Lionel Abel, February 28, 1966: Difference between revisions

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Dear Lionel,<ref>[[w:Lionel Abel|Abel]] was a drama professor and critic who wrote for ''[[w:Partisan Review|Partisan Review]]'' and moved in the same leftist intellectual circles as Mailer.</ref>
Dear Lionel,<ref>[[w:Lionel Abel|Abel]] was a drama professor and critic who wrote for ''[[w:Partisan Review|Partisan Review]]'' and moved in the same leftist intellectual circles as Mailer.</ref>


Yes, it is possible my mind has gone somewhat bad over the years.<ref>Abel referred to Mailer in a ''Partisan Review'' essay as “Mindbad the Mailer.”</ref> Yet, in consolation, my memory for titles remains intact. ''The American Dream'', as you call it, seems actually to be ''[[An American Dream]]''. (I was thinking you see of ''An American Tragedy''.)<ref>''[[w:An American Tragedy|An American Tragedy]]'' was written by [[w:Theodore Dreiser|Theodore Dreiser]], one of Mailer’s literary heroes. He saw ''An American Dream'' as a modern extension of Dreiser’s novel and very consciously chose his title to echo it.</ref> But, if you cannot read even the first word of my book, then it occurs to me your brain if still ready, is either unwilling or unable, dear Lionel—
Yes, it is possible my mind has gone somewhat bad over the years. Yet, in consolation, my memory for titles remains intact. ''The American Dream'', as you call it, seems actually to be ''[[An American Dream]]''. (I was thinking you see of ''An American Tragedy''.)<ref>''[[w:An American Tragedy|An American Tragedy]]'' was written by [[w:Theodore Dreiser|Theodore Dreiser]], one of Mailer’s literary heroes. He saw ''An American Dream'' as a modern extension of Dreiser’s novel and very consciously chose his title to echo it.</ref> But, if you cannot read even the first word of my book, then it occurs to me your brain if still ready, is either unwilling or unable, dear Lionel—


::::::::::::::::::::Yours,<br />
::::::::::::::::::::Yours,<br />
::::::::::::::::::::Mindbad<ref>Abel referred to Mailer in a Partisan Review essay as “Mindbad the Mailer”.</ref>  
::::::::::::::::::::Mindbad<ref>Abel referred to Mailer in a ''Partisan Review'' essay as “Mindbad the Mailer”.</ref>  


cc: Irving Howe, Stanley Plastrick, Emanuel Geltman<ref>Mailer was on the Board of the leftist journal ''[[w:Dissent (American magazine)|Dissent]]'' with Stanley Plastrick, Emanuel Geltman and [[w:Irving Howe|Irving Howe]], who was its editor.</ref>
cc: Irving Howe, Stanley Plastrick, Emanuel Geltman<ref>Mailer was on the Board of the leftist journal ''[[w:Dissent (American magazine)|Dissent]]'' with Stanley Plastrick, Emanuel Geltman and [[w:Irving Howe|Irving Howe]], who was its editor.</ref>