There are all kinds of funny stories, darling, but it is late now, and I have to meet someone for dinner. I am leaving here the first of July for Rome and Capri; but write me at once, care of American Express, Paris … meanwhile, I will try to send a more entertaining missive. I love you very much; it is so sweet to say that, there are so few people about whom one really means it. Kisses from Paris
t
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO MARY LOUISE ASWELL
Paris
June 15 1948
Darling Marylou,
Merci buttercups cherie pour la lettre; I was worried not to have heard from you, but you sound most finely, which answers all my hopes for you. Nothing has happened in particular since I wrote the other day … except that I had dinner with Gide … about which I have just finished writing the gentleman in Northampton,109 and it is all far too involved to go into again: leave us wait for a quiet afternoon and a good stiff drink. Paris seems more beautiful everyday, and I keep my room filled with flowers. Even so, I shall be leaving here in the next few weeks. I’m going to Denmark. No particular reason, simply I think I might like it. I suppose I ought to do some shopping before I leave; I haven’t bought anything except an enormous bottle of Le Tabac Blonde … which stops people dead in their tracks.
Darling, will you save a place in your January issue for The Man Who Bought Dreams?110 I’m working on the other story111 right now, and so The Man probably won’t be ready until late August … that is to say I will most likely bring it home with me in September.
Another thing. Please call Loren and Lloyd112 and tell them that I have got them a reservation here at the Pont-Royal for July 10th. It is a wonderful place to stay, and I’m sure they will like it.
I’m glad about B. [Barbara Lawrence], glad, that is, that she is taking advantage of her clinical talents. It is sad that she has broken with you, but really, under the circumstances, it is the best thing, the best for you at any rate, though I know it must be very hard for her: she worshipped you. Poor darling, I do love her, in spite of her last dramatic performance … but that was the end in a way: these assumptions of hers had become far too extreme.
So Pearlie [Kazin] is an Aunt; give her a kiss of congratulations. And how is my angel Phoebe [Pierce]? Tell them both that I love them dearly. I talked with Newton on the telephone yesterday. It was tres exciting. I do hope you will see him. He says he never hears from any of you, you mean things!
It is getting twilight here, and Jesus how gorgeous Paris is at this hour. There is an iris-blue light all over the street, and those delicate pink lights are blooming in the Etoile, and there is a group of children going up and down the Quai singing La Vie En Rose. It would be so delirious if we could all be here together.
Do you love me? And can you imagine how much I
love
you?
t
[Collection Columbia University Library]
TO ANDREW LYNDON
Paris
June 29 1948
Darling little A.
How heartbroken I’ve been: you, of all people, never to have written me a single line! Really, my dear, it is too loathesome of you. N. says you and H. [Harold Halma] are trying to sublet 339.113 By this, I take it you have found another apt. If so, hurray! And are you working? Please, angel, I hope so—though heaven knows I’m not one to talk—however, I seem to be getting a grip on myself, at last, at last. But Paris is an exceedingly distracting place. What a divine city, I could be madly happy if only N. and you and Phoebe [Pierce] were here. I have learned to ride a motorcycle, and so go scooting all over the place; the fact is, I’m going to go on it to Venice, presumably leaving Thursday: rather like crossing the Atlantic on a houseboat, yes? But I don’t know, I feel not too well this week, and so may postpone departure. Yesterday I bought you a present: a huge folder of Braque reproductions from the Skara [Skira] Press. They have such beautiful art-books here. Is there something you want? Now let me know. If I could think of some way to get it home, I know an exquisite little table for Harold. Tenn [Tennessee Williams] was here about 2 weeks ago (scared out of his wits because Pancho114 had cabled him that he was on his way over), but all his time was taken up with Gore [Vidal]: monsterous [sic] as it may seem, T. is really devoted to him. I had dinner with Sandy Campbell who was here, and thought him very likeable.115 I suppose by this time you have heard about l’affaire Gide, and how I was arrested for transporting heroin: it gave me some uneasy moments, I’m here to tell you.116 Unlike Wendy Hiller, I don’t know where I’m going—at least not exactly.117 I shall leave a forwarding address with American Express, and I will be back here later on anyway. However, come what may, I will be home in time to go to Wellfleet with N. Write me to Paris. Love to you, precious angel, and love to H. A million kisses
T
P.S. Tell Phoebe to write me and give her another 1,000,000 kisses. [Collection New York Public Library]
TO DONALD WINDHAM118
[Pont Royal Hotel]
[7, rue Montalembert]
[Paris]
[3 August 1948]
Peaches precious
Just the briefest of notes … because I’m in the midst of everything … namely, arrangements for departure; honey, we shoulda stood in Sirmione! It is frightful hot here, and a ghost town to boot, except for hundreds of millions of Americans: the worst variety, natch. And I can’t begin to tell you what my trip here was like: not only did I fail to have a wagon-lit,119 but I didn’t even have a seat until we were in Switzerland … yep, stood all the way in the worst heat ever. Anyway, Tenn is here, having failed to show up in London for his opening, and we went out dancing last night. The play120 got rather bad reviews, and he seems to be upset about it, though I can’t imagine why: good god, who cares what anyone in England thinks? Well, his mother and brother showed up unexpectedly this morning, apparently in a great fury, so I haven’t seen him. Oh yes … he sent for that boy in Rome and is importing him to New York. Real folly I should think. We may be on the same boat as I am trying to get passage on the Queen Mary, sailing the 7th … which is the boat he goes on, too.121 I hope you are having great luck, peaches … and working hard, It is such a beautiful book, an important one really.122 Finish it and come on home. Meanwhile, oodles of passion
t
p.s. My address in New York is 1060 Park Avenue
[Collection Beinecke Library, Yale University]
TO DONALD WINDHAM
[New York]
[19 October 1948]
Donny lamb,
Thank you for the card, sweetie; and I feel a wretch not to have written you sooner, but ah! I’m just beginning to get on my feet, following a few rude experiences; however, I suppose everything is going to work out now. I have started to work again on that story I was doing in Sirmione, and hope to finish it this week.123 Nothing could have pleased me more than to hear you have sent off your book: it is so very beautiful and moving, I think of it constantly. But this business about a publisher is very important, my dear; I have no intention whatever of allowing you to let that book get lost in a shuffle. It must be published by a first-rate house … in which category I do not, for a variety of reasons, include Harcourt. I am mad for Random to do it, especially if [Albert] Erskine or [Robert] Linscott will take it over. They have asked [Audrey] Wood for it, but I do not think as yet she has recieved [sic] the mss.124
Congratulate me, sweetie, I won the O.Henry Memorial award, 300 bucks, so trotted right out and had myself a suit made at Knize for 400 bucks … which is merely to show you how close I am to the edge of madness.125 Also, as Sandy [Campbell] may have written you, I was arrested for illegally entering Tenn’s apt., a circumstance which Mr Winchell and others have very much enjoyed. It is too involved a tale for telling here, but some day, over a relaxing martini, I guarantee an amusing half hour.126
Tenn had a party last night for the departing company of S and S … awfully pleasant, with Marlon [Brando] appearing in what might as well have been
