Patrick White correspondence with his Viking Press editors, 1940-1977

SAFE/MLMSS 9508/Folders 1-2

fonds

1940-1977

1136904

0.1 metres of textual material (2 folders) - manuscript and typescript

Viking Press was established in New York in 1925 by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheimer with a founding creed to publish 'a limited list of good non-fiction' and 'distinguished fiction with some claim to permanent importance rather than ephemeral popular interest'. Benjamin W. Huebsch, a renowned publisher of avant-garde literature including James Joyce and D.H. Lawrence, merged with the firm in its first year and became partner and editor.

Patrick White was first introduced to Huebsch through the writer Jean Starr Untermeyer who passed a copy of White’s first novel Happy Valley onto the publisher. To White’s delight, Huebsch accepted the work and it was published by Viking Press in 1940.

Such began White’s professional relationship with Huebsch and Viking Press which according to David Marr became ‘the rock on which Patrick White’s career was built’. Viking Press remained White’s American publisher throughout his career in which he kept regular correspondence with Huebsch and his two successive editors Marshall A. Best and Alan D. Williams.

Not only did White and his editors discuss professional matters but also developed friendships. Much of White’s life is documented through this correspondence which begins whilst he is London during the Second World War and moves through his residences in ‘Dogwood’ in Castle Hill and ‘Highbury’ in Centennial Park. Plans to meet with his editors are discussed, opinions of literature and opera exchanged and White’s feelings of success and frustration with his writing are disclosed.

References:
Viking Books. http://www.penguin.com/meet/publishers/vikingbooks/ (accessed 2 July 2014)
Patrick White : a life / David Marr. North Sydney, N.S.W. : Random House, 2008
Compiled from the collection

The collection comprises 54 original letters from Patrick White (PW) to his editors at Viking Press, New York: Benjamin W. Huebsch (BWH) (15), Marshall Best (MAB) (22), Alan D Williams (ADW) (16) and Edwin Kennebeck (1). PW’s letters are in his original handwriting or typescript.
Also included in the collection are carbon copies of the editor’s letters to PW, Viking Press records and correspondence relating to PW, typed transcriptions of PW’s handwritten letters and some press clippings and reviews.

FOLDER 1
1. Handwritten letter from PW in London to BWH, 23 September 1940, relating to his experiences of war; medical testing he has undertaken; a job he is hoping to fill within R.A.F. Intelligence; his hope to be drafted in Egypt or the Middle East; writing an introduction for The Living and the Dead and its rejection by publishers Harrap, Faber, Chatto & Windus; work for the Foreign Relations Department of Red Cross; desire to return to America

2. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, January 11 1947, relating to manuscript of The Aunt’s Story; White’s life since leaving Greece, his dislike of England and decision to settle in Australia; returning his two schnauzers from Egypt via England; PW’s hope to meet again with BWH. Appended to this letter is PW’s typescript letter and mail slip which accompanied the MS of the Aunt’s Story

3. Typescript letter from PW to BWH, February 4 1947, relating to a batch of reviews of The Aunt’s Story; PW’s search for a house to live in; his approval of copy of The Aunts Story, disapproval of editorial mistakes; offer for a film adaptation

4. Typescript letter from PW in Alexandria to BWH, May 20 1947 relating to BWH’s positive reaction to The Aunt’s Story; request that the book be dedicated to Betty Withycombe; mistakes in the French text of the novel to be corrected

5. Typescript letter from PW in London to BWH, June 30 1947, relating to title of The Aunt’s Story; plans to meet BWH in London

6. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, April 3 1952, relating to PW’s schnauzers and hope to get Saneen goats; beginning of a new book; French and Italian translations of Happy Valley and Italian translation of The Aunt’s story; how little he is reading

7. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, December 8 1952, relating to his work on new book; schnauzers, goats, saplings and olive groves at his home Dogwoods

8. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, 2 December 1953, relating to his book which will not be completed by Christmas; gloomy accounts in the newspapers about publishing industry in America; life at Dogwoods including new furnishings and herd of goats

9. Typescript letter from Walter D. Edmonds to Marshall Best, July 29 1955, regarding his dislike of Tree of Man

10. Copy of typescript letter from Marshall Best in reply to Walter D. Edmonds, July 29 1955

11. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, 25 October 1955, relating to Tree of Man and PW’s aversion to abridging the work; delayed publication of English version; revision of new book; various reactions received about Tree of Man

12. Copy of typescript letter from BWH in reply to PW, November 29 1955

13. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, December 29 1955, relating to a rewriting of his new book; concern that Tree of Man is not ‘taking’ in Europe; warm reactions to Tree of Man received from around the world

14. Copy of typescript letter sent from BWH in reply to PW, January 24 1956

15. Typescript letter sent from PW to BWH, February 8 1957, relating to BWH’s positive reaction to Voss and its ‘symphonic structure’; anticipation of how Voss will be received in Australia; Manoly Lascaris’s impending trip to Greece; appended to letter is newscutting of ‘The triumph of death’ by Pieter Bruegel conveying “something of the climax of Voss”

16. Typescript Copy of memorandum sent from BWH to Marshall A. Best (MAB), March 12 1957, relating to proofs of Voss and editing issues

17. Copy of typescript letter from BWH to PW, March 12 1957, relating to memorandum [item 16]

18. Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, 25 February 1957, relating to publishing agreement for Voss; publicity photographs; friends he would like to introduce to BWH; pleasure in receiving The Fountain Overflows and other books he cherishes

19. Typescript Copy of letter from Viking Press to PW, June 23 1957, conveying that BWH is out of office and in Paris

20. Typescript letter from PW to BWH, June 11 1957, relating to reviews and royalties for Voss; overseas travel plans and meeting with BWH; request for copy of Voss to be sent to Keith Mitchell; Kiepenheuer’s edition of Tree of Man

21. Handwritten letter from PW to MAB, 31 August 1957, relating to recent reviews of his work

22. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, 9 October 1957, relating to reactions to Voss and Tree of Man; question from reader; BWH’s broken knee

23. Handwritten letter from PW in reply to MAB, 28 October 1957

24. Handwritten letter from PW to MAB, 3 February 1958, relating to new copy of Voss; positive reviews in England; not hopeful of success in Australia

25 Handwritten letter from PW to BWH, 11 February 1958, relating to overseas travel plans and finding a housekeeper, plans to meet up with BWH; Australian reviews of Voss and work accused of not being ‘Australian’; initial ideas for Riders in the Chariot and plans to visit Jerusalem for character research

26. Copy of typescript letter from BW to PW, April 2 1958, relating to critics and reviews of PW’s work; beginnings of Riders in the Chariot; PW’s travel itinerary and plans to meet up

27. Typescript letter from PW to BWH, 19 March, 1958, relating to crystallised travel plans; success of Voss’s sales despite harsh reviews; plans to re-write play The Ham Funeral

28. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 27 February 1961, relating to music and other influences in writing The Riders of Chariot; editing and revisions

29. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 16 March 1961, requesting permission to use quotes from PW’s letter for publicity; editing for The Riders of Chariot; Sidney Nolan bookjacket; warning about libel

30. Typescript letter sent from PW to MAB, 7 September 1961, relating to changes in address of persons receiving complimentary copies of Riders in the Chariot

31. Viking press memorandum sent to MAB, 9 July 1961, acknowledging changes in address

32. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 14 August 1961, relating to positive sales figures of Riders in the Chariot; discussion of bookjackets, reviews, publicity; reading and rehearsal of The Ham Funeral at University of New South Wales; passing of Lettie, White’s 16 year old schnauzer

33. Copy of typescript letter sent from MAB to PW, September 12 1961

34. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 15 September 1961, relating to Riders in the Chariot publicity, correspondence, personal copies

35. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, October 10 1961, enclosing reviews of Riders in the Chariot including harsh review from Time Magazine

36. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 16 October 1961, relating to harsh reviews; commencement of new book; first performances of The Ham Funeral in Adelaide; London launch of Riders in the Chariot

37. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 25 October 1961
38. Copy of typescript letter from BWH to PW, 5 April 1962, relating to prize won by Riders in the Chariot; reviews

39. Copy of typescript letter from BWH to PW, 13 March 1964, relating to The Burnt Ones publication plans and publicity; reviews

40. Memorandum from BWH to MAB, 14 April 1964 relating to correspondence with PW about The Burnt Ones

41. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, 15 April 1964, relating to The Burnt Ones including MAB’s reservations about the order of stories particularly the last story Down at the Dump; title of Clay being the same as used by James Joyce

42. Typescript letter from PW in reply to MAB, 30 April 1964, relating to The Burnt Ones including PW’s insistence the order of the stories and title of Clay should stand; PW’s reasons for writing short stories; moving house from Castle Hill to Sydney; health of BWH; Manoly as “pillar of strength”

43. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, 19 May 1964, relating to MAB’s retraction of his reservations about Down in the Dump; Sydney Nolan bookjacket for The Burnt Ones

44. Letter from PW to MAB, 13 September 1964, relating to death of BWH; PW’s regret not writing to tell BWH of his new novel; plans for new house in Sydney; disregard for reviewer Natalie Kirkus

45. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 24 September 1964

46. Typescript letter sent from PW to MAB, 28 February 1965, relating to special copy of The Burnt Ones sent by MAB; writing of The Solid Mandala; offer of teaching position at Purdue University; books sent to PW by Mrs Untermeyer and Professor Wayne C Booth

47. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 6 June 1965 relating to imminent completion of The Solid Mandala; becoming director for a new theatre in Sydney

48. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 11 June 1965

FOLDER 2
49. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 17 July 1966, relating to PW’s reactions to Beautiful Losers by Leonard Cohen; writing of The Binoculars and Helen Nell, which has now ‘gone cold’, ‘could throw it into Centennial Park lake’

50. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 21 July 1966

51. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 1 May 1966, relating to reviews of television version of A Cheery Soul; British edition of The Solid Mandala; invitation to present at writers conference in Montreal; request to send copy of Solid Mandala to Brian Moore

52. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, 6 May 1966, relating to PW’s agent representation; appreciation of PW’s hospitality whilst he was in Australia

53. Viking Press record of shipment of The Solid Mandala to Brian Moore, 5 May 1966

54. Typescript letter from Geraldine Lust to MAB, 12 September 1966, requesting permission to produce PW’s plays A Cheery Soul and Night on Bald Mountain

55. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 19 September 1966, relating to agency representation; Geraldine Lust’s requests; work on his latest novel; novella Women’s Hand; PW’s nieces

56. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 2 October 1966, relating to his choice of agent being Cushman; short story written for Angus & Robertson and PW unhappy with royalties; PW’s friends, The Duttons, in Russia

57. Handwritten letter from PW to MAB, 21 April 1967, relating to PW’s meeting with Iris Murdoch and John Bayley; Peter Mathers’ novel Trap; new novel The Vivisector

58. Typescript copy of item 57

59. Copy of typescript letter from MAB to PW, 20 October 1967, relating to study guide for Riders of the Chariot; PW’s regard for Thomas Keneally; PW’s English publisher

60. Handwritten letter from PW to MAB, 5 November 1967, relating to PW’s opinion of Thomas Keneally’s work; his agent Cushman; progress on Vivisector

61. Typescript copy of item 59

62. Handwritten letter from PW to MAB, 18 February 1968, relating to first revision of The Vivisector; relook at the abandoned Helen Nell; plans to travel to Greece, The United States and elsewhere with Manoly Lascaris and meeting with MAB

63. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 26 February 1968, relating to Thomas Keneally and Cushman (PW’s agent); PW’s forthcoming trip to US; progress on PW’s books

64. Typescript letter from PW to MAB, 31 March 1970, relating to people to receive complimentary copies of The Vivisector; proof copies of The Vivisector; PW’s reluctance to have a biography written; new work underway that has gone stale; PW’s dislike of The Easter Show

65. Copy of typescript letter from MAB in reply to PW, 1 April 1970, relating to MAB’s return from South America; Cynthia Nolan

66. Handwritten Christmas card from PW to MAB, 1972, relating to his completion of Eye of the Storm; an ‘exhausting and upsetting year’; removal of McMahon government and PW’s hopes of state government also changing; death of ‘Abernethy’

67. Typescript letter from PW to Alan D Williams (ADW), 10 March 1973, relating publication of Eye of the Storm publication, content; feelings that American audiences don’t understand his work; opening of Sydney Opera House

68. Handwritten letter from PW to Edwin Kennebeck, 18 March 1973, relating to Eye of the Storm, in particular editorial issues over the character Princesse de Lascabanes; apologies for his illegible handwriting

69. Typescript Viking Press copy of item 68

70. Copy of typescript letters from Edwin Kennebeck in reply to PW, 22 March 1973

71. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 1 July 1973, relating to use of the word “nigger” in PW’s work; new work of shorter novels under the title The Cockatoos; malfunction of his typewriters; acquaintance with Olaf Ruhen; visit from friend Antony Alpers; his new work preventing him from dwelling on the fate of Eye of the Storm

72. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 18 July 1973

73. Typescript letter from PW to ADW, 11 August 1974, relating to PW’s pleasure in receiving Eye of the Storm and his approval of the appearance; recent opera productions; trip to Fraser Island with Manoly Lascaris; new novel coming along

74. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 21 August 1974

75. Copy of typescript letter from PW to MAB, 28 August 1974, relating to his pleasure with Viking copy of Eye of the Storm; displeasure with English reviews, suspicion of the turnaround in Australian reviewers after his winning of Nobel Prize; trip to Fraser Island; progress with new book; concern with affairs in Greece and Cyprus; break-in into PW’s house justifying his donation of valuable paintings to Art Gallery New South Wales and Nobel Prize medal ad diploma to Mitchell Library; idea to record more readings of his works

76. Typescript letter from PW to ADW, 31 October 1973, relating to his “perished bronchial tubes” preventing him from attending ceremony in Stockholm; impending trip to Tasmania

77. Typescript letter from Sumner Locke Elliott to ADW, 18 October 1974, conveying his praise for The Cockatoos

78. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to Sumner Locke Elliott, 11 November 1974

79. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 10 November 1974, relating to praise of Sumner Locke Elliott; new prints sent to PW; recent Australian operas

80. Typescript letter sent from PW to ADW, 9 February 1975, relating to his suffering from asthma; recent operas he has attended; his appreciation of Sydney Opera House for Sydney’s culture

81. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 24 February 1975

82. Typescript letter sent from PW to ADW, 30 March 1975, displeasure with book jacket for Cape publication of The Vivisector; possible film production of The Aunt’s Story and Voss; disinclination to expose details or the title of his new novel

83. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 14 April 1975

84. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 20 July 1975, relating to copies of his works he has received; progress on his new work; Desmond Digby’s visit to New York; opinions regarding Thomas Keneally; opera

85. Copy of typescript letter sent from ADW in reply to PW, 13 August 1975

86. Typescript letter from PW to ADW, 11 January 1976, relating to second typescript of A Fringe of Leaves; historical basis for Fringe of Leaves; feelings of defeat due to removal of Whitlam government; overseas travel plans; opera

87. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 3 February 1976

88. Typescript letter from PW to ADW, 28 March 1976, relating to embryo blurb for Fringe of Leaves read over by Graham Greene; travel plans; meeting with Francis Steegmuller and Shirley Hazzard

89. Telegram from Viking Press to Jean Mossop requesting PW quotes, 20 September 1976

90. Typescript letter from PW to ADW, 11 October 1976, relating to arrival back from European travel, London still his ‘favourite place on earth’; pleasure in returning home; success of A Fringe of Leaves; theatre productions of The Season at Sarasparilla and Night on Bald Mountain, film adaptations of Voss and The Night the Prowler, Letter appended by list of people to receive complimentary copies of A Fringe of Leaves

91. Copy of typescript letter from ADW in reply to PW, 27 October 1976

92. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 26 December 1976, relating to his dislike of bookjacket for A Fringe of Leaves; success of PW’s play The Season at Sassaparilla; Manoly suffering from shingles; new play Big Toys; intention to start new novel

93. Typescript copy of item 92

94. Copy of typescript letter sent from ADW in reply to PW, 5 January 1977

95. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 11 April 1977, relating to David Malouf; progress with new novel; theatre production of Big Toys; opera; trip to Mt Monaro in connection with new novel

96. Viking press typescript copy of item 95

97. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 24 April 1977, relating to Peter Beatson’s book The Eye in Mandala; travels to Monaro as part of research for his new novel

98. Typescript copy of item 97

99. Copy of typescript letter sent from assistant to ADW to PW, 19 April 1977, relating to copy of Lady Oracle sent to PW

100. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 12 July 1977, relating to complimentary copies for A Fringe of Leaves; progress with new novel; Big Toys theatre production; film production of The Night the Prowler; recent Opera productions; feeling ill and depressed during winter

101. Handwritten letter from PW to ADW, 17 August 1977, relating to introduction of friend Senator James McLelland; near completion of new novel; reaction to theatre production Big Toys; reviews of A Fringe of Leaves; Opera

102. Copy of typescript letter sent from ADW in reply to PW, 30 August 1977

103. Issue of The Hollins Critic (Virginia), Volume XI, No. 1, February 1974, solely relating to PW

104. Viking Press background material for Riders in the Chariot (4 pages of typescript)

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW