Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet, novelist, and writer of short stories (1889-1973). Two items: an eight-line autograph poem signed by Aiken, "Conrad Aiken," headed "'Variations' (III)," one page, 5.5 x 5.5, beginning, "Wind in the sunlit trees, and the red leaves fall: / Shadows of leaves on on the sunlit wall"; and a hand-corrected TLS to critic Lewis Mumford, signed "Conrad Aiken," one page on a 5.5 x 3.5 postcard, March 16, 1963, in part: "How nice of you to remember that ancient letter of Robinson's—as you say, these are the behind-the-scenes 'asides' that, if ever overheard, are the most precious. The rest is all a kind of meaningless and unappraisable cauchemar. One must expect to go to bed without knowing! Yes, dreadful about Van Wyck. Why don't they let him die. These hospital prolongations are insensate! I had to fight to keep out of one five weeks ago, when I had a heart attack—but I escaped, and am slowly recovering." In fine condition, with intersecting folds to the poem.
