Box 1

Contents “I’m looking for a book for a friend of mine and thought maybe you could help me…” Forty-Four Years of the Life of a Hunter by Meschach [sic] Browning. “The western proceeds apace – not a blistering pace, I suppose, but it goes.” Describes getting caught in the middle of a gunfight between police and criminals in Knoxville, “A news lady rushed up to me with a microphone and a tape recorder and asked me what was going on. I told her I had no idea, but it certainly seemed like the good old...

Contents

Promising to look for the Browning book. Asks if McCarthy couldn’t use a good agent.

Contents “Thanks for the letter. Yes, the Meschach [sic] Browning book is what I need…” States his literary affairs are “a long and tiresome tale at best…. My agent for several years was Candida Donadio...she expressed her satisfaction at representing me personally and negotiated the contract for the book with which I am now occupied. That was the last I ever heard of her…I wrote and told her I’d like to make official what already existed in fact and we amicably parted…After this I wrote some other...

Contents

Has asked John Malcolm Brinnin [Gertrude Stein and Dylan Thomas biographer] about agents and his is Dorothy Olding of the Harold Ober Associates, Inc. Waiting for “the western” to come out; is buying up copies of Orchard Keeper to hand out to friends.

Contents

“Good to hear from you. Thank you for your inquiries on my behalf…” Planning a trip to New York at beginning of new year. Random House has sold the paperback rights to his early books to the Ecco Press.

Contents

Congratulations on receiving the MacArthur grant. Wall Street Journal clipping about the grant from November 19, 1981 included.

Contents

“Thank you for the letter and the good wishes…The MacArthur people just call you up and ask where to send the checks. It was something of a shock...My creditors seem much gratified…I am still struggling with my mss, but it goes ok…”

Contents

Recommending agent Peter Shepherd who handles Muriel Spark in the U.S. and suggests McCarthy contact him.

Contents

“Thanks for the letter. Please dont apologize for trying to find readers for my books…In the same mail came a letter from Peter Shepherd asking that I call him – which I’ve done…”

Contents

Gave copy of Orchard Keeper to neighbor who is reading it for a second time. Sending photo for inscription.

Contents

“Here’s your photo…” [Photo not included].

Contents

Thanks for signing the photograph.

Contents

Asking for publication information on all of the printings of McCarthy’s books.

Contents

Sending some publication information on McCarthy books.

Contents

Asking when western will be published; inquires about status of agent search

Contents

“Thanks for your letter, ‘twas good to hear from you… the western - entitled Blood Meridian or The Evening of Redness In the West is set and proofread and will appear – I am told – in March…” More about his search for an agent; Ecco Press has brought out his early books.

Contents

Glad Blood Meridian is coming out; offers $100 to buy Xerox copy McCarthy had sent to Peter Shepherd [copy in box 1 folders 10 and 11].

Contents

Received the Xerox copy from Peter Shepherd; surprised at Shepherd’s lack of response to McCarthy. Praises Blood Meridian; asks if McCarthy actually traveled the country described. Endorsed/canceled check to McCarthy included, as is a Spring 1985 advertisement for Random House.

Contents

“Glad that you got the Xerox…” and refunds $50.00. “To answer your question, I spent several years in the country described. I’ve taken the train to Mochos a couple of times and it is a great trip…”

Contents

Received his copy of Blood Meridian; likes the Dali painting. Will send copy for inscription if McCarthy agrees.