File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters

1976-1978.

Price: $5,000.00

Unbound. A small file of letters and manuscripts from John Cheever that deal directly with the process of his writing. The collection includes a Signed Typescript of the short story, "The Wrysons"; an Inscribed page of manuscript from the novel, *Falconer* (with a copy of the book); a handwritten page from his diary; and four Typed Letters Signed. The inventory as follows:

1. Typed Letter Signed, 1p., April 7, 1977, with the mailing envelope. A letter to a collector explaining he has never sold any manuscripts (except for two that he could remember donating to charity), that he makes few corrections to them, and that all are typed due to the difficulty in reading his handwriting. As an example, he is including a page from his diary and a page from *Falconer*. Fine, but for some small evidence on the rear that it had once been mounted.

2. A holograph page from Cheever's diary, written on the verso of letterhead from Dinah's Motor Hotel and Apartments. The page describes a flight from Massachusetts and the passengers he encountered, including a comment from a man returning from his father's funeral. A few water spots affecting words along the left side of the margin, a small spot on the lower left margin, and some small evidence on the rear that it had once been mounted, about near fine.

3. A single Manuscript page from *Falconer*. Typed sheet, recto only. A couple of scattered typing mistakes and corrections. Inscribed on the top margin: "This first draft of a page from 'Falconer' is for Roger O'Connor. John Cheever." Slightly tanned with some dampstaining, though the paper remains supple.

4. [Manuscript]: "The Wrysons." 10pp. Typed sheets, rectos only. Signed on the last page. A story about a peculiar suburban couple keeping secrets from one another. Originally published in *The New Yorker* in 1958, and later reprinted in *The Stories of John Cheever*. Fine.

5. Typed Letter Signed, February, 20th [1976]. 1p. Written on Cheever's letterhead and with the mailing envelope present. Cheever states that he does not keep a bibliography of his work, and that he would be happy to autograph any books sent to him. Fine.

6. Typed Letter Signed, May 26, 1978. 1p. Written on Cheever's letterhead and with the mailing envelope present. Cheever comments on a recent book, and adds that he would sign any books sent, but not TV transcripts, as they "have been forgotten." Fine.

7. Typed Letter Initialed, November 16, 1978. 1p. Written on Cheever's letterhead and Initialed "J.C." A brief letter stating he does not have any pictures of himself to send. About fine with a few tiny scattered spots on the edges.

8. *The Falconer*. First edition. Fine in near fine rubbed dust jacket.


Item #325934

Status: On Hold

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Item #325934 File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters. John CHEEVER.
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters
File of John Cheever's Writings including Manuscripts and Letters

John Cheever
birth name: John Cheever
born: 5/27/1912
died: 6/18/1982
nationality: USA

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Biography

American short-story writer and novelist whose work described, often through fantasy and ironic comedy, the life, manners, and morals of middle-class, suburban America. He is noted for his clear and elegant prose and his careful fashioning of incidents and anecdotes.more

Collecting tips:

Cheever is a wonderful short story writer, and his Wapshot novels are excellent, but he seems to have fallen out of favor of late (which by the way, isn't necessarily a bad thing if you are looking to collect an author's books). He was apparently not enamored of his first book, a collection of stories The Way Some People Live (1943) and he didn't allow it to be reprinted -- conveniently, at that time, anyway, no one wanted to reprint it. Printed in relatively small numbers during wartime, pretty much insured that fine copies would not grow on trees, and they don't. Cheever's family objected to some elements of the planned publication of The Uncollected Stories of John Cheever 1930-1981 and publication was suppressed. The uncorrected proof was the only complete version that saw the light of day, and commands a premium.

Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of John Cheever Rare Books and First Editions (or download it via the link as a 3.12 MB pdf file).

We also offer a comprehensive John Cheever Bibliography and Price Guide.more