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#1697: Willa Cather to Ferris Greenslet, January 31, 1945

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⬩W⬩S⬩C⬩ FG Dear Mr. Greenslet1:

Yes3, I think you had better send Miss Lewison's4 manuscript to me. I can not pretend that I am delighted that such a manuscript is in existence. I do not hail appraisals, even if they are friendly and well written. Such things always stir up the hornets (such as the brothers Hicks5, Joe Davidson6, etc.), who become personally aggrieved by any cordial word spoken in my direction. I very much dislike being the subject of controversy. However, young writers wish to be published and I would not like to stand in anybody's way. I can write more intelligently, of course, after I have read the manuscript.

You speak of a bibliography in the form of an appendix. I would like to check over the bibliography of translations. Some of the most interesting ones, such as the Hungarian translation of SHADOWS ON THE ROCK7, would scarcely have been known to Miss Lewison. Some of the translations came through to me personally, just after Hitler's8 invasion of Holland9. I am enclosing a correct list of translations of DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP10, and a bibliography which Knopf11 prepared for the pamphlet12 which he sends to schools and colleges that write to his office for information.

Cordially yours, Willa Cather