ALS signed “J. S.,” two lined pages, 8 x 12.5, September 9, 1965. Letter to advertising pioneer Howard Gossage, written in both pencil and felt tip. In full: “This day always puzzled me because I never could find out what we admitted.
I haven’t heard farther from J. McWilliams since she phoned about coming out here, and I think we should get moving in some direction. We will be out here all of Sept and part of Oct. We plan to go to England around Dec. 1. I should like to see the Rover factory. Spoke to Jimmy about that. After that we have a thrilling time. By good fortune, sometimes called influence I am being given the freedom of a flock of libraries that not only have never been open but some of which aren’t even known by their owners. These include six or seven belonging to the duke of Buccleuh, Northumberlands castle at Celonville and many more. Some of them aren’t even catalogued. I am taking Professor Venaver along and visiting them—by Rover—I hope. Then Christmas in Ireland, New years in Dublin and then I am going to wander in the west country, still by Rover, I hope.
I’m taking a pleasant job to pay expenses. Harry Guggenheim, an old friend has asked me to write a series of letters for Newsday and syndicate. These will be informal and about anything that interests me, somewhat in the peregrinating method of Charley, no limit to subject or vehemence, no deadline and no guarantee from me. It will be a most interesting outlet, particularly the syndicate. Any messages you want to send? The letters will discuss anything and everything.
You said in your last letter, that I discuss advertising. Sure I do. Once in a while I look at television and then I know what might this damned medium swings.
Anyway, I’m finishing my last chapter of the Americans book and the most important chapter. It is about morals—not as good or bad but so necessary to survival. A very hard chapter to write because it is so simple. A large part of advertising is immoral and more so because it is acceptable.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
Steinbeck wrote this while in the United Kingdom doing research for his book The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights, a modern retelling of Arthurian legend. In addition to discussing the libraries he planned to visit, he touches upon several of his writing projects. At this time he was about to begin writing a series called ‘Letters to Alicia’ for Guggenheim’s Newsday paper, mentioning that these pieces were to be in the style of his semi-autobiographical bestseller Travels with Charley. The column proved successful—between 1965 and 1968, he published 77 letters on such diverse subjects as Israel, stopping smoking, Vietnam, and LBJ. He was also finishing up America and Americans, a collection of his journalistic work that he published the following year. Excellent content from the prolific American author. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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