Letters to My Father

08 October 1952 - October 1953

137 8 / October 1952–October 1953 roMe anD raveLLo Styron traveled from Paris to Rome in early October 1952 and took up residence at the American Academy, situated on the Janiculum, the highest hill in the city. Not long after he arrived, he renewed his acquaintance with Rose Burgunder, whom he had met the previous fall at Johns Hopkins University. 93. rome October 27, 1952 c/o American Academy in Rome Porta San Pancrazio, Rome Dear Pop, Thanks for the piece by Mr. Jebb, which I liked, and for your earlier letter.1 The reason I haven’t written more promptly is because I’ve just recently finished a week’s trip by car—-along with some other members of the Academy—-to Florence, Siena, Ravenna, Urbino and Assisi. It was an excellent trip, lasting about a week, and thoroughly illuminating because my companions were all either painters or, better yet, art historians who gave me first-hand scholarship and information about the Art (with a capital A) we were seeing. I think, Art-wise, I was most impressed by the Medici tombs in Florence and by the Ravenna mosaics, which date from the middle of the Dark Ages and shine today in all their glory. As far as towns go I think I was particularly struck by Urbino, which is pitched on the top of a mountain and is filled with winding, 1. The “piece by Mr. Jebb” is unidentified. The American Academy in Rome, where Styron spent his fellowship year in 1952–1953. Styron’s handwritten note: “Dear Pop—Hope you got my recent letter. In response to your last (thanks for the clipping on Discovery) I’m sending you this pic, which is the only one I could dig up in a hurry. The bldg faces toward the east, overlooking the city below. I live inside on the 2d floor on a hallway, my door being right opposite the 2d big window from the right, and my windows look out on an interior courtyard and fountain.” Courtesy Estate of William C. Styron, Jr. rome and ravello / 139 steep streets and the nicest people in all of Italy. Assisi, on the other hand, is a tourist trap, filled with knick-knacks and holy pilgrims from places like Munich and Brussels. Back at the Academy now, I’ve somewhat settled down. I wish I had a photograph of the place, but I’ll try and get one for you soon. It’s really a lovely place, a real palace, and big enough so that no one gets in anyone else’s way. The painters, sculptors, and architects all get enormous studios which would cost a four-figure sum in New York, and each of which commands a marvelous view of Rome down below. I myself, not needing so much space, have to be content with two huge connecting rooms, excellently furnished, with large ceiling-high windows and a view of the Academy courtyard below, where there is a fountain surrounded by four beautiful cedar trees. We eat in a sort of community dining hall. The food is good Italo-American style, but as in Paris I generally , except for lunch, prefer to eat down in Rome where there are of course excellent restaurants. The keynote here, somewhat like Rabelais’ Abbey of Thélème, is “Do What You Will” and there is no more routine here, or regulations, than in a hotel.2 That suits me fine. Of course I’ve already met some very amiable and interesting people, yet in spite of the slightly community aspects of the place, it doesn’t look to me as if there will be any trouble in keeping out of each other’s way, nor, on the other hand, as if there will be any lack of parties and bon camaraderie when the occasion demands. I have also met an absolutely beautiful girl, American, named Rose, with whom I get along right well, and who has an apartment on the other side of Rome, which will obviously necessitate my buying a car pronto.3 It won’t be a Fiat, but either a German Volkswagen (an excellent car) or an English Austin, either of which will cost around $1300 but which cost I can get back substantially in re-sale before I come back to the U.S.A. One thing just leads to another. A 2. The Abbey of...