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Lot 88
A GRIEVING STEINBECK ON THE DEATH OF MARY. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Typed Letter Signed ("John"), with minimal annotations, to his sisters Esther and Beth after the death of their sister Mary, 3 pp, 4to, New York, January 26, 1965,
25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$3,840 inc. premium
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A GRIEVING STEINBECK ON THE DEATH OF MARY.
STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Typed Letter Signed ("John"), with minimal annotations, to his sisters Esther and Beth after the death of their sister Mary, 3 pp, 4to, New York, January 26, 1965, on personal letterhead, with original transmittal envelope, lightly creased and toned.
NOW AT LAST THE RING IS BROKEN....": STEINBECK'S HEARTRENDING TRIBUTE TO HIS SISTER UPON HER DEATH.
Overwhelmed by the death of his little sister, Steinbeck writes his two older sisters describing the grief and guilt he feels: "We have talked about Mary all day today. She could be a curmudgeon particularly if her dream was questioned. She could have been a much better writer than I if she had dared. But daring would have been to come out in the open and that she was not willing to do. She had more imagination than I and more humour too, but somewhere she lost her confidence ... When she got the first small and curable cancer my heart sank... News of the second came to us in Cornwall not far from Tintagel where King Arthur is supposed to have been conceived. I went out on a cliff and wept myself silly and after that I believed her."
Steinbeck continues, considering how this loss will affect their family dynamic: "Now at last the ring is broken. This has been a fortunate family. How may do you know who have lived so long and so richly. We were four and we remained four. No one ever understood us because we seemed so remote and cool toward each other, but my God, how we rallied when there was need. No one ever understood that either."
He quotes J.M. Synge's translation of Petrarch on the passing of Laura to his sisters, and then closes with a regret: "I have a debt, always put ahead because as everybody knows there is no end. I never wrote Mary's book. It was promised her so many years ago, maybe fifty. Now, very soon I will write it. Will you please ask Joan and Sue, when they find her sword and her Scrivened knighthood that they may be sent to me because they will be the end papers and the introduction of her book. I will have it photographed in color and send it back if they should wish." He encloses a copy of the text so that they will know what to look for (see lot 84).
NOW AT LAST THE RING IS BROKEN....": STEINBECK'S HEARTRENDING TRIBUTE TO HIS SISTER UPON HER DEATH.
Overwhelmed by the death of his little sister, Steinbeck writes his two older sisters describing the grief and guilt he feels: "We have talked about Mary all day today. She could be a curmudgeon particularly if her dream was questioned. She could have been a much better writer than I if she had dared. But daring would have been to come out in the open and that she was not willing to do. She had more imagination than I and more humour too, but somewhere she lost her confidence ... When she got the first small and curable cancer my heart sank... News of the second came to us in Cornwall not far from Tintagel where King Arthur is supposed to have been conceived. I went out on a cliff and wept myself silly and after that I believed her."
Steinbeck continues, considering how this loss will affect their family dynamic: "Now at last the ring is broken. This has been a fortunate family. How may do you know who have lived so long and so richly. We were four and we remained four. No one ever understood us because we seemed so remote and cool toward each other, but my God, how we rallied when there was need. No one ever understood that either."
He quotes J.M. Synge's translation of Petrarch on the passing of Laura to his sisters, and then closes with a regret: "I have a debt, always put ahead because as everybody knows there is no end. I never wrote Mary's book. It was promised her so many years ago, maybe fifty. Now, very soon I will write it. Will you please ask Joan and Sue, when they find her sword and her Scrivened knighthood that they may be sent to me because they will be the end papers and the introduction of her book. I will have it photographed in color and send it back if they should wish." He encloses a copy of the text so that they will know what to look for (see lot 84).