A 24-line TLS from Leslie Charteris (undated)

CHARTERIS LESLIE

Beschreibung

A 24-line TLS from Leslie Charteris (undated) to Eileen Cond. Eileen Cond was a socialite and renowned book collector whose practice it was to write to the major authors of the day to request a signed book-plate (or signed copy of the author's book). She amassed an enormous library that was scattered to the four winds many years ago. She was particularly close to Ian Fleming and Leslie Charteris. This letter has fascinating content in that it gives Charteris' views of some of his early books and his distaste for some of his earliest efforts (pre-Meet the Tiger) whereby he tells Eileen Cond: "I can't prevent you knowing about them; but if you do insist on reading them I refuse to answer any letters on the subject". Permanent Address:- c/o RAYMOND SAVAGE LTD 39, JERMYN STREET, LONDON, W.1 Please Reply to:- 18 Manson Place, S.W.7. Miss Eileen M. Cond, The Den Hampton in Arden, Warwickshire. Dear Eileen, Here s your book. Of course I ll do another one for you if you don t like this one. Anyone who actually buys a book these days, instead of borrowing it from a library, is at least worth an autograph. According to your list, you ve missed ALIAS THE SAINT, and the first Saint book of all, MEET THE TIGER, which was published by Ward Lock. I had one or two other early book published by Ward Lock, but I m not proud of them, and I d really prefer you not to drop down from the heights of Saint stories to those very amateurish efforts. If you get hold of MEET THE TIGER you ll find those other ones mentioned, so I can t prevent you knowing about them; but if you do insist on reading them I refuse to answer any letters on the subject. By short stories I meant the king that you get in the volumes of three like THE HOLY TERROR, and not exactly the very short ones like THE BRIGHTER THE BUCCANEER. So there is still hope for us both. After weeping for some time over your sister s disapproval of the end of KNIGHT TEMPLAR, I ve decided not to commit suicide. Admittedly it wasn t my best book, but you can t be right all the time. Best wishes, Leslie Charteris. (with his signature in fountain pen black ink) The letter is in near fine condition but was probably folded both vertically and horizontally to fit into an envelope. There is a faint rust mark to the top edge caused by a paper-clip (although there is nothing attached. Photographs/scans available upon request. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 355490719162

Bibliografische Details

Titel: A 24-line TLS from Leslie Charteris (undated)

Signiert: Signed by Author