Free Selected Letters of William Styron by William Styron Page B
Authors: William Styron
“new generation” will not be tormented by the disillusionment which affected the elders of the ’twenties: Hemingway, et al. S Justwhat in the hell does that mean? How can you look at the newspapers these days and not despair of practically everything. If he means that the coming writers will not wallow in gloom, then that’s all right. But I take it he means the new writing will be optimistic. I don’t think so. I’m gloomy as I can be. But I think that out of a certain sorrow, resignation, or whatever you call it, a real beauty can be wrought. Perhaps even the finest beauty, and that’s about all that matters don’t you think? But I don’t think an intelligent man can be consistently cheerful these days, and I’m going to write as I see things. And I do laugh at times.
Well, I hope everything is going well with you, and that the book is shaping up all right. Give my best to all.
As ever,
Bill S.
T O W ILLIAM C. S TYRON , S R .
January 5, 1948 New York
Dear Eliza, and Pop:
I received the Christmas box in good order and was certainly pleased with the contents. The food, of course, will come in handy these cold winter nights—it has already been rapidly depleted—and Atlantic Harvest is fine. I’ve already dipped into the contents and it seems like very good stuff. The essays (Whitehead, Havelock Ellis, et al.) seem especially fine selections. I also noted Sedgwick’s autograph on the fly-leaf which, of course, enhances the personal value of the book. T The razor’s a beauty, Pop, and I’m sure it will serve to beautify many a hairy cheek in the years to come. Thank you both for everything.
I’m sorry to hear about your current indisposition, Pop and I certainly hope that it’s nothing that will seriously disable you. Take care of yourself, and let me hear how things develop. I know the diet must be something of a strain.
I spent Christmas Eve working on a short story (which I just yesterday completed), and then went out with Charlie, the landlord, and had a couple of beers before bed. On Christmas day I went over to Brooklyn and had dinner with Mac Hyman and his wife. Mac’s a boy from Georgia, one of Blackburn’s students, who came to N.Y. seeking his fame and fortune, as I did. They’re both nice folks. Later on in the day I took the train for New Haven where I visited Tom Peyton. U Peyton’s sister + brother-in-law live there, and the whole family was up from Crozet for the holidays. I stayed until Sunday and came on back to N.Y. It snowed 19 inches in New Haven and 26 inches here, which is about as much snow as I’ve ever seen, or shall ever want to see. Luckily, I haven’t caught cold, and now feel about as good as anyone can feel, I suppose, in New York. V
Hatcher + I are getting evicted from this apartment on the 15 th of this month, due to the fact that the landlord, Charlie, is so in debt that he has to sell the house. Fortunately, however, we have found a large apartment right next door , at 1455 Lexington, and we’re moving in early next week. So you may send any mail, until then, to this address. Incidentally, Bill Bowman, whom you both remember, is moving in with us, since it’s a three-man apartment. Bill has a pretty nice job now, as reservationist with Eastern Air Lines. So old friends get together after all.
An extraordinary opportunity has come my way. Since you, Pop, read my story about Trieste I have written two others—both quite long. Hiram Haydn at the New School (editor of Crown Publishers, you remember, and also editor of the American Scholar) has read all three of them, and liked them so well that he has offered me an advance of a substantial sumof money if I write a novel. Of course, since I haven’t written anything on the novel he can’t offer me a contract right now. But he was so enthusiastic over the stories that he called me down to his office at Crown and told me that he had informed the publishing director (the big shot) at Crown that he had so much
Well, I hope everything is going well with you, and that the book is shaping up all right. Give my best to all.
As ever,
Bill S.
T O W ILLIAM C. S TYRON , S R .
January 5, 1948 New York
Dear Eliza, and Pop:
I received the Christmas box in good order and was certainly pleased with the contents. The food, of course, will come in handy these cold winter nights—it has already been rapidly depleted—and Atlantic Harvest is fine. I’ve already dipped into the contents and it seems like very good stuff. The essays (Whitehead, Havelock Ellis, et al.) seem especially fine selections. I also noted Sedgwick’s autograph on the fly-leaf which, of course, enhances the personal value of the book. T The razor’s a beauty, Pop, and I’m sure it will serve to beautify many a hairy cheek in the years to come. Thank you both for everything.
I’m sorry to hear about your current indisposition, Pop and I certainly hope that it’s nothing that will seriously disable you. Take care of yourself, and let me hear how things develop. I know the diet must be something of a strain.
I spent Christmas Eve working on a short story (which I just yesterday completed), and then went out with Charlie, the landlord, and had a couple of beers before bed. On Christmas day I went over to Brooklyn and had dinner with Mac Hyman and his wife. Mac’s a boy from Georgia, one of Blackburn’s students, who came to N.Y. seeking his fame and fortune, as I did. They’re both nice folks. Later on in the day I took the train for New Haven where I visited Tom Peyton. U Peyton’s sister + brother-in-law live there, and the whole family was up from Crozet for the holidays. I stayed until Sunday and came on back to N.Y. It snowed 19 inches in New Haven and 26 inches here, which is about as much snow as I’ve ever seen, or shall ever want to see. Luckily, I haven’t caught cold, and now feel about as good as anyone can feel, I suppose, in New York. V
Hatcher + I are getting evicted from this apartment on the 15 th of this month, due to the fact that the landlord, Charlie, is so in debt that he has to sell the house. Fortunately, however, we have found a large apartment right next door , at 1455 Lexington, and we’re moving in early next week. So you may send any mail, until then, to this address. Incidentally, Bill Bowman, whom you both remember, is moving in with us, since it’s a three-man apartment. Bill has a pretty nice job now, as reservationist with Eastern Air Lines. So old friends get together after all.
An extraordinary opportunity has come my way. Since you, Pop, read my story about Trieste I have written two others—both quite long. Hiram Haydn at the New School (editor of Crown Publishers, you remember, and also editor of the American Scholar) has read all three of them, and liked them so well that he has offered me an advance of a substantial sumof money if I write a novel. Of course, since I haven’t written anything on the novel he can’t offer me a contract right now. But he was so enthusiastic over the stories that he called me down to his office at Crown and told me that he had informed the publishing director (the big shot) at Crown that he had so much