Between the Covers

Unbound. Author vita , Typed Note Signed, and publicity photograph. Vita is a narrow octavo of 24 pages in stapled wrappers, illustrated in black and white. The TNS is a single octavo sheet of "Mrs. Finnish James Alexander Sr." letterhead with a typed address beneath—interestingly, the Walkers lived on "Margaret Walker Alexander Drive." The photograph measures approximately 5" x 7", and is Signed verso and Inscribed recto (see below). Vita and letter a trifle soiled, central page spread of the vita not bound in but present (a binding error), and the letter with five instances of the letters punching tiny holes in the sheet, else fine. All three are housed in the original mailing envelope (roughly opened, lacking the return label, and with Alexander's name written on the front).

Margaret Walker Alexander, African-American poet and novelist, writes in January, 1983 to scholar Graham Hodges, confirming the date of her arrival in New York, and agreeing to participate in Hodges' "Conversations with Writers" series while she is in town. She notes that she is sending along the vita and photo for publicity purposes. The vita provides a biography, much about her well-received novel *Jubilee*, a bibliography, a list of honors and awards, and a list of appearances. (N.B. Given that it was for publicity, we are fairly sure that Alexander sent the photo Signed on the verso and, as was Hodges' practice, he asked for it to be Inscribed when they met.).

Item #629075