I am not your slave. How dare you trifle with my most sacred sentiments!
December 23, 2025 at 2:36 AM
March 1921
Damn you, I say. Curse your insolence. I am not your slave. How dare you trifle with my most sacred sentiments!
Damn you, I say. Curse your insolence. I am not your slave. How dare you trifle with my most sacred sentiments!
21 March 1919
O my love, and this time last week we were still free and happy and – together, and all life seemed full of youth and spring and romance.
O my love, and this time last week we were still free and happy and – together, and all life seemed full of youth and spring and romance.
December 22, 2025 at 10:36 PM
21 March 1919
O my love, and this time last week we were still free and happy and – together, and all life seemed full of youth and spring and romance.
O my love, and this time last week we were still free and happy and – together, and all life seemed full of youth and spring and romance.
13 April 1920
My Mitya, bless you for being sweet to me this morning on the telephone – O please love me dreadfully to make up for all the beastliness I have to endure.
My Mitya, bless you for being sweet to me this morning on the telephone – O please love me dreadfully to make up for all the beastliness I have to endure.
December 22, 2025 at 6:36 PM
13 April 1920
My Mitya, bless you for being sweet to me this morning on the telephone – O please love me dreadfully to make up for all the beastliness I have to endure.
My Mitya, bless you for being sweet to me this morning on the telephone – O please love me dreadfully to make up for all the beastliness I have to endure.
17 September 1920
I really don’t like sightseeing. . . . I find that the only thing that keeps my mind off you is danger
I really don’t like sightseeing. . . . I find that the only thing that keeps my mind off you is danger
December 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
17 September 1920
I really don’t like sightseeing. . . . I find that the only thing that keeps my mind off you is danger
I really don’t like sightseeing. . . . I find that the only thing that keeps my mind off you is danger
21 September 1920
I seems to me, I am forever pursuing your ghost –
I seems to me, I am forever pursuing your ghost –
December 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
21 September 1920
I seems to me, I am forever pursuing your ghost –
I seems to me, I am forever pursuing your ghost –
June 1919
You'll be sorry if I AM eaten by a vulture tomorrow night!
You'll be sorry if I AM eaten by a vulture tomorrow night!
December 22, 2025 at 10:33 AM
June 1919
You'll be sorry if I AM eaten by a vulture tomorrow night!
You'll be sorry if I AM eaten by a vulture tomorrow night!
2 July 1920
I know I have always shown in myself all that is vile, but I swear to you, all the good in me there used to be isn’t dead. I am flinging it at your feet as a not unworthy tribute to our love.
I know I have always shown in myself all that is vile, but I swear to you, all the good in me there used to be isn’t dead. I am flinging it at your feet as a not unworthy tribute to our love.
December 22, 2025 at 6:33 AM
2 July 1920
I know I have always shown in myself all that is vile, but I swear to you, all the good in me there used to be isn’t dead. I am flinging it at your feet as a not unworthy tribute to our love.
I know I have always shown in myself all that is vile, but I swear to you, all the good in me there used to be isn’t dead. I am flinging it at your feet as a not unworthy tribute to our love.
21 July 1920
All your letters have disappeared from the drawer of my writing table, so I suppose he has taken them. I have only just found this out. I always tore up the indiscreet ones, thank goodness!
All your letters have disappeared from the drawer of my writing table, so I suppose he has taken them. I have only just found this out. I always tore up the indiscreet ones, thank goodness!
December 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
21 July 1920
All your letters have disappeared from the drawer of my writing table, so I suppose he has taken them. I have only just found this out. I always tore up the indiscreet ones, thank goodness!
All your letters have disappeared from the drawer of my writing table, so I suppose he has taken them. I have only just found this out. I always tore up the indiscreet ones, thank goodness!