'When you look at your parents or grandparents it's hard to imagine them as young lovers full of adventure'

Conjuring up an extraordinary tale and extra depths to the famous photographer, Lee Miller, Ami Bouhassane shares her grandmothers love letters, held in the Lee Miller's Archives.

Episode 16 – Art and Liberty

In this episode Lee forges stronger links with an important surrealist group in Cairo and she finds out that Roland will visit her in Egypt.

' Darling, I’ve delayed writing, and now I’m afraid that it will not reach you in time - - - it goes without saying, that I’m absolutely thrilled about your arrival --- it couldn’t be better arranged that you come with folklore intentions and to join that English woman - - - - as if you want to, it will give me endless opportunities to be with you if you want me to be, of course and if she is agreeable to the idea. ' Lee Miller wrote to Roland Penrose in London, 23-27th January 1939

This series explores the 300 pages of love letters written between the iconic photographer Lee Miller and the Surrealist artist Roland Penrose during their courtship. Starting just a few days after they first met in June 1937 at a fancy dress party in Paris, the letters continue for 2 years charting their love, their friends such as Man Ray, Picasso, Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, Nusch and Paul Eluard, their adventures, the build up of world war II, some scandals and a lot of fun.

Subscribe to support the Lee Miller Archives and Farleys and listen to other podcast series featuring Lee Miller’s writing: www.patreon.com/leemillerarchives

Guest Speakers: Antony Penrose (son of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose and Co-Director of Lee Miller Archives), Hilary Roberts (Independent Curator, formerly senior curator of photography at Imperial War Museums, London), Hussein Omar (lecturer on Modern global history, University college Dublin) and Sam Bardaouil (Founder & curator of ArtReorientated).

Lee Miller's letters read and presented by Ami Bouhassane

Roland Penrose's letters read by Adam Grayson

Music composed by David Cullen

Series Producer: Tolly Robinson

All content © Lee Miller Archives, England 2024. All rights reserved. www.leemiller.co.uk

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