TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, personal letterhead, May 29, 1944. Letter to literary agent H. N. Swanson, in full: "I have an inquiry from my wife, who is now in New York, as to whether you would be willing to handle Virgilia Peterson Sapeia, whose qualifications are as follows:
In the 1920s she married Malcolm Ross, now a Roosevelt politician, then a novelist, or would-be novelist, and got so sick of Mike's sloppy efforts that she started writing stories herself and selling them to magazines like Century and Scribner's. To me, at any rate, it was apparent at once she could write rings around Mike, but while this amusing irony was just getting started, she divorced him and married Sapeia, whom she had been stuck on all along. He is a Polish prince, and Jilly bears down very heavily on the 'Princess Paul Sapeia' thing.
In 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, she had a dreadful time escaping from the ancestral estates, and her account of this, called 'Polish Profile,' made quite an impression. It was published serially in the Ladies' Home Journal, and I believe in part by Reader's Digest. At that time I thought she would do for pictures and got Geller interested, but she didn't bother to answer his letter. I have ordered 'Polish Profile' to be sent to you, and you can see for yourself what you think. Personally, I think she is very gifted and would probably do well in Hollywood. She is the daughter of a Swedish doctor who became a Park Avenue fixture; quite tall, rather good looking when I knew her, and now, I suppose, approaching forty. If you are interested, I shall be able to furnish her address in a day or so when my wife sends it in." In fine condition, with staple holes to upper left corner.
Virgilia Peterson-Sapieha was a writer and TV journalist (1904-1966) who is best known for her two autobiographical works Polish Profile (1940) and Beyond this Shore (1942). In the years 1952-1954, she hosted the program Author Meets the Critics on ABC television.
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