Alan Earney, March 23, 1965: Difference between revisions

From Project Mailer
(Alan Earney)
 
m (Clarification.)
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 7: Line 7:
::::::::::::::::::::March 23, 1965
::::::::::::::::::::March 23, 1965


Dear Alan,<ref> The New York Times review Mailer refers to was that of Conrad Knickerbocker, appearing on 14 March 1965. Three of the most positive reviews were by Joan Didion (1934-) in National Review on 20 April 1965, by John W. Aldridge in Life on 19 March 1965, and by Leo Bersani in the Partisan Review, fall 1965. The reviews of the novel did split fairly evenly in the major periodicals, but those in smaller publications across the country were three or four to one, negative to positive. </ref>
Dear Alan,


:Let me just send you a copy directly of An American Dream, you’re certainly welcome to it, and I’ll call Grace Bechtold and ask her to hold off on buying one for you.
Let me just send you a copy directly of ''[[An American Dream]]'', you’re certainly welcome to it, and I’ll call Grace Bechtold and ask her to hold off on buying one for you.
::As for the rest, the reviews have gone oddly on the book. About half have been poor, the other half quite good, but the poles are extreme, everything from “the most important novel written since the war” to “the worst literary hoax of the century.” But indeed, as you can guess, I did like the Times Review


As for the rest, the reviews have gone oddly on the book. About half have been poor, the other half quite good, but the poles are extreme, everything from “the most important novel written since the war” to “the worst literary hoax of the century.” But indeed, as you can guess, I did like the ''Times'' review.<ref>The ''Times''’ review was written by Conrad Knickerbocker and appeared on 14 March 1965. Three of the most positive reviews were by [[w:Joan Didion|Joan Didion]] in ''National Review'' on 20 April 1965, by [[w:John W. Aldridge|John W. Aldridge]] in ''Life'' on 19 March 1965, and by [[w:Leo Bersani|Leo Bersani]] in the ''Partisan Review'', fall 1965. The reviews of the novel did split fairly evenly in the major periodicals, but those in smaller publications across the country were three or four to one, negative to positive.</ref>


::::::::::::::::::::Best for now,<br />
::::::::::::::::::::Best for now,<br />

Latest revision as of 08:01, 9 April 2019

NORMAN MAILER’s Letters
142 Columbia Heights
Brooklyn 1, New York
March 23, 1965

Dear Alan,

Let me just send you a copy directly of An American Dream, you’re certainly welcome to it, and I’ll call Grace Bechtold and ask her to hold off on buying one for you.

As for the rest, the reviews have gone oddly on the book. About half have been poor, the other half quite good, but the poles are extreme, everything from “the most important novel written since the war” to “the worst literary hoax of the century.” But indeed, as you can guess, I did like the Times review.[1]

Best for now,
Norman
This page is part of
An American Dream Expanded.

Notes

  1. The Times’ review was written by Conrad Knickerbocker and appeared on 14 March 1965. Three of the most positive reviews were by Joan Didion in National Review on 20 April 1965, by John W. Aldridge in Life on 19 March 1965, and by Leo Bersani in the Partisan Review, fall 1965. The reviews of the novel did split fairly evenly in the major periodicals, but those in smaller publications across the country were three or four to one, negative to positive.