ORIGINAL TYPED MANUSCRIPTS by CHARLES VAN DOREN, consisting of 2 typescripts and 2 carbon typescripts for stories and 2 poems.

Van Doren, Charles (1926-2019). American author and journalist and son of Mark Van Doren, who was involved in the television quiz show scandal of the 1950's.

Published by 393 Bleeker Street, New York, possibly late 1950's or early 1960's.

About this Item

393 Bleeker Street, New York, possibly late 1950's or early 1960's. . Good. - Original typed manuscripts consisting of 99 pages in all typed on 11 inch high by 8-1/2 inch wide off-white paper, with his name and address typed at the top of the first page of the first 3 stories. The first is a 17 page story titled "Lonesome Road" with his name and address typed at the top. The story's main character is Mark who, unknown to us is introduced in a flashback after the discovery of a car wreck, "When the old truck came around the corner of the road the wheel on the overturned car was still spinning. The truck stopped, and two men go out to look at the wreck. 'Jesus, Tom,' one of them said. 'Jesus, what a mess.'." The story goes on to relate how Mark, now driving drunk with a gun, has discovered that his wife is cheating with his best friend. Driving away after the heated painful confrontation, Mark encounters a dog "In front of Marston's barn a large black dog ran out into the road and began to bark shrilly. It got a head start, and ran alongside him as he tried to maneuver the curving hill beyond Marston's house. . Suddenly the animal swerved playfully toward his left front wheel, an Mark turned sharply to the right. He did not know why, nor could he have explained in what way it was right and proper that is should be so, but suddenly it had became terribly important not to hit the dog. It had become more important than anything in the world." There are a few corrections in pencil throughout and Charles has penciled a note at the top of the front page, possibly to his father Mark Van Doren, "This is changed at the end pursuant to your suggestion. Satisfy you? I think is better." There are paper clip indentations at the top left and the first page is slightly soiled with some minor chips to the top and left edges. The corners of a few pages are lightly creased and the front edges of the last two pages are chipped. The second is a 14 page carbon typescript of a story titled "The Game" in which, at the start of the story the protagonist, a traveling salesman, is cheating at solitaire while pondering his life and slowly losing his mind, or is he? "The kind of solitaire he was playing, which is called by some enthusiasts Klondike and by others Canfield, is a simple game; it was the money angle that made it interesting to Ray. He is interrupted by a phone call from Janet who is concerned about him and in the middle of the conversation Ray exclaims "'My hand's alive,' he said. 'Ray, I can't stand it! You make me terribly nervous. Now what are you talking about?'." Charles Van Doren's name and address are typed at the top and there are a few typed corrections. There are indentations from a paper clip at the top left and the pages are soiled with staining to the top corner of the first page and chipping to the edges of several pages. The third is a 10 page carbon typescript of a story titled "The Great Caterpillar War". "The other day I read in the TIMES that there is going to be a great infestation of tent caterpillars this summer--the worst in many years, the article said. I was reminded of a previous attack the caterpillars made on our society, and was dismayed that two of the most stalwart defenders of our way of life from caterpillars had given up the battle and would not compete this year." "The two warriors were my brother and myself, and the time must have been about 1936, when I was ten and he was eight years old." Charles Van Doren's name and address are typed at the top of the first page. There are indentations from a paper clip at the top of the pages and the top corner and front edge of the first page are darkened. There is some soiling and the front edges of the last 2 pages are slightly chipped. The fourth is a 56 page story titled "Summer Afternoon". "The sun was shining brightly in at the window when Philip Turner opened his eyes. He realized that he had not pulled down the shades the night before, which negligence he deeply.

Seller Inventory # 100480

Bibliographic Details

• Title: ORIGINAL TYPED MANUSCRIPTS by CHARLES VAN DOREN, consisting of 2 typescripts and 2 carbon typescripts for stories and 2 poems.
• Publisher: 393 Bleeker Street, New York, possibly late 1950's or early 1960's.
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Literature