Unique William Saroyan Collection. 25 Items: Manuscripts, Letters, Notes, Telegrams, Books and Photographs [SOME SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY SAROYAN]

Saroyan, William; and others

About this Item

1. Essay: Seven-Page Typed Essay on George Bernard Shaw, written by William Saroyan in London on "October 4, 1944, 12:15 A.M." With the author's holograph corrections (both additions and deletions) throughout. Unpublished. Manuscript preceded by a cover sheet on which Saroyan has typed, "This piece will cost The New York Times one thousand dollars because it took me three hours to write it and I like to get three hundred thirty three dollars thirty three and a third cents per hour, because I think it's worth it, because I think The New York Times can afford it, and because that's how much I want for it." The essay, which details a brief meeting with Shaw ("All told I don't suppose I spent more than forty five minutes with Shaw"), rambles from Saroyan's musings on his own life to an appraisal of the older playwright. Over the course of some 2500 words Saroyan carries on a stream-of-consciousness conversation on Shaw's politics, spirituality and outspokenness, concluding, "It is no good expecting great men to be great. That exertion they reserve for God. Consequently I did not expect to find George Bernard Shaw great. I was not disappointed. He was not great." 2. Two Letters: Four-Page Typed Letter to Whit Wellman at the Five Star Weekly in San Francisco dated April 16, 1937. Author's corrections throughout. Signed by Saroyan. The letter is in response to a previous letter from Wellman that requested material for a piece on "How They Write." Saroyan discusses his fourth book (Little Children), the hundreds of stories he has written and the publications that have printed his stories. He goes on about how and when he writes, noting, "I spend most of my time loafing." Letter from Whit Wellman to Saroyan, dated June 15, 2937, on Five Star Weekly letterhead apologizing for not using more of the material Saroyan sent him. Both letters have rusty paper clip marks, otherwise fine. 3. Telegram, Two Notes and a Letter: Telegram from Saroyan to Arnold Gingrich, founder and editor of Esquire Magazine, dated November 26, 1937. Saroyan rejects Esquire's offer of $150 for one of his stories suggesting it is "either charity or highway robbery" and asks for $500 for a story. One correction in Saroyan's hand. Telegram has small brown stain at upper left. Note from Saroyan to Gingrich, dated December 24, 1937, in which Saroyan again asks for $500 a story or $200 if they want one per month or at least 8 a year. Signed by Saroyan. A note written vertically along the side states "What you need is an alienist," with the initials A.G. In envelope with Saroyan's address in San Francisco but no postmark. Paper clip mark and light brown spot on envelope. Note from Gingrich to Saroyan with envelope postmarked December 28, 1937. Gingrich asks Saroyan to keep sending him scripts. On 3.5X6" note paper with Esquire letterhead. Two-Page Letter from Saroyan to Gingrich dated December 31, 1937. There are two drafts of the letter arguing about Gingrich's offers and Saroyan's prices for his stories. The first letter, marked "Final" in pen at the top of page one is signed "Bill." The second draft is signed "Bill Saroyan." 4. Two Letters: Letter from Saroyan to the editor of the New Yorker, dated August 29, 1938 and date stamped August 31, 1938. In this letter Saroyan asks for bad writings by good writers because he is editing An Anthology of Lousy Writing. In Saroyan's funny stream-of-consciousness style, he lays out the project that will be of "far-reaching importance." Signed William Saroyan. Some paper clip marks and creases. Letter to Saroyan from William Maxwell, author and fiction editor of the New Yorker for forty years (1936-1975) dated August 31, 1938. Maxwell tells Saroyan that Mr. Ross (Harold Ross, founder and editor of the New Yorker) doesn't think the letters to the editor department is the place for Saroyan's letter, but they would like more of Saroyan's stories. On New Yorker letterhead. Some creasing and paper clip marks. 5. Two Notes: Note to Saroy.

Seller Inventory # 32082

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Unique William Saroyan Collection. 25 Items: Manuscripts, Letters, Notes, Telegrams, Books and Photographs [SOME SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY SAROYAN]
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: vg
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature