A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather

81 letters found

Search parameters

previous - next

Results 21-30:

To [ Helen Sprague? ] [prob. December 1932] , fragment ; WCPM 

P.S.: Obscure Destinies selling well in England. The pianist Myra Hess came by and said her friends were praising it, and reported good words John Galsworthy had asked her to convey.  P.S.: Sorry little Bernard is ill, making Christmas sad.  W.   [Stout #1138]


To Chilson LeonardMar. 19, 1936Phil-Ex 

Has no photographs of Nebraska in 1885 or 1895. Understands from Professor Pupin [?] of Columbia that it resembled the plains of Russia. Otto Fuchs not a representation of a specific person but a composite of many, as are most minor characters. Blind d'Arnault modeled on Blind Boone. Has also heard of a similar Blind Tom and Blind Noah. Actress Jim sees in Camille based on Clara Morris. Many relics such as the Spanish sword have been found in southwest Kansas. Good reading does not come from factual information, however, but from cultivated taste. Does not approve of required reading of contemporary writers in English courses, which should center on great English writers of the past and on Latin writers. Wishes his students were reading Kidnapped [ Stevenson ] or Vanity Fair [ Thackeray ] rather than My Ántonia.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1306]


To Allan NevinsMar. 22, [1938]Columbia 

Sorry he did not receive her letter written four years ago. Secretary found the draft and is enclosing it. Glad to have heard from him. Would like to see a new edition of his book on Fremont.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1403]


To Burges Johnson, n.d. [1939?] Beinecke  Partial transcription by E. K. Brown. Pub. CEA Newsletter Dec. 1939; quoted in Bohlke.

Like Henry Seidel Canby, does not believe in teaching contemporary literature. More important to use limited school time to teach classics of English literature. Essential reading in school includes Shakespeare, Milton, Fielding, Jane Austen, with Thackeray, George Eliot, George Meredith, and Thomas Hardy as the most recent. Young people should read contemporary literature as they want to, not as assignments. True literary taste is as rare as perfect pitch, but students can glean something from exposure to the classics, even if they don't have real aptitude.   [Stout #1454]


To Ferris GreensletOct. 19, 1939Harvard 

Thanks for the books. Notes errors in biographical information on William Archer, whom she knew beginning in 1908. Attended George Meredith's funeral with Archer in London and sat with him in [William Butler] Yeats's box with Lady Gregory at a performance by the Abbey Theatre Company in London. He was one of the first critics to recognize John Millington Synge's work. Was a great enthusiast of Ibsen and translated several of his plays. Hopes this can be corrected.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1458]


To Head of Department of English, Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md.Feb. 7, 1940UVa 

Has received two letters from John J. Walsh about his thesis. Is not a Catholic, though published reports have said so. Please tell this student he can't always believe what he reads in books. Is sorry people write things about her that are not true.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1471]


To Ferris GreensletFeb. 12, [1940?], extract made by E. K. Brown ; Beinecke 

Sorry to see an old friend of his [John Buchan, Lord Tweedsmuir] has died. Knows by experience how empty one's world begins to look. Realizes she is often shrewish, but does grieve for her friends' losses.   Willa Cather   [Stout #1472]


To Ferris GreensletJune 10, 1940Harvard 

Very pleased with the autobiography of John Buchan being serialized in the Atlantic. Congratulations on securing a book of such good sense that allows one to think about a different life than that in the present troubled state of the world—as different as Virgilian pastoral. Has been accused of escapism, but realizes one can't escape everything. Is utterly unable to escape the sorrow now threatening all that has made life worth living in this world. Her doctor says people in hospitals these days lack the will to get well. He has forbidden her to go to Philadelphia to accept an honorary degree from the University of Pennsylvania this month because her physical resistance is so low. P.S.: Please check current edition of My Ántonia from the Riverside Press and see what poor quality paper they are using. One side of the page bleeds through to the other.  Willa Cather   [Stout #1484]


To Ferris GreensletSept. 21, 1940, from New YorkHarvard 

Appreciated his offering her a copy of Lord Tweedsmuir, but didn't answer because completing her new book. Knopf pleased with it. Has not yet received Audubon's America, and looks forward to it as well as the book on Tweedsmuir. Glad they have both known such fine people. Greatly admires the present conduct of the British. Even Stephen Tennant, as pampered as he has been, says he is proud to be in England now. Finished reading Churchill's Life of Marlborough at Grand Manan and considers it a very great work. P.S.: The books have arrived.  Willa Cather   [Stout #1491]


To Mr. Gardiner,  n.d. [c. Feb. 15, 1941? Perhaps 1942, given publication of Columbus book] , excerpt made by E. K. Brown ; Beinecke 

Liked his magazine article "Modern Authors Can Be Gentlemen" and appreciated his comment on her. Steinbeck and Saroyan do not use the full range of the English language, but only write in monosyllables. Samuel Morison manages to use even ordinary slang in such a way that it fits the need of the moment, without destroying the dignity of his writing. Enjoyed Morison's book about Columbus [1942]; had not known the role of religion in Columbus's life.   [Stout #1527]


previous - next