J.D. Salinger Writes To His Editor, About Publishing his Books and the Only War Book "that moves me"

Salinger, J.D.

TLS : Typed Letter Signed

J.D. Salinger, famous American author of Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey. 1 page dated March 10, 1961. Typed letter signed "Jerry" addressed to his editor "Ned" Bradford at Little, Brown. Little, Brown published both Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey for Salinger. Salinger was in the final stretch of the publication of Franny and Zooey, which would come out in July 1961, and writes that he will miss socializing with Signet editor Victor Weybright. Salinger's relationship with Signet was actually quite strained, thanks to his deep dislike for Signet's illustrated paperback cover of Catcher in the Rye, showing Holden Caulfield in his red cap. When the contract was up with Signet, Little, Brown got the rights to the paperback edition, which Salinger refers to when he notes that he's glad about "the arrangements." Salinger goes on to write about Erich Maria Remarque, author of the antiwar novel All Quiet on the Western Front. He writes, "I think Erich Maria Remarque is published by Little Brown-- I know he used to be at any rate. I took an old copy of Three Comrades out to my son's shelter in the snow [...] I'd forgotten what a beautiful,, touching book it is. I think his war books and postwar rubble books are better than anyone's. His are the only ones that move me anyway." Sainger writes that he once ran into Remarque but said nothing: "I don't think its possible for one writer to pay another an acceptable compliment," writes Salinger, adding a typical Caulfield remark-- "something always comes out wrong." It was very rare for Salinger to comment on the war. Salinger's own war experience was highly traumatic. As an intelligence officer and saw the horrors of the concentration camps firsthand, and many of his early stories deal with the trauma of war. He ends the letter with a line about his own writing, stating that he hopes to have the preface ready soon. This preface was never published. In the end Salinger published Franny and Zooey with only a short dedication mentioning his son Matthew and his editor at the New Yorker. Finally, he adds a typed postscript: "The check just arrived-- added thanks." Salinger is written in red pencil in the top left corner, probably for filing purposes. The year is also circled in red pencil. There is a check mark in black pencil on the upper corner, as well as a .5 inch scribble. Otherwise in very good to fine condition, with a large, bold ink signature.

Item #16147

Price: $7,500.00