Skip to main content

#2052: Willa Cather to Frederic Gershom Melcher, [October 18 to December 31, 1919]

More about this letter…
Plain view:

Guide to Reading Letter Transcriptions

Some of these features are only visible when "plain text" is off.

Textual Feature Appearance
passage deleted with a strikethrough mark deleted passage
passage deleted by overwritten added letters overwritten passage
passage added above the line passage with added text above
passage added on the line passage with added text inline
passage added in the margin passage with text added in margin
handwritten addition to a typewritten letter typed passage with added handwritten text
missing or unreadable text missing text noted with "[illegible]"
uncertain transcriptions word[?]
notes written by someone other than Willa Cather Note in another's hand
printed letterhead text printed text
text printed on postcards, envelopes, etc. printed text
text of date and place stamps stamped text
passage written by Cather on separate enclosure. written text
NUMBER FIVE BANK STREET3 Dear Mr. Melcher1:

I've had the greatest fun with Jurgen4! If the indecent parts of the book were cut out, there'd be nothing interesting left, and that's a real merit. In most American books the indecency is so unessential, even when its put there with a swagger.

The Macy people put in a card from you, so when I opened the book I knew you had yielded to a friendly and generous impulse after leaving Bank street that afternoon. Please come again before the season is over. You are the only man connected with the selling end of the book trade whom it doesn't make me vastly blue to talk with. I am reading Reynard the Fox5 on your advice.

Faithfully yours Willa Cather