A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

43 letters found

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Results 11-20:

To Duncan M. VinsonhalerAug. [17?, 1923], from Ville d'AvrayUVa 

Has received check for $1000 to pay Bakst. Work has been slow. Her health has not been good, and she is very tired; going to Aix-les-Bains to rest. Not sure her parents will want to go to Omaha to unveil the portrait. Would prefer this to be quiet. May Bakst exhibit the portrait in Philadelphia and Boston before sending it to Omaha? Will probably sail for the U.S. in late October and is not eager to get to Omaha, where the aggressive Mrs. Shotwell lurks. The questions she wrote to Bakst are entirely too personal and intrusive!   Willa Cather   [Stout #693]


To [Sylvia] Beach,  n.d. [mid-Aug. 1923?] , written on Shakespeare and Co. letterhead ; Princeton 

Came by hoping they could go see M. Bient, but found that she was asleep. Went on to see him and he was asleep too!   Willa Cather   [Stout #694]


To Duncan M. VinsonhalerSept. 6, [1923], from Aix-les-BainsUVa 

Is resting here for a month. Sixteen sittings for the portrait, rather than the ten anticipated. Has the check in a safe deposit box until the painting is finished. Are they willing for Bakst to exhibit it? Not sure she can bring it with her. Are they willing for a photograph of it to be in the New York Times? Mrs. Shotwell's rude letter enclosed.   Willa Cather   [Stout #700]


To Duncan M. VinsonhalerSept. 21, [1923], from Aix-les-BainsUVa 

Glad to have his confirmation that people in Omaha pay no attention to Mrs. Shotwell. Touched by Harvey Newbranch's column. Glad people of Nebraska are pleased with her article in The Nation. Not sure if she can get painting to Omaha by December 10. Glad to report that A Lost Lady is going into a third printing after only a week.   Willa Cather   [Stout #702]


To Duncan M. VinsonhalerNov. 9, [1923], from FranceUVa 

After a month in Paris is back in the country. Hasn't been writing letters. Sails on the Berengaria Nov. 17. Will send painting directly to him when she gets to New York. Seems to be a fine painting, though not a particularly good likeness.   Willa Cather   [Stout #704]


To Duncan M. Vinsonhaler,  Monday [Dec. 10, 1923] , from New YorkUVa 

Sorry she hadn't understood he expected her to be in Omaha for the unveiling of the portrait. No longer plans to be in Nebraska for Christmas; is working on a new book. Would much rather visit when there is no ceremony going on. Has also declined to give William Vaughn Moody lectures in Chicago. People seem bent on keeping her from writing! Picture will be shipped tomorrow.   Willa Cather   [Stout #709]


To Duncan M. VinsonhalerDec. 19, 1923UVa 

Glad the portrait has arrived and they like it fairly well. Doesn't know if Bakst can carry on conversation in English. They spoke in French last summer. Has enjoyed their correspondence.   W. S. C.   [Stout #711]


To Duncan M. Vinsonhaler,  Sunday [Jan. 13, 1924] UVa 

Enclosing a telegram from newspaper and copy of her answer. Is not pleased with the portrait, but other painters advised it could not be refused. Bakst worked hard on it, and she worked hard sitting. Is sorry if the committee is displeased. Entire matter has been stressful.   Willa Cather   [Stout #714]


To Dorothy Canfield FisherFeb. 27, [1924]UVt 

Letter came at a good time, when she was in bed partly to avoid social obligations, partly because of a stiff neck. Pleased to report people of Red Cloud crowned her picture with a laurel wreath. Has enjoyed reading The Doctor Looks at Literature [by Joseph Collins, 1923]. Recommends Mme Curie's book about her husband. Mother is still vexed by Sinclair Lewis's Babbitt. Unfortunately for Alfred Knopf, just when readers are prepared to buy books by her about the West she starts writing things where setting doesn't matter. P.S.: Is the yellow cat male or female?  Willa   [Stout #719]


To Mrs. Charlotte StanfieldOct. 16, [1926], from Jaffrey, N.H.UVa 

Glad to hear from her and get her correct address. Glad her health holds up. Please pass along greetings to Mrs. [Franz?] Boas. Hopes she will like the remembrance of a pleasanter New York, about 1904, in the new book. Can't stand New York now unless she gets away most of the year.   Willa Cather   [Stout #852]


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