ALS signed “Agatha Christie alias Mary Westmacott,” one page both sides, 5.5 x 7, Winterbrook House letterhead, October 10, [1973]. Letter to an admirer. In full: “Your letter re my Mary Westmacott book Absent in the Spring gave me so much pleasure that I feel I must write you a personal letter—This was a book I was wanting to write and which I went over and over in my mind—when at last I had a few days leisure I knew that at last the time had come—I wrote it in a matter of a few hours—at white hot speed and immense pleasure—such as I have never felt over any other book—I wrote it just as I wanted it to be—and refused to make the least alteration of any kind—I also enjoyed writing the other Mary Westmacott book[s]—The Rose & the Yew Tree and Giant’s Bread—but Absent in the Spring was my happiest non stop piece of pure pleasure.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a portion of the original mailing envelope, addressed in Christie’s hand, as well as a clean, tight hardcover copy of Absent in Spring in its original dust jacket. Becoming increasingly tired of writing detective stories, Christie wrote six romance novels beginning in the 1930, all written under the pen name Mary Westmacott, in order to ‘free her from the expectations of mystery fans.’ She would frequently claim that Absent in Spring was the one book that satisfied her completely, as evidenced by the letter offered here. Despite her unrivaled success and copious amounts of fan mail, Christie took the time to write this enthusiastic and lengthy reply about one of her favorite works, elevating this letter far above her more commonly-seen general fan correspondence. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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