New-York tribune., 1922-08-05

country. primarily. think, because the
critics have stamped his novels as caviars
to the general. Why they have done this
I can't understand. He writes mighty
good stories in straightforward. unaf-
fected fashion. He doesn't pretend 10 be
a master nor do his publishers place him
on a pedestal. I hope you'll like
Heartbeat" as much as I do and. that
youll tell your readers to buy It.
Even if none of US should care for
Heartbeat" Mr.. Liveright will, more
in chagrin than in anger, explain and
excuse US as being merely for the
moment off guard. All of US know
from his letters that he will never, with
base intention, lure US to tenderness
with aught that is not praise merit
ing and that if he were forced to
present work by Gene Stratton Porter
he would not ask us to be gentle with
it, though not because it would make
any difference in circulation whether
we were gentle with it or otherwise.
My Dear Mr.. Hammond: I want 10
tell you very briefly about some of my
fall favorites, which I fear may DO
neglected If I don't call especial attsn.
| tton to them. I am particularly en-
| thusiastic about John Cournos's Babel"
| In many ways it is the finest book chat
! I, have ever published. ! plan TO gel
it out on August %, but / want 10
| have bound copies in the office some
time ahead of that. so that numoer
| of reviews of the book can appear
!. simultaneously. I will appreciate 1t very
+, much IL you will let me know II ysa
/ think you can manage to give ii ads.
quate attention by September 10
| send it to you the last week in August
have not met Mr.. Liveright, but
when, and if, l do l am sure that
shall call him Horace and say to a'm'
as the saying is, "Pals? ?" In the many
notes I have had from him have not
found a statement that could not Win
impunity be signed as he signed them,
Faithfully"
My Dear Mr.. Hammond: After thfes
years OF hard writing. Harry Kemp nas
| finished his photographed narratlss'
| 'Tramping on Life" (announced year
or so ago as John Gregory. 1t is M
| fnitely better than the best Of Kemp
| poetry, and unless I miss my guess
| will be one OF the most discussed oooAs
of the season. Almost every page Is IN
| tensely interesting. which is more tnsa
| can be said for most books OF the kina'
I'll appreciate it If you'll read page
| of the catalogue. This letter wasna
| faxed for advertising purposes. but ~
| admit that was everenthusastie wnsA
mentioned zoo. 900 copies as q possip's
| sales figure for Beyond Rope sag
Fence" I'll be perfectly satisfied VIE
$4,000. and 1 hope that you'll help me
sell that many.
| Espousal is said to be the raoss
difficult of the arts, excepting aspersion
and Mr.. Liveright belongs in the frs'
flight Of espousal's best practitioners
whose armor is his honesty, and SIM
pie truth his utmost skill"
My Dear Mr.. Hammond: haven s
| said anything about Rose Macsalay
| new novel, Mystery at Geneva" or Sen
Hecht's new novel "Gargoyies.
| Dreiser's first book since Twelve Meas
| or the books OF Francis Hackett, I =
/ Eiiot, John Macy. etc. because ~
sure that they'll get along well in sns
| world without much guidance from nv y,
| But please do your best for Sases
and heartbeat"
with the other books which we sfe
sending you for review you will ma
| sMy Alaskan Idyi.' by Hjalmar Rutse
| beck. who wrote Alaska Mans Luek.s
| Review copies were sent you last Fee.
Of nav volume of 0.Neill's plays en-