Aldous Huxley's Modern Myth

Aldous Huxley sent his brother a copy of Leda in response to Julian's letter announcing his engagement to Juliette Baillot. Technically the story of an adultery, it made an odd engagement present. As a poem about recurring disillusionment, however, it can be construed as indirect advice to an elder brother and a prospective sister-in-law not to expect too much. The newly engaged pair missed the poem's central point completely. Julian later surmised that their euphoric state caused this obtuseness, for when Juliette wrote a note of glowing praise to Aldous, he replied [on 22 January 1919] with the following snub

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