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#1116: Willa Cather to Ferris Greenslet, July 17 [1932]

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⬩W⬩S⬩C⬩ F.G. Dear Mr. Greenslet1;

Just when I am shutting off all cheap editions3, I am sorry to have Mr. Cape4 steal a march5 on me. If I could see any possible way to stop it, I would. But I could hardly expect that your arrangement with Murray6 was of a nature that would prevent them from disposing of the book7 in whatever way they wished.

I have been travelling, and Cape's letter, with yours, reached me only a few days ago. I am sending him the preface he asks for, simply because I do not want this book to come out in England8 as a new book. When you asked me9 to write a preface for your new edition I had a hundred things on hand and was packing to go West. I simply couldn't sit down and write a preface. But idf you wish to use this one10 in later printings, I have no objection.

I shall be here2 until September, at any rate.

Faithfully yours Willa Cather Postscript: Dear F.G.

After I had sealinged my letter, it occurred to me that it may be too late to include a Preface in future printings because of change in pageing etc. If you wished to use this text on the back of the jacket I would be willing, provided that you used as title of the text "Preface written by the Author for the new English edition of THE SONG OF THE LARK".

W. S. C.