McCarthy, Cormac (1981-83) correspondence archive between McCarthy and fellow author Lawrence Millman, all written on the eve of Blood Meridian publication and of exceptional content

McCarthy, Cormac

Publication Date: 1981

About this Item

Cormac McCarthy (1981-83) correspondence archive of five letters to fellow writer Lawrence (Larry) Millman, multiple award-winning travel writer and editor of Agni Review. Written on the eve of the publication of his masterpiece Blood Meridian with fascinating content revealing McCarthy s sense of humour, state of mind, political leaning, the misery of being a writer and much more. McCarthy s work-in-progress which would become Blood Meridian (1985) is directly mentioned. One typed and four handwritten letters, all signed by McCarthy. With four original mailing envelopes. 1) The first letter from Jan 81 is typed, one page A4 size, signed with Cormac . McCarthy states that he is reading Millman s book, and that it was send to him by his sister taking it as an omen. He writes that the piece which Millman saw in Tri-Quarterly [issue 48 Spring 1980 where a section of Blood Meridian called The Scalphunters was published pp. 15-28] was from a novel he was working on at the time and McCarthy agrees to find another cohesive section whih Millman could publish in his magazine. 2) The second letter from June 1981 is entirely handwritten and is of astonishing content. After the opening lines McCarthy writes I do indeed know the story of the motel shooting and I d just like to say that the kind of nitpicking criticism it received in the yankitized press is just what we down here dont need. Sure, the guy made a mistake. What the yankee press failed to mention in every account was that he said he was sorry. Not only that, but he expressed his willingness to make restitution in any reasonable & mutually agreeable fashion to the families of both of the dead people. No mention of that. Oh no. And sure the couple that were mistakenly gunned down were on their honeymoon. So what? Does that make it worse? Was he supposed to know that? Big play in the DY press about that little fact all right. Jesus, Larry, are people not entitled to mistakes any more? You d think he d done the whole thing deliberatley. And the damn bellboy should have been fined at least twice what he was fined, in my opinion. I think maybe even fifty dollars might not have been too severe. It was damn careless of him & he should be taught a lesson. Anyway, we sure as hell dont need a bunch of damn Yankee nitpickers jumping up and down & chortling over what they see as decadence of the old southwest. As far as I am concerned those folks had better on to their own cucumber patch. Anyway, I m glad to get this off of my chest. It needed to be said & I ve said it. All the best, Cormac. 3) In the third letter, also handwritten Cormac apologizes about the motel incident business and stresses that it was meant as a joke and the story was absolutely outrageous . McCarthy is delighted about Millman s forthcoming novel. Further on the mosquitoes I can do without. I was in Quebec in May & they darkened the sun at noon like passenger pigeons. I really despise being sucked on by insects. We had about 95 hounds with us & they were just about exsanguinated by the time we got out of there. The natives said the real mosquito season was just on the way. Cormac goes on further to recommend the essay collection The Geography of the Imagination by Guy Davenport before enquiring about the summer and suggest a meeting in the New York area. in the postscript he congratulate Millman on his novel and adds Just have to wear the bastards down . 4) The fourth letter was send together with the piece for Agni Review. Cormac stresses that no apologies are necessary if the piece is not liked. .since you commented on my books with such discernment as a writer you will know that anything less than delirious enhusiasm is faint praise. I thought I d have to send you a section of the book. Chapter 10 actually [of Blood Meridian]. We welcome direct contact and have more images and content to share. First and Fine.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1731069775350

Bibliographic Details

• Title: McCarthy, Cormac (1981-83) correspondence archive between McCarthy and fellow author Lawrence Millman, all written on the eve of Blood Meridian publication and of exceptional content
• Publication Date: 1981
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)