PARIS

Dec 6 1944

Dear Langston,

I only got back from Spain, after three months, and found your letters, poems and the play. I have kept many of your poems, which I like well, and some of the others you sent too, and I am posting back the rest, as well as the play, for alas, I feel that the only person in England I know whom it might be of use to send the play to for possible putting on there would say that it had not the sufficient appeal for the British public. A play on a directly social theme would be more to the point. Has it been done at all in the States?

It is very good of you to have sent me so many poems to choose from. I am wondering if that Poetry Anthology will ever get done... Events here all this summer, and finally Spain, have put off direct work on that; you will understand. The Spanish situation is so close, both geographically and emotionally, that most of us can think of nothing else. Very many of the French intellectuals have been and are in Spain. My own time there was intensely interesting, and some of it, very intense. After I wrote you from Barcelona I was cut off from the rest of the world as concerns all correspondence. Went to the fronts in Araogn, and spent days and days with the militians, a marvellous experience. Then to Madrid, which I felt would be hard and unsympathetic, and it was, although interesting, and, little by little, progressively, terrible. I left just before what we may call the most recent period of the holocausts of bombing and shelling, but there were constant air-raids while I was there. You know Spain yourself I think, so it will be no surprise to you to know that the population is the most "philosophic" in the world. They go on living under hellish conditions, without thinking of going away. But now Madrid (and this is true, not press exaggeration) is one third destroyed... It is obvious that France has no intention of changing its policy; there will be no aid from here. As for England, its attitude never surprised me. The atmosphere of Europe itself, as you can feel, is highly nervous. I am now going off again, probably to North Africa, for some weeks. And would like to go back

2

to Spain after that; but who knows what will happen ?

Meanwhile, what are you doing ? I heard that you were teaching in a southern college (?) And is much expected from Roosevelt now ?
he is re-elected ? That took place the worst day in Madrid, it came as a gleam of very distant hope from another planet.

I must stop -- it is impossible anyway to give any description of it all in that beautiful country I loved so, in a letter.

Shall be without mail for the whole time I'm away, but do write some time all the same, ever to Lloyds.

Love,

The idea is to distribute the 200 or so copies personally, and if people pay enough to make it worth while these proceeds will go to Spain; Pablo is in Paris and the centre of active groups and always seeing a lot of people and will handle the distribution.

Do you want me to send back the poems of yours I did keep ? I will make a copy of the Ozie Powell one, with the idea of the possibility of the Scottsboro collection. I like many of these poems very much indeed. When does another volume of yours come out ?

And when, oh when may you be coming over ? !

I read about the banning of your play in the City of Brotherly Love -- after months and months of run in so many other places ! It seems too ridiculous for belief.

Do write soon and send us your poem.

Love,

The poems will appear two at a time; some in Spanish, some in French, some in English (and, or, or translated by Neruda, who is quite excellent and very close to the original lines always.)

Conditions in France: every kind of delicious food is
now back everywhere; expensive is life, but hardly so
for users of dollars. I live in a tiny temporary house
in Paris, alone at moment.

La Mothe Fenelon, Lot, France.

Jan 13

Oh dear Langston ! You are a DEAR to send me your new book of poems,
bless you .It came yesterday and I plunged into it and like many of them
very much indeed, and it has an entity that is quite definite and of its
down. Particularly do I like "One-way ticket" itself, and "Visitors to the
Black Belt" "Puzzled", "Daybreak in Alabama", "Roland Hayes Beaten",
"Democracy", and many others. If only Jean Cassou would answer me ! He
is doing so many different jobs that he is hopeless that way. But I want
to have another go at him, and I want to ask him if he would publish two
for three of these poems (with indication that they are from your latest
book of course) IF you will write and give me permission, to translate se-
veral ? What do you think ? If you say yes, please WRITE it me, and then I
would send you the French versions for your approval before sending them
to Cassou, or to "Les Lettres françaises", which is the weekly (literary
and artistic) of the Comité des Écrivains Français (all of our own friends).

is in Paris. Am sending you same time as this a
copy of my "poemes a la France", translations with
English original. It is the French edition of the
book I did during the war in London.

So do let me know please. I am dreefully sorry that, owing to travel, I
never t hanked you for the previous book of poems, now a year and a half
ago, which I liked much too, t hough this one, I think, is better ? Also the
other day came the announcement of Guillen's book translated by you. Fe-
licitat ions on so much work done. In France and in England it is the very
devil to get published, as costs of production are ghastly now, like every-
thing else, but t hey are worse than everything else.

Is there any chance of your coming over here this summer in April
(date not yet settled) there will be a Writers' Defense
de la Culture Congress in Paris. In June, the Congress of "Les Ecrivains
de France", in Lyons. I put your name down for that for an invitation, and will
send Marcenac (of "Les Lettres") your address too, though they no doubt have
you on their list since "ever". I've just done a long review of Rihard
Wright's "12 million black voices", the English edition, superbly produced
and a very good book. Wright I have not seen for two years, but I think he

As from Lloyds Bank, c/3 Bld des Capucines, Paris, France

March 1 [1960]

Dear Langston,

It was good of you to send me "Voices", which I have now read. What strikes one immediately is the very great advance in the poetry of the colored writers; this is a fine collection and how worth while it was to edit. I like your poems, as ever, and those of Robert Hayden, particularly, and the "Courage" of Jessie Fauset, and the "Death of Bessie Smith" by O'Higgins; there are others too, but these are the ones I like best. And the book-reviews. Jonathan Brooks -- two poems of his in "NEGRO"; I be just re-read them and how good they are; I wish I had known him. Pauli Murray, she too in my book, and what fun she was, met to-o briefly in 1932.

Are you coming to Europe this summer?

Here is a translation I have made in the hope that you may be able to have it published somewhere in the States. You surely know about this Turkish poet already.

Maybe you will be seeing Pablo as he and Delia are in Mexico City. The years it is since I have seen them-- but he wrote they are coming to Paris this summer; I missed them there last year.

By now you will have got the new collection of poems in French on Spanish themes that I sent you.

Love, dear Langston, and do send a word soon,

Nancy

THEY WILL NOT LET US SING

They will not let us sing, Robeson,
Canary with an eagle's wings,
Black brother with teeth of pearl.
They will not let us shout our songs.
They are afraid, Robeson,
Afraid of the dawn, afraid of seeing,
Afraid of hearing, afraid of touching,
Afraid of loving as Ferhad loved, passionately.
(You too, black brothers, most certainly
Have a Ferhad, and how do you call him, Robeson ?)
They are afraid of the seed and the earth,
Afraid of the water that runs,
Afraid of remembering.
The hand of a friend who never asks
For discount, commission or postponement
Never lay in their hand
As warm as a bird.
They are afraid of Hope, Robeson, afraid of Hope,
Afraid, canary with an eagle's wings,
Afraid of our songs, Robeson...

NAZIM HIKMET

Turkish Poet, 1949.

(Translated from the French)

Note: NAZIM HIKMET is a Turkish poet of great repute, who, on
account of his social convictions and spirited poems incurred
the wrath of the Turkish authorities. Several times tried and
imprisoned, the last sentence -- 28 years in jail at Broussa --
was passed on him on the charge that "subversive works" of his
were found in the possession of Turkish soldiers and sailors.
These works, it was pointed out by the defence lawyer, could be
bought by anyone and could not be considered "Incitement to mu-
tiny." There have been several legal irregularities in the trial.
The sentence, however, remains. Hikmet is, and has been, extremely
ill in prison, due to conditions, and has spent over 10 years of
his sentence in Broussa jail. His life is said to be in danger
because no proper medical care is given to him. Many fellow poets
and writers in France and other countries are demanding his re-
lease.

If this poem is published, please send a copy to:

Monsieur Kemal Bastuji

69 Boulevard de Vaugirard, Paris, France,
who can send any further information if desired.

February 1, 1951

Miss Nancy Gouard
% Lloyd's Bank
43 Boulevard des Capucines
Paris, FRANCE

Dear Nancy:

My book, SIMPLE SPEAKS HIS MIND, has just come out in England, (Victor Gollanoz Ltd., 9/6). Tell everybody about it for me, please, will you?

And in New York my latest book of poetry appears next month, MONTAGE OF A DREAM DEFERRED. I have already ordered a copy sent you directly from the publishers since I'll be down South when it appears.

Continued good wishes to you.

LH/NWV

Co Lloyds, 43 Bld des Capucines, Paris.

April 6

Dear Langston,

You really are too good to be sending me your books as they come out, and I do appreciate and enjoy this, and them. Here is now "Laughing to keep from Crying" (a phrase that often runs in my head) and I think they are LOVELY stories. In fact, I prefer this set to the "Simple" ones. "Little Old Spy" "Professor", "Big Meeting" and "Who's passing for Who?" and how many more... The art of the short story, to my mind, is one of the finest and most difficult (and well recognised as such), and today in England short-story books have joined the ranks of all the things that publishers say they don't want because they can't sell them. I've just had two months in that country, in one of its dullest, most leaden moments, and have seen too many publishers. What a race. Production-costs are of course beyond belief, so you can imagine how much harder it is for the writer. One feels the whole of literature has now been put on an exclusively commercial plane. And WHAT hasn't? There are still

friends to be sure, somewhat scattered and, some of them, somewhat silent. I have heard lately from Neruda, at present in Capri but returning to Chili, yes, in May. Elections there this summer.

Aragon and all the others have a beautiful "palace," as you know, in which there are Saturday afternoon performances, lectures, etc, and always a fine art-show going on. Paper-shortage, money-shortage, wage-increases (always well below the increased cost of living) and how much else, make book-production here almost impossible too. It is all beastly, and the sight of uniforms adds to it too.

I have a tiny cottage in the South West, on the line to Toulouse, and am about to start spending the summer there. It's 7 hours from Paris and pretty isolated. In Paris I have never been able to find anything, not even one room I could rent unfurnished, so as to have some kind of small "centre" here to come to.

Man Ray is here again, and to live. He has a hugely high, fine studio, and says he won't be leaving France "no mo'".

I think, no, I'm sure, I did not even thank you for the beautiful little collection of your translations of Lorca that came to me in a moment of such business this winter. But thanks now indeed. They are most good to have. Do you know that Lorca is being "taken over" in Spain? Not only he, but Miguel Hernandez too! I see some of the Spanish friends

2

when here, and there is just a possibility we may contrive to get
a small book together--but there again, translations, say publishers,
are the very devil. What one needs is ONE honest man who would not
mind spending his life going the rounds, finding the right publisher
so as to enable the writers to go on producing.

By the way, my Anthology is now quoted at Ten Pounds in London,
but secondhand copies, which are all that is left of the edition,
are unfindable. I was told by a South African publisher who came by
two-three years ago that it sells at 60 dollars in the U.S., when ob-
tainable. There have been many to look at the only two copies I have
myself, one in England, one at home in France. And that little piece
of yours on Hayti remains the gem it always was and has been much
praised.

Is there ANY chance of your coming over this summer ?

The cost of everything is outrageous, but possibly with
dollars...

Ella Winter and Don Stewart are now living in London and
I have met them again and like them very much. Padmore has been to
the Gold Coast and his descriptions are superb. What a new picture
THAT all is. I hope it lasts ! Might possibly go there next winter,
but so much depends on so much.

Love to you, and news would be greatly appreciated,

Nancy

Lamothe Fenelon, Lot, France.

June 28 [1953]

Dearest Langston,

I must thank you for the darling thought of sending me the darling book. "Simple" is a man after my own heart and Lord, how well you do bring him forth! This is even better than the earlier "Simple" series. Long live such good "Race-men". I hope it is having a great success? It has such a good touch, and, of course, much wisdom! And such situations too!

Alas that ,unlike the old days, you never seem to be coming over this side now. Alas to so much.

I went to Paris from this long distance last week to say goodbye to Kay Boyle and her husband, who must pretty well have reached the States by now. Sent you much love by her; heard a little, in only a general way, about you, from her, and hope you see her. I look forward to what she is going to write next -- some subject ! What a preposterous situation it all is. But I found them both in fine spirits. At one time there was a possibility of their coming here, some two or three summers ago; but what with his work, and hers, and the family, I somehow feared the plan of an old cottage near by would not materialise.

Lamothe Fènelon, Lot, France.

May 12, 1954.

Dearest Langston,

Does it ever happen to you to think that you have written someone and then realize you haven't? See what I mean? I thought I had written you from London--way back now-- as soon as the information came about you and the other artist's opera-broadcast. Did I? In any case, you did not send that by airmail, and, consequently, it was all over some days before the letter came--alas. I WOULD have liked to hear it. As it was, I was seeing Geoffrey Bridson, most important on the BBC (Third Programme, I think) who knew about it already and was most disappointed to have missed it. I thought he should be in touch with you, at any rate, address and all.

I have been away from home all winter in England and no books were forwarded, so it is only now, after return a few days ago, that I find your most kind presents: the two "Simple" in English edition and the ravishing "Famous American Negroes", which I plunged into on the spot. I shall send a report on it to my publishers, Secker and Warburg. The one I deal with there is a very old, personal friend, Roger Senhouse, and his letter this morning says that he IS interested in my opinion. They have published the only two American books I have read for them-- one "No more Magnolias" or a title like that some

Pond love, as ever. Would that we might dine in the grass again, and talk till 4.a.m. as at Feanville. Was it really us who did such simple, charming things? Love, [signature]

Langston Hughes Esq.
20 E 127th St

New York City
ETATS UNIS

I shall be here all summer till Oct., with a brief dash to Holland for the International Pen Club there, June 20-26. Then do a little work in Belgium on my projected African IVORY book, and possibly go to West Africa next winter with a photographer!

recently,
four years or so ago, and the large and beautiful African Art and Folk-
lore book (title gone from mind, but something to do with Bollingen)
which they told me they would bring out in London. I do think your
"Famous Negroes" may attract them. I hope this is not out of order ?

An admirable piece of work, my dear ! And what a hell of an amount of
knowledge, collating and research must have gone into it. I admire greatly
your style; it seems perfect for such a presentation. Let us hope ! I will
naturally give Roger your address so that he can communicate direct.

My own book on Norman Douglas (A critical Essay and as many Memories
as I could muster), is due early in June. Who knows if it WILL be taken
by the Viking-- I think it has been sent him quite recently. I have
written several pages in it about my introduction to "Afro-America",
(as well as the Spanish war-years) as the main part of it is in the
form of a 150-page reminiscing Letter to Norman, and, as Norman knew and
delighted in darling Henry, and also knew certain aspects of Spanish
exile, you see how these things cannot, could not, and should not, chro-
logically or otherwise be omitted ! I shall ask for a copy to be sent
you--darling Langston, you who always, regularly, send me all of your
fine, gay, witty, diverse and highly instructive books.

Well, bless you. Are you NEVER coming to Europe again ? Are the roads
impossible ? Guillen came to Paris this winter while I was in London;
he was greatly well received by old friends, but alas, I missed him.

And how nice "Simple takes a Wife" looks in its English dress !
Critics are appreciative of it -- and how rightly.

June 2, 1954

Miss Nancy Cunard,
Lamothe Fenelon,
Lot, France.

Dear Nancy,

It's always nice to get a letter from you—being one of my favorite folks in the world! And to know that you'll have a book coming out soon is great news indeed. I certainly hope there'll be an American edition.

Surely, I'm delighted you're calling "Famous American Negroes" to the attention of Seeker and Warburg. It being a juvenile, agents and publishers here make no effort to sell foreign rights, so anything you do would be most appreciated. I've another little book for young folks coming up next fall, "THE FIRST BOOK OF JAZZ", a brief history and appreciation and explanation of jazz, that I think might interest publishers abroad, too. I'm just finishing up the record lists, and it will be going to press in a month or so. Columbia Records may bring out an album of jazz for children, too, to accompany it.

I've had several letters from Bridson recently, who is hoping maybe to get "The Barrier" done on BBC. The Dutch broadcast received a lot of attention there and was, I though, quite well done. (They sent me a tape of it that wouldn't play at any speed the machines use in this country—so it took TWO days to retape it here at a speed at which one could play it! The U.N. ought to internationalize the speed of tape recorders!) Just this week some of the music was played on WABC here.

When you go to the P.E.N. if you see our American delegate, John Putnam, introduce yourself. I believe I was the first cullud member of the New York P.E.N.—during the war days when a wave of democracy swept over our hitherto lily white institutions—said wave being one I hope to describe in my next autobiography which I intend to start writing this summer.

At the moment I've been having some correspondence with Peter Abrahams in London (whose TELL FREEDOM I've just read in proofs and like immensely) who had promised to send me some short stories of his for any anthology of African short stories I hope to edit (if enough material can be gotten together that's good) for a publisher here. Do you know any African writers of color writing in English other than Abrahams whose names and addresses you could send me soon? If so, needn't take time to write a letter, just jot down the addresses and air-mail them to me, as I'm already assembling material and have some very good stories from South Africa. Help, Please, m'am!

And if you go to Africa, let me know. I get lots of fan letters from all-over there, a few of which are from really interesting sounding people whose names I'd like to give you, especially in Nigeria. And a good friend of mine, Griff Davis, the photographer and his wife are in Monrovia, who used to live here in our house.

You've probably read that William Pickens died at sea on the Mauratania last month. And two wonderful old-time comedians, Dusty Fletcher and Hamtree Harrington died, too, recently....And your book NEGRO is quoted at $50.00 in the University Place Bookshop catalogue. (Mine I see right now in my bookcase, thank God!)

continued good wishes ever,

I'm sending the carbon
of this to Lloyd's in case

VIA AIR MAIL
PAR AVION

Co National-Provincial Bank
97 Tottenham Court Road
London.W.1.

Dec 23

Dearest Langston,

Just a line to thank you for your lovely card of Aaron Douglas and to tell you that NOW I am bringing your "Famous American Negroes" to the notice of my publishers, Secker and Warburg. It did not seem at all the time to do so while I was still in France, all of last summer. They would not even answer important questions concerning my book, which was then coming out, did come out and is selling well. But as I could get nothing out of them for months in the way of information, I realised that if I wrote about your book my letter would merely go down into the maelstrom of that office and be engulfed in forgetfulness. Now I am in England till Easter and can get at Roger Senhouse (whom I deal with at Secker and Warburg) and I have

just made a condensed little "Memo" of this book that I like quite
enormously. Who knows if they will say that the subject is not of
interest enough in England to warrant their taking it on. I hope
that will not be felt. Nothing could be better done; nothing could
be better than this very book for anyone to begin on. XIXth century
or just to read by itself, even without going further.

There have been so many West Indians, Jamaicans mainly, coming to
work in England (where there is work!) that "it is feared" there
may even be the beginning of some kind of segregation. It concerns
housing. Coloured landlords, trying to evict English tenants so that
they can raise rents and swindle their own people is the bald, ugly
side of it!

Eric Walrond--I have just seen again after umpteen years. He is
coming to work in London, he says, and has been in this country since
about 1935, I think.

When shall I ever see YOU again ?

Love, blessings, and hopes for 1955, and the book.

As from Co Lloyds Bank, 43 Bld des Capucines, Paris, France.

March 6, 1955

Dearest Langston,

This morning your delightfully-produced FIRST BOOK OF JAZZ arrived where I am at this moment in the English country. Thanks a great deal for it; I read it at once with joy and pleasure and think it is an admirably clear and interesting piece of work, and of course it should be translated and published in France, and here and everywhere. I wrote at once to my publisher, Senhouse, asking him if he had sent for a copy of your "Famous Negroes", for he liked the notes I gave him on it and said he would. Books take so long to come and go between here and the U.S. I asked him to let me know if he thinks he can publish it, and I will write you what he says.

The Jazz book also gave answers to five or six difficult points I was grappling with all summer with the French violinist at home, in the translation of Iain Lang's book on Blues: things like "tail-gate". So bless you for that too: I have sent on numerous extracts to him which he will be very grateful for and he will adore this book of yours when I show it him in France.

How I do go on wishing I could see you. No chance, I suppose, of your coming to France this summer? I gave an American (ofay) friend your N.Y. address and hope he may get in touch with you before he comes back to Europe: Charles Burkhart, a writer; very sympathetic.

And now I can't remember if you WERE sent my book on Norman Douglas or not. Will check up and have it sent, if it had not gone already.

So much love, so many thanks; so many thoughts, dear Langston. We will write from France in about a month concerning your "FIRST BOOK OF JAZZ".

37

March 30, 1955

Dear Nancy,

Just a quickie of a note (I'm meeting a deadline, as usual) to tell you gracias for letting Burkhart know about me. I'm to see him next week when he comes back to New York. And it will be swell to have direct news of you!..Also thanks for the Senhouse contact with my book. If you're writing him, tell him I'm just put together a selection of my poems from FINE CLOTHES and MONTAGE, along with some new ones, especially for England—since I've never had a book of poems there. I've suggested to my agents that they let him see them.

I'm so glad you like the little JAZZ book. It is getting rave reviews here, most of them saying it is good for adults, too, as a Primer of Jazz for folks who know little about it, grown though they be.

Last week was funeral week in Harlem—Charlie Parker, the saxophonist, and Walter White. The wives and chief mourners (Charlie Parker had two wives) were all white at both—so, you see, we're integreating!.....Within the past year, too, both Mr. and Mrs. Pickens have died—he at sea on the Berengaria.

You very sweetly said you were sending me your book on Norman, but it never came, so I guess you didn't. I'd be very happy to have it. LOVE your writing!

Best ever,

Sincerely,

Langston Hughes
20 E 127 St
New York City 10035
States United

Pyrenees, de passage.

May 25, 1957

Dear Langston,

I have been travelling so much lately
without an address (and am so again), and this explains
why I have not been able to write before and thank you
so much for "I wonder as I wander", which was waiting
for me at home. What an achievement--to have got so much
into one book; I admire the finding of the scale that makes
this possible! Even now I have not a moment to read it,
or anything else, properly, but did read long passages
here and there and look forward to a long spell with it
on return home some time later this summer.

I read of Spain... those unforgettable
days. And of your fantastic times in Russia and Asia,

Sent to: Nancy Cunard
Jan Carew
Geoffrey Bridson
Cedric Dover
Muriel Smith
Victor Gollancz
Rosey Pool

March 21, 1958

Dear Nancy,

My musical based on the SIMPLE books, SIMPLY
HEAVENLY, is now in rehearsal in London (Jack Hylton
and Laurence Harvey producing) and its composer David
Martin, with some of the actors from the New York cast,
has just flown over to your city. I thought it might
be nice were he to meet you, and you him, as he is an
excellent musician and jazz pianist, and an all-around
good fellow. I have given him your address. Or he
may be reaced through the Jack Hylton office, Hylton
House, or Laurence Harvey Productions, Ltd., 27 Soho
Square, while the show is in rehearsal.

Greetings and very best regards to you,

As ever,

Langston Hughes

Co National-Provincial
95 Tottenham Court Rd.
London W.L.

Jan 7, 1959

Dear Langston,

You have always been so wonderfully kind in
sending me your books (and such good books, all of them) but now this
"Negro Folklore" surpasses all. What a splendid volume. I think of the
work that you and Arana Bontemps must have had putting it all together
and say Well done, as well as infinite thanks for sending it to me. I
have browsed here and there and am delighted. There seems to be a very
good balance too, but I shall read the book from cover to cover very
soon now. Surely this is a very great and permanent contribution to
the study not only of the Afro-American (my favourite expression, at
times, that is) but to the literature of the U.S.

Your capacity for work and of output ever amazes me.
And those are things I think so highly of, coupled as they are in you
with such freshness and individuality!

I am in England for a while. Have seen a little of
Eire Walrond, who collected poems for the first public reading of Negro
Poetry in England (or so it seems, I think I am correct in saying this)
in one of the London theatres. The book was published by the woman who
put it on with him and the Company of Nine, Erica Marx, and it is a
good choice. I've also seen Rudoph Dunbar who is going to conduct con-
certs in the West Indies.

And oh, what of Cuba ?! I have often wondered where
Nicolas went after France and imagine he will go back there now ? How
well I can imagine the struggle, and the ugly role of England sending
arms to Batista may have pretty bad consequences. A pity Hem was not
there at this time, but in New York -- or so my paper tells me this
morning.

I do wish you sometimes came to Europe. You would

be against, however, at the cost of living in France. Gone for ever
are the easy prices of the country, as when you came to me at Rean-
ville and we lay under the hot trees half the night, you reminiscing
so wonderfully about all those long journeys far away! Unforgotten.

Aragon has just published an enormous novel about 1815, "La Semaine Sainte", which is going to have a great success, I should say. I am reading it at this moment. Such detail of the times.

I am trying to write an account of my printing days, but all or
nearly, has to be done from memory as all the things you saw in my
house, or very nearly all, were destroyed, or disappeared during the
war. How much have I lost; all the innumerable data for "Negro", let-
ters, documents of all sorts. And books too. "One ought not to have
things when one is alone" is very much my feeling these days, and
where I now live in France is so very remote that I have decided
to get a small place in London.

Spain too—If only that war had ended differently I do believe
I should be living in that country now. I was there a great deal the
last two years with French and American friends, mainly on Mallorca.
Much of it is painful, very painful to me, and everyone is groaning
under the regime, as ever. The wages seem to me the worst of all the
bad business at the moment, and, of course, the censorship. Do you
suppose there can ever be the great change there without another
world upheaval?

So many heartfelt thanks again, dearest Langston,
and be sure to let me know if you should come over and to which
country.

Love and best 1959 wishes,

Co National-Provincial
95 Tottenham Court Road
London.W.1.

April 6, 1959

Dearest Langston,

I DO think your book of "Selected Poems" a beauty. And it is all the richer through your having made such a good choice of the many kinds of poems you have written. How productive you are. This is a beautifully produced volume and I like the McKnight Kauffer drawings very much indeed, and the enchanting photography of you by Cartier Bresson--quite one of the best photographers in the world. As ever, you are most generous with me and I do appreciate this. Thank you so much for the lovely book.

Your secretary's letter came on to me here out with a little delay from Paris and, as I am in a flat for the moment with a radio set, I should have gone out to some friend's house, but unfortunately had an engagement that night, and the letter came at the last moment. I telegraphed to very good friends in the country who sit over the wireless day-long, Otto Theis and Louise Morgan (she used to edit "Everyman" and was then on the "News Chronicle". Alas, their set was not capable of getting Rome, and they were bitterly disappointed, they write, as they are great admirers of yours. I will get "The Listener", which may have a report, and send it you, and have asked another friend to keep an eye open for press mentions, which I too will do. You shall have anything I find. I DO wish I could have heard "Il Mulatto".

I have been ill for nearly two months with the consequences (perhaps) of influenza--an awful complex of asthma and nervous dyspepsia and bad nerves, really atrocious, and for this reason have hardly been out or seen anybody. One of the few ones been Miriam Benekovtiz, who teaches at Skidmore College and is doing a book on Ronald Firbank. She just flew over for a few days and I enjoyed her company very much indeed. She is one of the good southerners.

I wish I'd had your secretary's letter much sooner, for a great

friend of mine in Paris, Gaston Bouchoux, works on Radio France d'Ou-
tremer and he is enthusiastic about all Negro matters. But he will
probably have been aware of "Il Mulatto" and listened to it. The
trouble with him is that he seldom answers letters, although I will
write and ask him if he heard it and how it came over. I am so igno-
rant of all wireless things that it seems incomprehensible when some
set or other cannot get any part of the world !

I wonder if things are not moving at last in Spain. One most cu-
rious event here is that the BBC is preparing a very large progra me
for some time this autumn on the Spanish War--and anything Spanish
used to be shunned like nothing else. And also a very great friend
of mine, who was a Republican refugee in France for years and years,
and then travelled "behind the curtain", has now gone back to live
in Spain. Nothing seems to work there with "ordinary logic".

It seems too, as someone has just written me, who spent a long
time in Spain that the U.S. Press, some of it, has written nasty
truths about the regime. Well now, THAT comes from the best quarter!

I AM so disappointed about not getting to hear "Il Mulatto". Pos-
sibly it will be given here later on ?

Dearest Langston, Iglay in your books. The Anthology is remarkable
and what work must have gone into it, and the Poems are a really beau-
tiful selection.

How often I think of you, and when John Banting comes to see
me we always talk about you. Where is Nicolas, I wonder ?

With every good thought and, as usual, such thanks for
your generosity. I will send on anything I can find about the broad-
cast.

Love,

It is splendid that your "Tambourines to Glory" is about to be produced and I will get a copy of it from Gollancz (and so, doubtless, will Mrs Nicholas).

News came from The Highlanders Folk School in Tennessee--what an incredible case--and I duly sent off my protest to the Governor and also a list of twelve or so people over here who would probably like to do the same; I mean, I sent this to Highlanders.

This goes to you in Trinidad--dear Trinidad! Please give my love to Carlton Comma, of whom I keep the best memories, ever, and to any other of my old friends there. How I would love to hear you lecture -- 10 lectures--that means a good deal of work !

Love and blessings and again thanks,

she get a copy of our "NEGRO". It's unfindable in England and I'm
told is worth some sixty dollars in the States, when a copy comes up.
I have copied for her all the articles on Haiti in the volume, and
thought again, while so doing, how beautifully you wrote yours.

CAN you get a copy of Jacques' book sent to her ? She would pay
immediately, I am sure:

Mrs Nicholas, 11 Esmond Court, Thackeray St. London. W.8.

Of, if for some reason this would have to go through a bookseller,
then: Norman Sims, Esq. Thackeray Bookshop, 18 Thackeray St.

London. W.8.

I've just finished another book--"Thus were the hours-- A Record
of her Hours Press, 1928-1931"-- but I am tired to death of the past!

Will you NEVER come over again, dear, dear Langston ?

Love and blessings as ever,

October 26, 1959

Dear Nancy:

It was certainly very nice to hear from you and to know that you have gotten another book done. I will be looking forward to reading about the Hours at the Hours Press. I am sure you will remember you made me a gift of some of the books. This is just a hasty note to let you know that I am sending Mrs. Nicholas a copy of MASTERS OF THE BREW today. I had an extra one.

I am very rushed these days trying to complete revisions on TAMBOURINES TO GLORY which the Theatre Guild is about to put into production (I guess you know that Golanz has recently published the novel in London). Also, I have to prepare 10 lectures for the library at Port of Spain, Trinidad where I am going in early November for a couple of weeks.

And so I will sign off right now with cordial regards.

Proverbs

March 21, 1960

Dear Nancy:

May I have your permission to use in my
forthcoming anthology of folk and literary
expressions of black Africans, AN AFRICAN
TREASURY (Crown, June, 1960) a half dozen
of the Kroo, Ewe, Baronga proverbs from your
wonderful (and still invaluable) book, NEGRO?
And, of course, I will send you a copy.

I'm just back from a reading of my poems in
Atlanta, and about to head for a 2 weeks tour
of the colored colleges (plus Chapel Hill---
of NEGRO record---first time since then).
The college kids down South are GREAT at this
moment---and the "sit-ins" are paying off.

A few food counters have actually (DOWN there)
dropped the color bar. In Atlanta the cops
came charging into the campus drug store with
a POLICE DOG, ordering students out for "loiter-
ing" (in a colored place) and nobody moved---
this was the day I was there. One student said,
"I fought in Korea, and not afraid of you or
your dog; Facts are, I will kick that dog in
the teeth if you sic him on me!" And not
being afraid, they are beginning to win.

Sure would like to see you!

Best regards,

Sincerely,

Langston Hughes

Co National-Provincial Park
95 Tottenham Court Road
London W.1.

Aug 10th, 1960

Dearest Langston,

Once again a wonderful book from you! This is a really splendid piece of work (and how creative, there's nothing like it) your African Treasury

which came a few days ago, with your good letter answered too late, which did not matter as you have used some of the proverbs out of my "NEGRO". Thanks too for the two excellent press reviews which I have stuck in.

It makes exciting reading, and I think you have balanced the work extremely well. Now this must have been very difficult to do. As your admirably descriptive, critical Introduction says, it must have been heart-reading to have to exclude so much that was good. I think the arrangement of all the material, too, is fine, and that cannot have been easy (I remember the time I had with the sequences in my Anthology). What comes out very strongly and markedly is the authenticity of everything. Yes, this is a valuable piece of work--and of pleasure, one of the achievements of the "awakening", no, no, I mean of the liberating of Africa. It should go down among the various facts in the actual, living, palpitating story of Africa.

I took the book with me to Otto Theis and Louise, his wife. (Maybe you have read her under her own name, Louise Morgan?) She was editress of "Everyman" for years in the early thirties, and keen on helping me in all my efforts for Scottsboreo, printing various appeals and writing information there herself. Both are American (became English at the start of the war). Both had a look at the book and gasped their admiration to me; both know you, of course, very well, from your writings.

I feel sure this is having excellent reviews all over the States, and now it deserves to be.

AbrAMS -- that is an admirable piece of description, his visits to Dr Nkwumah andomo Kenyatta. He makes several points

October 6, 1960

Dearest Nancy:

Letters from Paris, London, and here a few weeks ago had you spirited away somewhere, lost, ill, couldn't be found! And then came your very seet letter to me, the longest and nicest I'd gotten in a while from you. So I was sure it couldn't be all THAT bad. Nevertheless, I asked Arna BonTEMPS on his way through London to Uganda to try to get news of you for me. I also wrote Rosey Pool. And today comes an answer reporting (via reports from a friend of yours) that you're O. K. I do hope so! The folks who love you love you TOO MUCH to not be worried if anything untoward happens to YOU.

Listen! If you're in London, you might like to meet the colored South African composer of KING KONG, who also writes that amusing WITH THE LID OFF material for DRUM: Todd T. Matshikiza, c/o Barclay's Bank, D.C.O., Oceanic House, 1 Cockspur, London, S. W. 1. He's in my anthology. Escaped to London.

Take care of yourself! Be happy! And write when you have time and the spirit moves you, but don't worry about it. I'm just glad to hear you're O. K.

Sincerely,

cc to
Paris
address
also

Co Theis, The Street, Dallington, Sussex, England.

Oct 14, 1960.

Dearest Langston,

Your three letters have just come, two yes-
day and one today. How sweet are the things you stay
on me about myself.
Bless you for having asked Arna Bontemps to enquire for me in
London and thank you for the names of Rosey Poole and one of
your best authors in your "African Treasury", both of whom I
hope to meet when I am in London which my be next month or at
least in December.

I left that awful Sanatorium (near London) on September 10 and have been here with very goodold American friends ever since, to whom I have given a copy of your "Afri can Treasury", which they appreciate as well as I do. Be it said yet again what an admirable idea it was of yours; I fancy it could hardly have come into being even ten years ago, which is one sign of the terrific speed at which things are now going in Africa.

I was in the Sanatorium well over three
months, and Godknows what rumours etc. must have gone around in

various countries. You probably had the printed piece Lowenfels sent out. It was sweet of him indeed to do so, and it was good to be able to thank him from freedom from that ghastly place. The wholes story is too long to tell in any letter. As it is I am not clear of the trammels yet, and I mean financially as well.

I wonder if you possibly know what address would find Nicolas Guillen. A great friend of mine in Spain, poet and teacher, is bringing out a collection of contemporary poems and wants to ask Nicolas for some of his. If you should know it, could you just send it me ?

Bless you for your letters and here's to our meeting again somewhere. Now where, and, for that matter, when ?

Love,

October 26, 1960

Nancy!

You wonderful one! How good to
hear from you! Things had me WORRIED
for a while......He is hale, hearty, and
fine, I hear! Sr. Nicolas Guillen,
c/o HOY, Havana, Cuba

for which paper he does a column....The
composer of KING KONG and amusing and
witty South African colored writer is
now settled with his family at London:

Todd Matshikiza,
25 Minster Road,
London N. W. 2.

And the other one in my anthology:

Bloke Modisane,
27 Parkhill Road,
Hampstead, London N.W. 3.

Both seem like interesting fellows by letter.

I'm off on a weekend lecture trip tonight,
but HAD to write you to say SO GLAD!

Affectionately,

P.S. I think Gollancz in London, Seghers
in Paris, are both going to bring
out my AN AFRICAN TREASURY. Berlin has
most charming SIMPLE with line illustrations.

Nov 7, 1960

Dearest Langston,

I thanked you, I think, for sending me Nicolas's address and have written him, as some things have to be done in a roundabout way. Do you possibly know the address of Alberti, always with the same object in view, to be written to for permission to quote some of his poems by the same Spanish poet? I would greatly appreciate having it.

And now thank you for another letter with the addresses too, in London, of Matshikiza and Modisane, whom I will get in touch with as soon as I get there (not just yet).

Yesterday came your very moving and so

very charmingly written "Sorrow for a Midget"(as much appreciated by my literary friends here as by myself.) They love your "African Treasury". That is splendid if Gollancz and Seghers do it in London and Paris, and I am so glad too to hear that my very good friend Simple has good line drawings in Berlin. All this is very good.

I am now hoping that my preposterous "affair" will come to its rightful ending with the restoration of my (impounded) money in five or six weeks. The time everything official takes...

All love and blessings,

76

May 10, 1962

Dear Nancy:

Where and how are you?

My gospel song-play, BLACK NATIVITY, opens at Spoleto (as a part of the Festival of Two Worlds) on June 24th. I may be there—if not that very day, shortly thereafter. It runs thru July, so maybe you might get down to see it.

I'm invited to East Africa in early June, leaving New York about the 3rd. Thence back to Italy. Might have a couple of weeks in Europe, so let me know where you'll be in July. Would love to see you once more in life, as the saying goes. I remember you over the years as one of my VERY favorite human beings.

Drop me a line SOON.

Sincerely,

Langston Hughes

71

Lamothe Fènelon, Lot, France.

May 25, 1962.

Dearest Langston,

How nice to have your letter and to know that your "Black Nativity" is to be done in Spoleto--of all places! (I say "of all places" merely because my own memory of it dates back to 1923, when it was one more of those adorable hilltowns; but, since how it will have changed and become a "festival site".)

I fear I shan't be able to get there, though.

You remember John Banting? Of course you do.

He is here now, for, I hope the whole summer, and it would be LOVELY if you were to come by and see us. Asks that I can't ask you to stay (remember our hot evenings at Kéanville in Normandy, when you told me so WONDERFULLY about all one strip of long journeyings ! And we played African tribal songs and dances--alas All gone now in the beastly war). This house here is tiny, and I am cramped to madness—but your books are an imposing row. It is an old barn, transformed into a sort of French cottage, in a field. That's all. But we could get you in oom near by and meet here and there, of course. If only you have time!

It's to EAST Africa you're going, you say. I am in sustained touch with Dorothy Padmore in Ghana. Can't remember if you know her personally, but expect you do. She sounds uncertain as to whether she is staying there to continue work on newspapers, and did invite me to go to her last winter, but I have been ill with an infernal kind of bronchitis and so did not travel. Personally I think the Uganda people (or those I mean by "Uganda") are the most beautiful of all the Africans !

What CAN America be like now ? I shall never see it again, I think. I have a very good friend there (ofay), a decorator in New Jersey, who sounds as if he were absolutely miserable after having lived so much in Europe. His letters (and poems) are most graphic, and all he does is long to come back this side.

Send me a line from somewhere en route and let me know if you could pass by here. It really would be LOVELY to see you again, dearest Langston; as you say "once more in life".

Much love to you,

Pro Tem: Hotel Capoul
Toulouse. France.

April 13, 1963.

Dearest Langston,

Your most welcome letter yesterday. I Do hope we can
meet if/when you come over in the summer. I am ill. I have the
a hellish combination of lung things: asthma, chronic bronchitis, scle-
rosis of the lungs at least up to a point, bad circulation, loathing
of all food, dizziness, etc. It is simply HELL since months, and no
doctor can, or will (or WILL) do anything. To them it's nothing-- to
me it's as love just said.

Splendid that BLACK.NATIVITY may yet be playing:
(I've no idea about what's going on, save what I read in the local
paper), from having been so bloody ill since so many months that I
cannot, simply cannot move about. Also Europe is too large, and the
cost of everything is about beyond me. I mean train tickets. :
Wonderful that your MULATTO is being done in Madrid. In ONE way, I
don't wonder at all, because the people--most of them, would love
that. In another way, it's remarkable that you, so well known and
surely remembered by "the authorities" should be personable grata now.
That's how they are, though. As for me, I'll never go back until
in the 1950's to 1961, I suppose.
the time. I've been a lot, you know. It was, in many ways, adorable,
and then agonising too. Would this be your first time "since" ?

How often have I wondered where Nicolas is--or rather
what was going on all round him... Everything, I imagine. I do not
think our Nicolas can have changed. Many have. I don't think of
those..

Imagine this: I've just realised I never thanked you
for the VERY FINE book of yours you so kindly sent, sort-of-end of-
last summer, on the NAACP. HOW CAN IT BE, Langston dearest, you have
so very much productive capacity: poet, story writer, novelist, auto-
tiographer, EXQUISITE journalist. Well, all that can well go to-
gether. But the way the BOOKS come out: And the "famous Negroes" and
the book on Music... And the translation of darling Jacques
Roumain's book. (By the way, it was so very good of you to send a
copy to that woman in London who has a craze about Haiti--can't
remember her name at the moment; she is the wife of a crippled
Judge. Will love to have your new book of stories.

Your NAACP book is very, very good indeed. On Langston,
how much of it took me back to the first times I knew Henry... Can
can you, Afro-American, imagine what it was NOT knowing anything,
anything at all, (save the fact of lynchings as everyone does)
and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"? It was Henry who "presented" me with all
the trutn. Amd, Lord, how frantic it made me ! I think you
have made a splendid account of the work of the NAACP. And it
came JUST at the moment the Meredith case was at its worst. I Am
so sorry I did not write you at once about it; please forgive.

Dufos is
Yes--I say now, musingly: Dr. D. du E. Walter White, Pickens -- those
I did meet through Henry on my first adult voyage to N.Y. --(why,
it was only 1 year before WE met--so briefly -- you on your way to
others
"the boat"). Dr. D. du E. was ... "difficult". The two toons I knew
better later. Dear Walter White... during WW II, in London, with my
very charming ofay friend, Morris Gilbert (journalist, US); we had din-
ner in the Case Royal (for what the food was worth) in London, and ne-
ter, in my memory was there a more agreeable conversation, Morris being
"all right" (of course; else I could never have taken uup with him.)

And Pickens... On, on, on.... This is not for being put down in writ-
ting, because of all the "quirks" in him. We were in Spain together for
about 3 days (Barcelona), and then he had to go back to U.S. But I think
he DID write some pretty good things about the IYEEIYXX Collected T.B.S.
and my misteher are
This type ritter is driving me mad! Can you read what I write ? I
can't !
Attached to

Back to your NAACP book: I think this volume should be made of
HISTORY. Of course, of N. American History it will soon be. I mean this:
As this beastly world (that could be so pleasant ?) goes on, I mean
that book should be made up of part of "class-obligation"; I mean that
children, and people (if they should have to read it: hate it, they
might. Not so many; some would. Let them ! But that the FACTS should be
be known. And THAT is what you have done so well. I'm not surprisee,
dearest Langston. You being you. (not only in)

Colossal changes in the English press... (I mean the two important
Sunday papers, "The Sunday Times" and "The Observer", on the score of
Africa). Oh how many photos, now, of this and that region, and the
supposed wherefores of events... Bless N'Krumah. See how they do try
to kill him. I hope they don't. I have a great friend there: Padmore's
widow, and she urges me to come. I cam't. I am too ill. I can't
"move
freely", see ?

Yes, where will I be in August next ? God knows ! This home problem
has become infernal, owing to this appalling state of weakness and
illness in me. Before, living there much of the time, I did not mind the
solitude. Now, I feel I cannot cope with a whole (tiny) house any more,
alone. And I cannot think of whom to find "to help".
So there it is; that's how it is now with me.

Find love, dear Langston, and thanks, ever, thanks, as I
hope you know. I hope the vila influenza will leave you
alone!

F.S. By the way, young and most sympathetic
Professor Ford, of Trenton (who has worked tremendously
on this book on the Spanish way) was hoping to see you
soon. Now there is a man with heart as well as brain!

So much love,

Nancy

73

April 28, 1963

Dear Nancy:

Such a wonderful letter from you!
Bringing back so many old memories....Henry's
book, your marvellous NEGRO (listed at $60.00
last time I saw a mention of it in an old
Rare Books catalogue), your lovely poems are
all in sight as I write on my studio book-
shelves....One of Picken's grandsons turned
out to be a very brillian (and handsome) young
man, top mathmatician or something, with a
high paid job although still quite young......
Arthur Spingarn, at 86, is heading for Green-
wood, Mississippi (where all the current voting
trouble and riots are) next week---to prove he
is with the Freedom Riders and other kids---
one of whom he met at my house last night who
was just out of jail down there for teaching
a voters registration class. (Negroes have to
learn to read the whole constitution---and
even then they've registered only 10 in the
past six months!)

I'm so sorry to hear you're ill,
so don't use-up precious strength answering
this, or acknowledging books. (My short storie
ordered sent you, and POEMS FROM BLACK AFRICA
will be on its way soon. But needn't write.)
Just send me a line about mid-July to the:
c/o American Express, Paris, as I hope to be
there by the Quatorze Julliet day. But maybe
can only stay a couple of weeks, as it looks n
as if my Theatre Guild play will be going into
rehearsals (at last) in August. But do let me
know where might be found at mid-summer---and
if I can come and say Hello, I will.

Affectionately,

Puitz Carré
Chapelle-Kéanville
Eure, France

Aug 15 (1967)

Dear Langston,

Here is the translation I have just made of a little
play of MIGUEL HERNANDEZ. As you probably know (and knew him ?) he
was condemned to death in Madrid; news has just come that the sentence
has been changed to "30 years". I have reason to tell you that pro-
tests, enquiries, and publicity on his case, and on that of the philo-
sopher, ANGEL GAOS, (case reported at same time) may have some
effect -- per medium of the Spanish Ambassador in the U.S. -- as
has been started in England by the Duke of Alba, Ambassador in London.

In any case, this play I find good; and send it you in
the hope that you may be able to put it on, or give it some one who
could do so. In that event, if any money should accrue, I suggest
that it be sent, marked

"For Migeul Hernandez" to our friend...

Juan Vicens,

Aide Culturelle aux Régulières Espagnoles

Maison de la Culture

29 Rue d'Anjou, Paris, 8e.

Am sending a copy to the "New Masses" and to Rolfe Humphries, of the "League of American Writers". And to several others in other countries.

Here am I at Réanville, with yet another Spanish friend got out of camp. It's not hot as it was for us; nor have we had our "Passportless Congress" -- now that there are several more nations to be added, until----------

I got your sending of the USA Writers' Congress; it seemed out of this world as it came to me in Perpignan, once again.

How are you, where -- and when again ?

Love,

Nance

Co Lloyds
43 Boulevard des Capucines
Paris

Jan 24

Dear Langston,

Just a line to say that your letter for Jacques Roumain
has gone into: "Left Review" (London monthly), "The New Leader" (Lon-
don Independent Labour Party weekly), "Monde"(weekly) and "Commune"
(monthly) in Paris. I sent it to some others too,such as "Europe"
and an African(European press bureau. Not heard from those last.

What is happening anyway to Roumain ? I find no news
about him in The Liberator or the Pittsburgh Courier,etc.

Send me a line when you have a moment.

All best,

Feb II

Dear Langston,

This is to ask your collaboration and help:
as you see by the enclosed I am making a new collection of
Negro writings. This time it is to be only Poetry, revolution-
ary poetry, and I shall hope to get themes and collaboration
from Africa and the West Indies as well as from the U.S.

Please send me some new poems. I think it a good
idea, don't you, to try and get some that deal with <u>history</u>; for
instance, I should like some poems about Sojourner Truth and
Nat Turner and Harriet Tubman and Douglass, and incidents and
episodes. There must be poems too now on Scottsboro and Angelo
Herndon... I have some from the Liberator.

Will you send me the addresses of Regino Pedroso
and of Quillen and of more West Indians? You helped me enor-
mously with getting poetry for "NEGRO" and I want to count on
you for this new effort. It must not be too long, and it MUST
be at a very cheap price. There is also, indeed, the quality
of the work that must be thought of & Do suggest some people
I can write to, in any of the numerous parts of the world that
you know.

I gather that your play has been going well; how
I should have liked to see it; maybe we can get in done in Eng-
land. Marie Deton is always looking for new revolutionary plays
(she is connected with the "Left Theatre"). Why not get in
touch with her ? she is at 43a Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead,
London.

I had hoped for your arrival last year - shall
continue to do so for this summer... ?

All best as ever,

What is happening to Roumain ? I suppose he is still in

prison -- the monstrous case it is.

I gave a french friend a letter to you and he had
hoped to see you in New York -- Louis Carré, who took over
a very fine African Art show which was held at Knoedlers.
Did you see it ?

Tell me how Rose McClendon is when you answer me. I read
in the Pittsburgh Courier that she was so ill.

C/o Lloyds Bank
43 Boulevard des Capucines
Paris

Feb 22

Dear Langston,

I have so many books of yours to thank you for, and this morning comes the interesting number of "VOICES" edited by you. Thanks again. I have dipped into it and read your really very vivacious poems and like them. Soon I will write you a proper letter. This is just to thank you and to send you my poems.

Is there a chance, or even a probability, of your coming over this summer? I am in England at this moment. But will be in France after April. Same old difficulties, even worse; cost of living, etc. And nowhere to live in a place of one's own.

The same love,

Co Lloyds Bank

April 9

Dear Langston,

Your card from Mexico was great pleasure. How I wish
that Henry and I could take that freighter from Cadiz and come over!
But he is in Paris, working now and then, and looking for musical en-
gagements, and I am here in the country right now, alone, writing, and
peaceful. Kay Boyle is making an anthology of "Best Stories for
1934"; she wants Negro things, and asked for your address, which I
have sent her. Only a page she wants, as she is going to make one
for each day of the year -- calendrically, rather narrow I think,
but feasible. Also I gave your name to René Crevel, who is working
for the big Writers Congress that takes place in Paris on June 3.
He asks me for the names of Negro comrade writers! You -- the o-
ther two I can think of are Eugene Gordon and Loren Miller; there
must be a few more at least?! He will be writing you.

Can you help me in the following: I want the name of
a REAL history of the Negro people in the U.S. Schomburg has pro-
mised me Williams' History; I've waited for months and it doesn't
come. Now I've written to someone else there to try and send it me.
But there may be some other book which is more to my purpose. I
want a descriptive, discursive, anecdotal history, in which I can read
of the Dismal Swamp, Harriet Tubman, Truth, and something on Recon-
struction. I gather the ordinary white histories do not speak very
much in detail of such people -- another thing too, I must have
a good account of the slave risings. This is to read up while ma-
king the film scenario. Matter on John Brown and Frederick Dou-
glass I have. Henry suggested that a good novel by a contemporary
of the time on Reconstruction would give the atmosphere; I think
that is a very good idea. Can you tell me the name of the one you
think best? I should be infinitely grateful, Langston.

A few words about my scenario. It is in four parts. Starts

with slaving in Africa, agitation about the abolition of the Trade,
the Middle Passage. Then moves to Jamaica, life on the plantations
and local customs there. Then America, southern states about 1840—
with, right here, in this section of the film, what I am hoping you
will be able to send me names of, for historic accuracy. And
this part contains various things on the Underground Railroad, John
Brown etc etc. But I am not anything like familiar enough with this
part of the subject. Clarkson gave me full measure about slavery —
have you read his lovely book? And other things come along that lift
the veils, on slavery itself in the S.S. too. The records of the past
are far the best; the American Abolition Society has a flaming
account. It will end with a long part on the present day. In
all it is intended to be historic as well as dramatic, and to con-
clude with the revolutionary solution. I have not the slightest
idea at this time where it can be made etc etc. But I know what I
want to do, and that is to go and study in Russia and work with some
film producer there, when the scenario is finished.

"Imitation of Life" has come. I liked it, as far as it goes.
They are all good actors, and it's about as honest an exposition as
anything can be that does not have the revolutionary viewpoint. And
I imagine it is very good racially for these two coloured stars to
have been allowed to show what fine actresses they are and so en-
courage other producers. But tain't enough.

I hope something will bring you over this side. Wouldn't a book
about the Negro republic of Abkhasia be interesting? Why not you
write one — did you visit them when you were there ?

Well, do write and tell me about these books,
and excuse me for the trouble, but I do certainly need them.

All best,

Co "Everyman" 66 Chandos St, Strand, London

April 16

Dear Langston,

It was very GOOD getting your letter. I'm here now
since 6 weeks, for a long time; in fact don't want ever to go back to
France. Cluttered up with dead weights that country is, for me, perso-
nally; nothing of what I have can be sold. Here it has been, is yet,
a bloody battle to get rid of odds and ends etc in sales. Prices being
cut-throat. I have also seen disappear about 3 quarters of the money I
still had last year. in Stocks !!!

The 6 weeks here have all been Scottsboro, Enclosed various thin
things for you. The stamp
being of cour

being of cour

of spades to which Otto Hall went... (and you too, probably, since)
and tell them HOW Negroes are treated in this pestilential and vicious
country too.

Only the uttermost ruthlessness will ever stamp out colour bar.
Mass action, at the same time.

Well, if you have friends coming here, send them to me. This ad-
dress finds me, though I live no -where in particular. It always
finds me. I'll write after May-Day from here.

Love, and greetings,

Greetings to Walt Carmon, and just mention me to Aragon.

I'm very glad indeed to hear that so much of your writings are being
translated; you didn't expect otherwise, did you ?

course american. They rest, mine. The first S. protest is completely ex-
hausted, not a copy left to send you. That particular one was destined
more specially to the so-called "intellectuals" of this country. And
there was a letter of mine to the press of Gt Brit. in general mention-
ing some of "the better known names" !!! Therefore a few people knew a
bout the case when they were horrified for themselves into seeing that
it was all really TRUE, and that death sentences still bloom in that
hell-bitten South that I for one wish I could go and blast into no-
thing with dynamite, having of course taken all the spades out first
and a few whites. No-one could really feel differently who reads day
by day of the proceedings there. We are at last in direct touch with
Decatur (the D.W. is; I mean). Possibly l'Huma is too, if they were
willing to pay press fees ! I must stop, am in the middle of various

jobs fix of work, and pretty ill with bronchitis today.

Just remember this: you really should pass by England before going
back to USA; but I feel you won't be leaving Russia for a long time.
Don't. The film will be a-making soon, I suppose. What typical Harlem
press treachery that was, on the part of Moon, and the other(s). But
quick contradictions from you etc.

I want to get to Russia one day. May it be while you're still there.
I MAY write and ask your advice, and possibly aid, in a month,
this would be in connection with the film. Yes, tell the people the-
re that I want most particularly for the book (NEGRO) to be translated;
in Russia. That is the moment I should like to come at. And I'd like to
tell the Russian people too, myself, how they are lied about in this

fascist country, and go down to that colony

87

Co Lloyds Bank
43 Boulevard des Capucines
Paris

April 16

Dear Langston,

HOW pleased I am !! hooray for you and Europe. Let us be
sure to met; we'll make it. I shall be HERE; in France. Either in Paris
or in the country house near by. Always LLoyds, as address. Of course
I will "displace" myself to come and meet you IF it is not too terribly
far. I am very busy, writing hand over fist the film book, and needing
the books I wrote to you of just a few days ago. But I shan't start
for Russia till quite the end of the summer; it's not at all decided I
shall then, but I rather imagine so.

Yes, Roumain protest did get into several things. Good that
the committee in America; it is a hellish case. I see American news
in Liberator and Pittsburgh Courier regularly.

Politically the atmosphere in Paris (and France too) is rich; much going on in the way of protest and activity against war, fascism, for Thaelmann, against the two years military service, and other things. The A.E.A.R., the revolutionary literatures, too, are active. You will have got my letter about the big writers' congress on June 3, to which they want you to come. Perhaps you will be here just then; that would be swell.

Yes, the Harlem uprising ... so near where I lived; I imagine
one would have gone out to it (and possibly been deported afterwards!!!)
Am most interested in Strachey's case; he's a great, old friend of mine.
Tell me about it when you write again, developments.

I'm glad we are in touch and let us be sure to keep so. Just
a line in advance will bring me to meet you, as said, if not too far.
But you'll surely be in Paris some of the time ?

Best things to you,

Puits Carré
Chapelle-Réanville
Eure, France

93

June II

Dear Langston,

Your book came yesterday and I did not lay it down till
I had read it all. My... what shall be said by me of this *beautiful* writing ? Each and every story is a tightening of the throat; it's a very tragic book, that I feel most strongly; a thing perhaps (probably) not the reaction of everyone. Your writing is full of ease; it is therefore quite magnificent. I think this is great book. As for "*the red-headed baby*" I should put that down as an example of the perfect short story, apart from the subject. *Beautiful*, incontrovertible writing. And "*Cora Unashamed*" is superb. These *novels* have the real, hard, concise and dramatic tone of the true folklore. Lucky race *NOW* to have you as its best writer. I am happy about this. Loved "*Not without laughter*"; but this new book is infinitely finer. Just as each new poem of yours I read I like better than the previous ones. Thanks greatly my dear Langston for having had it sent me.

What are you doing now ? Still West ? I'd love to hear from you some time soon.

Those two lynching stories are quite terrible. The way you write gets
absolutely the maximum effect out of the subject; this is true of all
the stories.

Well, old fox Dubois has done, what I suppose many people
were not surprised at. They are a pretty disgusting set; the wails and
backbitings and admonitions and "save the race" stuff that fall so flat
compared to the Communist ideology and actions.

I still write to N.Y. publishers hoping to sell them sheets
of our book. This is somewhat depressing, the length of time it takes to
get anything done.

All my warmest greetings and admiration,

The LEFT Theatre (revolutionary group) are putting on "They Shall not Die" on July 1 in London.

July 6

Your poem came this morning. I have just made some copies and send it to Sylvia Pankhurst's paper in London, to one in Accra, and to the General News Service, London, which goes to all the colonies. Fine poem. How ghastly this case continues to be. Haywood it is who writes to me, and I to him. I am sending you this number of Pankhurst's; all of his letters ask about Spain.

Summer is going; not very interesting to me. But I hope a far better time coming. I find myself utterly restless after no doubt, the savour, (various) of those journeys in Spain, and other journeys. I should have liked a life more like yours ! always on the go. Why don't I get it? Do you think I can?

I have at present with me here in the country a very nice woman from Barcelona. We speak Spanish all the time. She doesn't know anything of her husband since the first day; he was then in Badajoz.... and she adores him.

I suppose the address 1 do write you to gets you? Some time a postcard would help !

Dear dear how very sorry 1 was to read of Schomburg's death. Darling Langston, he was the sweetest person to me all the time I was in hot Harlem; he took endless trouble; I shall miss him.

Bless you, and do write sometime.

Love,

N.