Lee Miller and Roland Penrose: Love Letters Bound in Gold Handcuffs

'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 18 – All my love to youIn this episode Roland and Lee's love letters draw to an end, and the outbreak of war nears, but what will they decide to do? 'Darling, I’m drinking quantities of gin and lime, mad with rage because you haven’t answered my wire about Man and I wanted so much to see him. I feel like getting off here and going across France but I can’t afford it.....'.' wrote Lee Miller to Roland Penrose, London 7th June 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/leemillerarchivesGuest 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 

'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 17 – Marco PoloIn this episode Roland and Lee's adventures in Egypt together end and again they become separated by oceans... but is their future together more certain? 'I have no news only the old guess what? To which you know the answer. I miss you more that ever, the Siwa trip was the final proof to me that I love you insatiably – every moment was superb and every moment since I left you on the quay intolerable.' wrote Roland Penrose aboard the Marco Polo to Lee Miller, Cairo 19th March 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/leemillerarchivesGuest 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

'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 LibertyIn 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 1939This 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 

'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 15 - It seems Mad that we should not be togetherIn this episode Lee is still travelling whilst Roland is now back in London touring Picasso's Guernica painting around the UK.'I took some quite startling pictures in Syria - - - -Palmyra, Balbeck - - - Djerash - - - Krack - - -Sergiopolis - - - the Euphrates and the Tigris - - - to say nothing of Homs, Hama, Alep, Damascus - - - Antioch and all the great empty spaces - - - but as usual I’m too indolent to do anything about them . . . . and they are stuck away, un-filed like my Romanian and Greek pictures. Altho I bought an enlarger, I don’t think that I’ll ever get around to using it.' Lee Miller wrote to Roland Penrose in London, 6th January 1939This 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 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 

'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 14. He doesn't want to divorce meIn this episode Lee Miller writes from Athens telling Roland about her travels in Romania and of the conversation with her husband Aziz about parting. The tensions in the build up to the war have Roland becoming anxious for Lee safety particularly as her letters are not getting to him. 'Aziz and I had long conversations about you and my situation in general. The result is that I’m going on this trip then come back and see what everything is about . . . . He doesn’t want to divorce me unless he is sure that I’m going to be happy and taken care of elsewhere - - - - I told him that I’d had enough of marriage for the moment ....' wrote Lee Miller in Athens to Roland Penrose in England 18th October 1938Guest 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 2023. All rights reserved. www.leemiller.co.uk

'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 13. Wish you weren't so far offIn this episode Roland Penrose has had to leave Lee Miller early from their adventures in the Balkans to return to Paris and meet with Picasso. Lee Miller contiues her travels in Romania with Hari Brauner and Lena Constante. In the meantime world events move closer to the outbreak of war. 'Things in Europe seem to be going from bad to worse and I think a certain country is bent of making trouble and that nothing will stop them until there is a general bust up. I think you ought to leave Romania at once, it is certain to be one of the first countries to be drawn into the soup, and I wouldn’t advise coming out by the Orient Express which crosses too much dangerous country – better by Italy, Yugoslavia and Switzerland unless of course you take a plane or come round by sea.' letter extract, Roland Penrose 9th September 1938Guest 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 2023. All rights reserved. www.leemiller.co.uk