A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

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To Fanny ButcherOct. 27, [1926], from Jaffrey, N.H.Newberry 

She is probably the only person who has perfectly understood the book. Meant to be showing the basic attraction/repulsion of being in a marriage. Henshawes are intense lovers. Please send another copy of the review. Has enjoyed her stay in Jaffrey and feels proud of the mountain climbing she has done. Archbishop begins in the Forum in January. A completely new form for her.   Willa Cather   [Stout #857]


To Pendleton Hogan [in Washington, D.C.]Feb. 5, 1940, from New YorkUVa  , also copy at WCPM

His letter came while she was in the West on vacation [?]. Glad he likes My Mortal Enemy. Reason Ewan Grey and Esther do not reenter the story is that people dropped out of Myra's life. She had too many friends; that was one of her problems. Couldn't possibly keep up with them all. It was her excessive devotion to people that made her think of Oswald as her enemy at the end, as if he had destroyed her inner peace. But she could never have had inner peace. Knew the original of Myra quite well. She died fifteen years before the book was written. Will stop with that one question.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1469]


To Mrs. Frank Grippen of Spokane, WashingtonJanuary 14, 1931, from the Grosvenor, New YorkDrew U (Caspersen 53) 

Sorry for slow response. Oswald was Myra Henshaw's "mortal enemy" [in My Mortal Enemy]. She saw such powerful love as spoiling one's internal peace, and that simply is what the novel is about.   Willa Cather