TRINITY 7466

CAREY McWILLIAMS
900 SPRING ARCADE BUILDING
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

August 12th, 1930.

Dear Mr. Matthiessen:

As "Ambrose Bierce" was an initial venture, I am not beyond the first enthusiasm which prompts one to write reviewers a word of thanks for kindly notices. I am told, by more experienced writers, that this is "bad form" and "deplorable strategy" but, if so, it is a weakness which time will probably cure.

The Bierce book was, as you say, carelessly written. In this, however, many causes, in addition to my own negligence, conspired. I had devoted such an inordinate amount of time to research that I simply could not afford to go over the manuscript as closely as I would otherwise have done. It seems likely that there will be an English edition and I am revising the book materially with this contingency in mind. It should be in better form, then. Also, I am editing a complete collection of Bierce's letters, containing the letters published by the Book Club of California, the letters in the Huntington Library (probably), and quite a large collection of unpublished letters which have recently come to light.

It was kind of you to review my book in *The New Freeman* at such a late date, as nowadays a book seems doomed to obscurity three months after publication. I have filed your review carefully away with the others that I really enjoyed reading.

F. O. Matthiessen, Esq.,
c/o The New Freeman,
New York.

LA SALLE HOTEL

LA SALLE STREET AT MADISON

TELEPHONE FRANKLIN 0700

CHICAGO

November 26th, 1944

Dear Dr. Mathiesen:

I asked my publishers to send you a copy of PREJUDICE, - and I trust that they did. Sometimes they are careless about such matters, so let me know in case they forgot this request.

I had the good fortune to meet Howard and Dorothy Baker in New York and they both spoke of you.

The James stories are wonderful and I liked your introduction, - particularly the Wells-James exchange which is, indeed, most revealing.

I fear that I phoned you at a most inopportune time.

902 Spring Arcade Pldg.,
Los Angeles 13, Calif.

CAREY McWILLIAMS

2041 No. Alvarado Street
Los Angeles 26, California

October 26, 1948

Dear Matty:

Many, many thanks for sending us a copy of your new book which we have both read with great interest. If you don't mind my saying so, I think it took real courage for you to bring out this sort of book at this time. I have read several snide reviews which, needless to say, made me furious. I suppose that this is the sort of thing that one has to expect but, somehow, I find it very difficult not to become enraged by this impudent, smug, snide attitude which seems to be reflected in every review of a "left" book these days. My book on anti-Semitism got this same treatment, including a long article, not a review, entitled "The Red Kiss", which appeared, of all places, in the *Menorah Journal*. I'm sure you are more philosophical about such matters than I am but, in any case, you have my sympathy.

Iris joins me in giving you our very best and in hoping that we may see you soon, for a long session, and with plenty of Manhattan's on tap.

CAREY McWILLIAMS

Oct. 16th, 1949

Dear Matty:

thanks for your note. I am delighted to learn that
you liked the brief. At the rate the liberals on the court have been
dying, I am beginning to suspect, what I have always dimly sensed, that
God is a reactionary.

The book on Presser is going to be, I am sure, a very
fine contribution to an understanding of contemporary America. It is the
kind of book we need right now.

Iris joins me in wishing you the best ever and in hoping
that you had a pleasant time of it in the Sierras.