Love and Friendship

Shirley's early letters and journals reveal a young woman using the act of writing to gather and focus her thoughts...about the world, about life, about work, and about love and friendship. She was clearly attractive to and attracted by the opposite sex, though never uncritically, and formed several relationships before she met her future husband Alfred at a party. She also developed some incredibly strong friendships with women, which lasted throughout their respective lifetimes. among them: Carmel Brickman, Regina (Reggie) Grant, Diane Lindsay.  

 

Her views of men and relationships were stated succintly, with just a hint of irony, in a journal note she wrote on 4th June 1945 (right).

​

Shirley had close friendships with several men, though whether it went anything beyond friendship is not clear. One particular friend was Peter, who served in the Royal Navy. From the letters between them it is clear that he was enamoured of Shirley and, perhaps, desired something more than friendship.