TLS signed “Margaret Mitchell Marsh,” one page, 7 x 10.25, personal letterhead, December 15, 1937. Letter to Mrs. Gates, in full: “I hope you will forgive my long delay in acknowledging your letter and the copy of your book of Poems. Recently it has been necessary for me to be out of the city, and so, I have just received both. I am writing to thank you even before I have read your poems because I know, with the pressure of Christmas and of business matters which have piled up in my absence, it may be some time before I can read your book. I refuse to be hurried in reading poetry, for hurried reading is not fair either to reader or author. I know that I shall like your Poems, and I thank you for them and for the Christmas inscription you wrote.
I appreciated your letter so very much and the many fine things you wrote about ‘Gone With the Wind.’ I am glad, too, that you liked the article in Collier's Magazine. My friends and family thought it the best that has been written about me, and, after all, families are hard to please.
You were kind to invite me ‘to refugee to Maine and spend the time in your white canoe.’ In the present rush of my life that sounds so quiet and peaceful. However, I do not know when I can ‘refugee,’ as business matters seem to keep me very busy. I always wanted to go to Maine. The wonderful woman who taught me English at Washington Seminary (here in Atlanta), Mrs Eva Paisley, lives at North Lovell, Maine, now and her descriptions of the beauties of your State have long made me want to see it. I am enclosing a booklet printed by my publishers last year, and I hope you will find it of interest. With many thanks and all good wishes for a happy Christmas season.” Double-matted and framed with a portrait photo to an overall size of 19.25 x 17. In fine condition, with a few light stains at the top.
Upon its release in the summer of 1936, Gone With the Wind swiftly captured the hearts and imaginations of readers, garnering widespread acclaim for its sweeping narrative and vivid characters. Margaret Mitchell's depiction of the antebellum South amidst the turmoil of the Civil War resonated deeply with audiences, propelling the novel to unparalleled success. Critics hailed Mitchell's storytelling prowess and her ability to evoke a sense of place and time with remarkable detail. The book's commercial triumph was equally impressive, achieving over one million sales by December 1936. Its popularity surged further with the release of the iconic film adaptation in 1939, solidifying Gone With the Wind's status as a timeless classic.
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