This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2022
CHANDLER, Raymond (1888–1959). Typed letter signed (“Ray”) to his literary agent H.N. Swanson regarding his writer’s block and the downturn of the book market, 18 October 1954. One page (267 x 184 mm), on personal letterhead, single correction in green ink by Chandler. Correspondence between Chandler and Swanson discussing the author’s willingness to write a ten-thousand-word story for a magazine. “I can’t do this damn story…Chandler just isn’t functioning… It’s not impossible to get into the mood for writing, but it is very difficult and there are many interruptions. I don’t think I give a damn really”. One of his interruptions at the time was the declining health of his wife, Cissy Pascal who would soon pass away less than two months later. Chandler writes that he has been doing all the washing of dishes since they lost their cook and staying up half the night with his sick wife. Chandler also sounds off on the current book market calling it “dead in this country except for paperbacks” and that “Americans in the mass are not book readers”.