Lot 227
Kerouac, Jack (1922-69) American novelist; On the Road (1957) established him as the leader and spokesman of the Beat generation. Typed Letter Signed ("Jack"), one page, 11 x 8½ in. (Orlando, Florida), Jan. 17, 1962. Across the top of the page, Kerouac wrote, "Unmailed letter to Tom Guinzburg '62". To Guinzburg, who was the head of Viking Press, with content about Kerouac's writings, publishing problems, and the kind of writer he is.
In part: "Sterling tells me you feel very sad about the Big Sur business--But as I told you, when FS&Cudahy took Visions of Gerard, which Malcolm Cowley [Kerouac's editor] rejected summarily, they exercised their option on the next work, which is Big Sur….Malcolm rejected Maggie Cassidy as a full whole work by itself and wanted to publish it with miscellaneous short stories because as a novel it was 'too thin'--Nevertheless Avon Books bought it whole and entire, as a novel, and advanced $7500 on it….Malcolm just turned down everything: Gerard as well as Doctor Sax & Subterraneans as well as Desolation Angels which is the last available novel I have (already written) in my desk--And he even had Dharma Bums mutilated beyond recognition….Goddamit Tom, I had a rough time even after the social bomb of On the Road getting as much as a $2000 advance on Dharma Bums! (I realize you werent the boss then, I dont mean your father but the old literary men in there who never even shook my hand because they thought I was a hoodlum)….My business is not to write like in the 1920's but [to] make a new literature, which I've done. You wouldnt have a Ken Kesey today without somebody breaking the ground & springing personal story-telling loose from 'fictional' devices….I've nothing to do with Scott Fitzgerald and much to do with Joyce and Proust…." Much more excellent content. Fine.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Water Row Books/Kerouac Estate, 1991.
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| Realized $4,320 |
