American playwright (1888–1953) who occupies a central place in the history of twentieth-century drama. Among his most famous works are The Iceman Cometh, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Long Day’s Journey into Night. A four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, he was also awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1936. Uncommon ALS signed “Gene,” one page, 6.25 x 7.75, Provincetown, Massachusetts, March 27, 1921. Letter to Harold Meltzer about submitting some material. In full: “All of my finished stuff is pretty well tied up in one way or another and I haven’t a thing I could submit to Hilliard. However, I’m none the less grateful to you for letting me know of the chance, and sorry I can’t have a try at it. Scotty maligns me with his dramatic Doctor. The Doc. who advised me to shun the rum pot was myself. I was peeved by rebellion by the high cost of bad booze. Also I thought I’d have a novel stab at a sober N. Y. relaxation. Found this experiment exceedingly entertaining—seemed to be seeing N. Y. for the first time—and. As a result, have sworn a sincere New Year’s oath to so continue as far as these U.S. are concerned—or until we go ‘wet’ again. Again thanks for your letter. Give me best to Courey, Barney, and all.” Partial separations to edges of central horizontal fold and a couple light spots to left side, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in O’Neill’s hand, and signed in the return address area, “E. G. O’Neill.”
Battling his alcoholism from an early age, O’Neill felt the internal struggle of many artists: if he continued his dangerously heavy drinking, he knew he would be unable to write, but if he stopped drinking, he feared that he would lose his passion and creativity. Contrary to his latter worry, his extended periods of sobriety were his most productive periods. After winning his first Pulitzer Prize in 1920 for Beyond the Horizon, the playwright embarked on one such sobriety “experiment,” taking “a novel stab at a sober N. Y. relaxation.” In 1921 he finished writing The First Man, wrote the entirety of The Hairy Ape, and began work on The Fountain, which he completed the following fall. He received his second and third Pulitzer Prizes within a three-year span, but eventually fell off the wagon and suffered another period of alcohol-induced depression. Written from his home in Provincetown, this is an outstanding letter touching on one of the most important issues in the Nobel Prize-winning writer’s life—a remarkable account of the artist’s struggle in his own words! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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