Lot 158
Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1896-1940) American writer; the premier novelist of the Jazz Age. Autograph Letter Signed, 1 p., 10¾x8¼", Villa St. Louis, Juan-les-Pins, Alpes Maritime, France, 17 July 1926. Very good; uneven toning and some fading of ink to a few words. Written while The Great Gatsby was on the best-seller list, to "Dear Jimmy," probably James Rennie, the actor who played the lead in the Broadway production of The Great Gatsby, regarding Fitzgerald's attempts to convert the book Brigham Young by M.R. Werner into a play. "…I sobered up in Paris and spent three days trying to get Brigham into shape. Then down here I worked on it some more and made a tentative working outline. But I don't believe that I could make the grade and the more I struggle with it the more I'm convinced that I'd simply ruin your idea by making a sort of half-ass compromise between my amateur idea of 'good theatre' and Werner's book. I think your instinct has led you to a great idea but that my unsolicited offer was based more on enthusiasm than on common sense. So I bequeath you the notion of the girl which I think in other hands could be made quite solid, and rather ungracefully retire hoping that Connolly or Craig will make you the sort of vehicle of it that's in your imagination….You're a man after my own heart and I feel that we have by no means seen the last of each other, even in a theatrical way. My love to Dorothy - it was so nice of you both to come and see Zelda…." Zelda was recovering from an appendectomy at this time. According to Fitzgerald biographer, Andrew Turnbull, the author went out on the town every night with James Rennie during the two weeks Zelda was in the hospital.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $7,188 |
