VIRGINIA WOOLF CONSIDERS SELLING THE MANUSCRIPT OF HER BOOK: ""FLUSH"" -- 'I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT SELLING THE MANUSCRIPT. I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF IT INDEED, I HAVE NEVER SOLD ANY OF MY MANUSCRIPTS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS WORTH.'

VIRGINIA WOOLF

Beschreibung

WOOLF, VIRGINIA. (1882-1941). British novelist, essayist, and critic, who helped create the modern novel. Her writing often explores the concepts of time, memory, and people s inner consciousness, and is remarkable for its humanity and depth of perception. Interesting group of three letters [two Typed Letters and one Autograph Post Card] Signed Virginia Woolf on 52 Tavistock Square, London. W.C.1. Telephone: Museum 2621 stationery. London, 1933. To Frederick B. Adams Jr., regarding Woolf s biography on Flush, Elizabeth Barrett Browning s dog. She writes: 14th March 1933. My dear Mr. Adams, You have no reason at all to apologise for your charming letter which gave me great pleasure. I am very glad to think that you share my sympathy for Flush. The idea came to me that he deserved a biography last summer when I was reading the Browning letters. But in fact very little is known about him, and I have had to invent a good deal. I hope however that I have thrown some light upon his character. the more I know him, the more affection I feel for him. The dog who acted his part here was black but there can be no doubt that Flush was red. I do not know what to say about selling the MS. I had not thought of it indeed I have never sold any of my MSS. I do not know what it is worth. Perhaps the best plan therefore would be if you would say what you would give I don t know how else to settle it. I think the book is about 30,000 words in length. I write my books in paper covered volumes, and re-write them a good deal in typescript. But the manuscript is of course the foundation for the final version; and I have only one manuscript. Harcourt Brace will publish the book, probably this summer. I must also thank you for your appreciation of my other books I am very glad that you like them. I think my father, Leslie Stephen, must have known some of your family in America. Believe me, Yours sincerely, Virginia Woolf . [Also included is a copy of the response from Adams to Woolf]: April 3. My dear Mrs. Woolf, Your letter arrived and caused a great deal of happiness. I never really allowed myself to believe that you would not have already promised the manuscript of Flush to someone you knew. As it is, I feel as though I had been given the piece of the birthday cake that contained the ring that is, you must know, cause for excitement to bachelors … (My engagement was announced this very April third, so I shall not long, thank God, remain a bachelor of twenty-three.) I don t know what to say about the business end of your letter. As an innocent connected with INDUSTRY in New York, I should drive a very hard bargain. As a foolish boy who has spent a great abundance of his happiest hours reading, I should be anxious and willing to give anything you might suggest. As a combination of the two, I call you at 40 pounds and retire to hide behind the screen with Lady Treacle. There you will find me, awaiting with shudders (delicate conventional shudders) the outcome of your interview with … (I interview him every day on 42nd St. so that now I am less than afraid of him.) Please be frank with me. I may have insulted you; I may have suddenly become a plutocrat in your eyes. Please tell me honestly how you feel about the price I mentioned. The fact is, you have never sold and I have never bought a manuscript. Perhaps you would be willing to consult one who proposes to know. Whatever I should have said, it just seems that I can t evaluate a manuscript in pounds. It s like weighing a soul before invoicing it to St. Peter, or trying to collect damages from a railroad that has crippled your wife. If £40 is all right, then the great transaction s done, and I shall be a proud god-father. If not, taut pis, I shall try again, if you permit me another chance! I am, of course, delighted at the idea of its being really a manuscript, not a typescript! That makes it a thousand times more real and living a modern machine has not had a hand in its making. Your mention of the Br. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 240059

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