135

STEINBECK, JOHN. Typed Letter Signed, "John," to his literary agent Elizabeth Otis,

DEVELOPING HIS UPDATED VERSION OF THE ARTHURIAN LEGENDS STEINBECK, JOHN. Typed Letter Signed, "John," to his literary agent Elizabeth Otis, announcing that Chase Horton is to assist him [researching and editing what would become The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976)] and authorizing him to charge expenses to Steinbeck's account. 1 page, 4to, onionskin paper; horizontal folds. New York, 21 March 1958

"My trip to England in June for . . . I hope final on-the-spot research for the King Arthur and Sir Thomas Malory projects will entail a very large volume of work. For this reason I think it necessary that Chase Horton . . . be with me to help . . . . Will you therefore charge his expenses to my account . . . .
"It is my hope that with this final round-up of material that we will be able to begin the actual writing of the books some time in the early autumn."
With--Group of 19 copies or retained drafts of related correspondence, unsigned, including 14 from Steinbeck to Horton Chase or Elizabeth Otis, one from Chase to Steinbeck, and 4 from Otis to Chase. The letters from Steinbeck discuss facts about the Middle Ages that have turned up in his research including the significance of comets, English kings who failed to repay loans to Italian banks, details about the trial of Joan of Arc, the curious attitude of contemporary writers toward women including Gwynevere, and a study of English place names from the period; his letters also contain anguished and excited reflections about the scope of the work undertaken, accounts of trips taken to historical sites for photographs and inspiration, progress reports on articles drawing on his research, discussion of the relief he felt when he abandoned the self-imposed restriction of writing in Malory's meter, discussion of various characters including Arthur's role as hero, and characterizing Merlin's story as the saddest of them all. Together over 40 pages, 4to or oblong 8vo, photocopy or typewritten sheet. Vp, May 1957-July 1965.
Steinbeck's interpretation of Thomas Malory's 15th-century work, Le Morte d'Arthur, begun in 1956, was abandoned three years later. The incomplete work was published posthumously in 1976 under the title, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.

  • Provenance:

    "My trip to England in June for . . . I hope final on-the-spot research for the King Arthur and Sir Thomas Malory projects will entail a very large volume of work. For this reason I think it necessary that Chase Horton . . . be with me to help . . . . Will you therefore charge his expenses to my account . . . .
    "It is my hope that with this final round-up of material that we will be able to begin the actual writing of the books some time in the early autumn."
    With--Group of 19 copies or retained drafts of related correspondence, unsigned, including 14 from Steinbeck to Horton Chase or Elizabeth Otis, one from Chase to Steinbeck, and 4 from Otis to Chase. The letters from Steinbeck discuss facts about the Middle Ages that have turned up in his research including the significance of comets, English kings who failed to repay loans to Italian banks, details about the trial of Joan of Arc, the curious attitude of contemporary writers toward women including Gwynevere, and a study of English place names from the period; his letters also contain anguished and excited reflections about the scope of the work undertaken, accounts of trips taken to historical sites for photographs and inspiration, progress reports on articles drawing on his research, discussion of the relief he felt when he abandoned the self-imposed restriction of writing in Malory's meter, discussion of various characters including Arthur's role as hero, and characterizing Merlin's story as the saddest of them all. Together over 40 pages, 4to or oblong 8vo, photocopy or typewritten sheet. Vp, May 1957-July 1965.
    Steinbeck's interpretation of Thomas Malory's 15th-century work, Le Morte d'Arthur, begun in 1956, was abandoned three years later. The incomplete work was published posthumously in 1976 under the title, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.
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