Lipton’s Journal/Correspondence of Robert Lindner and Norman Mailer/December 7, 1954

From Project Mailer
NORMAN MAILER’s Letters
To Norman Mailer
December 7, 1954

Dear Norman,

The fact that you left a number of things around the house is good evidence that you want to come back, so I hope you will make arrangements soon to return. We need to sit down and talk a little bit more about Lipton’s. It may be that a part of my reaction toward it is determined by preconceptions and prejudices—these leading to concern when any of its celebrants are so close to me. In any event, I do want to discuss the ideas you talk about.

We’ve had a lot of excitement here because of the piece in this week’s Time,[1] and the coincident publication of “The Jet-Propelled Couch.”[2] All sorts of amazing things have happened as a result of the Time piece, not the least of which is an immediate decision by Ted to bring out the lectures as a small book by spring. Before I do the final draft I am terrible anxious to have you go over the manuscript with me—or by yourself—so that I can take care of the rough spots you mentioned. I’d be enormously grateful for this and also for some assistance in completing the homosexuality piece.

I also want you to do me a more immediate favor, and that is to write to Rinehart immediately after you see and read your copy of The Fifty-Minute Hour. If you can give them some statement to be used for advertising, I’d be in your debt. In addition to you, I have asked that a copy be sent to Bill Styron, from whom I would like the same thing—but only if he feels the book deserves his praise. Moreover, if you can think of anyone to whom complimentary copies should be sent, that is to say anyone who can assist in promotion, I would also appreciate this.

I am full of appreciation today as you see—but nonetheless, the inner man is still somewhat apprehensive about everything. What I need is a few hours with you over a couple of drinks. Many issues have been raised about my ideas in various editorials all over the country and in columns such as those now being run by Max Lerner in the New York Post. I’d like to talk out and re-evaluate some of the ideas before heading into the final draft of the essays—and you’re it.

When you find out about Christmas, please let me know, and also what yours plans are going to be for the celebration of the New Year. Since I have to see Ted[3] and a few other people, I intend to come to New York within the next few weeks, but will let you know further about this in my next.

I haven’t said anything about The Deer Park in this note simply because I am awaiting word from you. Nevertheless, my concern with the matter is very deep, and I think of it constantly. You will be interested to learn that in the two or three letters I’ve had from Ted Amussen since you were here, he never fails to express his “numbness” and general despair over what’s happened. I get the feeling that he is truly disturbed and regards the whole affair as a great fiasco and deep personal blow. This despite the under-side of his character which you and Johnnie[4] so well delineated.

Don’t fail to write soon and let me know what’s going on and what your plans are. All of us here send love to all of you.

Bob
Robert Lindner



notes

  1. ↑ “Rebels or Psychopaths?” appeared in the December 6, 1954 issue of Time.
  2. ↑ Lindner’s narrative essay “The Jet-Propelled Couch” appeared in two parts in Harper’s (December 1954-January 1955) and was published in January, 1955 in his collection, The Fifty-Minute Hour (by Rinehart).
  3. ↑ An editor at Rinehart and Co. for both Mailer and Lindner, Theodore Amussen (1915-1988) was instrumental in Mailer signing a contract for The Naked and the Dead.
  4. ↑ Johnnie Lindner, Robert Lidner’s wife, who Mailer described as "a sort of pepper pot blonde, pepper pot fire . . . full of strong feelings, full of love, full of lust, full of fire, full of the inability to pardon.”
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