Thanks for the Christmas box. Especially enjoyed the steamed pudding. Mother sent aprons and other kitchen things. This brings Merry Christmas. P.S.: Publisher sent two Venetian glass bottles. Willie [Stout #568]
Yes, the story Dorothy sent about the university roughneck has the same idea as her book. Maybe future readers will think it is more true than Three Soldiers [Dos Passos] . Knopf hopes to see Dorothy in June. Glad Claude can help her understand how she was feeling in that long-past time. Will finish page proofs soon, but doesn't know if she can ever leave this book behind her. Willa [Stout #595]
Knopf will expect to see her between June 14 and 17. His view of the novel shows the preconceptions she mentioned. Willa [Stout #597]
Congratulations on her article [ "Vermont: Our Rich Little Poor State" ] in the Nation. Hopes they can visit in private before or after they call on Knopf. Willa [Stout #598]
Alfred Knopf has jury duty. If he can't be excused, they will have to see him over lunch. W [Stout #599]
Hopes Knopf will reduce the anticipated price of the book. Sorry Dorothy will be having to write a review while she is at sea, when she should be resting. Already looking forward to her return. Memory helps one see who were the really important people in one's life. Thanks for her help with One of Ours. It looked like a failure for a while. She rescued the boy. Willa [Stout #602]
Dorothy Canfield leaving for Italy on Saturday [24th]. She has done so much for the book, including arranging to review it for the New York Times. Sinclair Lewis to review it for the New York Evening Post. Might he consider doing so? Knopf will send an advance copy in August. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #603]
Thanks for the check. Will go to Grand Manan by way of Montreal next week. Willa Cather [Stout #610]
Returned home yesterday to find expressions of sympathy for bad reviews and regret that she tried to write a war novel. Only Dorothy's review shows understanding of the book. Knopf reports good sales, however—already 16,000 out of 37,000 printed. Won't Dorothy's own new book be published soon? [Rough Hewn, released October 20, 1922.] Eager to see her. Willa [Stout #621]
Appreciates his gracious letter. The book is attracting extreme comments on both sides. Mr. Knopf very glad. Thanks for catching errors, which will be corrected in the next printing. Some Germans have expressed anger. Will be sure to let him know if she is in Pittsburgh. Willa Cather [Stout #627]