THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS
9 Rue de Teheran
Paris 8, France
16 March 1948
Miss Vicki Baun
C/o Doubleday and Company
14 W. 49th Street
Rockefeller Center
New York 20, New York
Dear Miss Baum:
Please help us}
The American Library in Paris is desperately in need of new boors,
and unfortunately we do not have the funds with which to purchsse them,
Will you please send the Library a copy of HHADIESS ANGEL?
The interest shown in Paris in American books is tremendous, We
circulate over ten thousand volumes each month, and the demand for
new books is so great th<-t it has become embarrassing to us since we
eannot furnish the public with the books they desire,
Our readers have been most enthusiastic about your earlier books
and they circulate as much now as they have in the past, THE WEEPING
WOOD has been especially popular this past year, and a copy of your new
book would be most welcome here at the Library.
Sincerely ‘yours,
US7e Harte mn 5
W. K, Harrison III — v4
Librarian, ow
January 5, 1049
Dear Viol:
Hep py New Yoart < am sorry you have
been lald- up with the flu and hope thab you
are better now.
As to the Length of DANGER FROM DEER.
Z should think tho mininmwa ought to be
about 90,000 words and the maximum 120,000.
Tt sounds to me ag if 16 ought te be on the
shorter side.
I barely survived the holidays and
have felt absolutely rotten ever ainee T
got bagk from Hurope, ao today J am going to
a new deoter whe sounds a little bit like
Cagliostre and have millions of testa made
to soo what kaepa me ailing. I can sea. myself
going around souberly, and probably sober
all winter and tak: hundreds of Little pills
out of hundreds of little bottles all day.
Ttll write you at length as soon ag
I get over my foeblonessa.
Huch Love,
Biss Vicki Baum
2477 Gawyon Oak Derive
Los Angeles 28, Calif.
Sisccaas,
DOUBLEDAY & GO. KING. 14 W. 40TH BT, N¥G I/11/49 18:00 NOON
cme
NiTsSs vroKy BAUM
B477 GANYON OAK DRIVE
LOS ANGELES 28, GALIP.
NELSON DOUBLEDAY DIED THIS MORNING ,
DON
DBE TSH DOUBLEDAY & GO. ING,
ef
*,
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ACRES OES: OF SERVICE i E S * | E < 1201. SYMBOLS 4
\ \ J : [o_ Di =Day Letter 3
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dicated by a suitable
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-NAQO1 NL PD*LOSANGELES CALIF JAN 11= | 1909 sy 12 ay Peres
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119 WEST 49 ST= “ip
DEEPLY GRIEVED OVER THE oss OF A GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND. .
“ALL MY SYMPATHY To THE LORPORATION TO WHICH a FEEL BOUND BY”
THE” CLOSE TIES OF MANY “YEARS®
NICKI BAUME
b
i.
‘THE COMPANY WILL APPRECI .1H SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS BERVICH
VICKI BAUM
January Slst 1949
Dear Don, Thanks for sending me the wire with
the bad news of Nelson's death~ I knew it had to happen when
I saw hin last, and I think it is altogether to the best that
the .end came ..comparatively quick. I do hope that Ellen can give
herself a little rest after the terrible siege she has been
through these last years. I suppose that in the office and in your
work it didn't make much of a difference anymore and that you're
managing a fine equilibrium between worky play and hangovers. How's
your health these days? I understand that New York had a fine
winter after shoving all your snow and freeze over to our side.In
my garden all the subtropical splendor is frozen and dead and I'll
be more than glad to get outa here. Had two nice letters from
Rosie, it seems the two of us shall have a fine time together
eno /
in (oa) Te “ena) Paris.
I'm sending you my passport and would appreciate it no
end if someone in the office would take care of whatever visas
I need, One for Portugal- possibly that's only a transit visa,
as I'll stay only two days in Lisbon. One to France y respectively
Maroceo, I dontt think TI need anything for Italy, Switzerland and
Belgium. Anyway- could you people do it for me? I understand the
Portugal people are fussy, but your office knows how to handle those
things, yes, please? I still don't know where I should stay in Rome
and it's high time to get my reservation there. Can you or your
travel buro( Is it a#leet or what) give me some advies™ Not the
Clem
Alma
Excelsior, I'm sure. I don't know how the Villa Hassler works now,
pub before the war it had the stuffiest German better middleclass,
families etcetera, and wouldn't be my cup of Asti Spumante, Please,
halp, halp! I'm getting awfully restless, sitting overhere only with
one hemisphere , while the other is already overthere in the other
hemisphere, if you know what I mean, I'm speaking a fumy brand
of French and no Italian whatever, Brrrother!
Much love, I'll be in towm by March &
second,
y
ero QAR. Ortentng
tac fy — Gow Gl Malet
«
n seen LA aw @ . nel
Pe the AA tte name
“ f aoa we
wart why “ln font he
7 _ Lewes
wht ety Lt when Meg j pe Or ;
ua. na” A eee to A WALA he a “vA
Aree ett ono. kif ak.
VICKI BAUM
February 7yh , 1949
Dear Don,
Yesterday I sent my passport to you, registered, hoping
that the Doubleday office would take care of my visas in the usual
efficient and vope~pulling way. Now I have to trouble you once
more because I ordered me a car in Paris;and to have a car and papers
ready on my arrival there;I have to send them post haste, sohieninfor—
mations about my passport. That means that I either need my passport
back here as soon as possible after the visas are obtained(can you
see how the red tape English is taking possession of me?) or that one
of your girls would have to copy some of the highly embarrassing
details from my passport and send them to me, What I need is;
Name and first name, in my case also the "known as" , Date , number
and place of issue, date and place of birth, govdamit,
IT hope you don't mind, doingvall these nice things for me,
I'l do the same for you whenever necessary, Looking forward to a
good, long evening session with you,
yours as ever
Reduig fuck
pone oo Varela restore
po. 17R? aF pawel 4( 2) 4e o§ Wot De,
Qusatanee />4 | PP
February 8, 1049
Dear ViolLy
Thank you for your Letter, Nelaonts death affeatad we more
than I thought it would but as fay as work in the offices goes it has
nob made a great ohange for us ainoe we had anticipated 1% for ao long.
I have given your passport: to Molly Ryan and ashe will abtand
to the matter of visas for Portugal, Frangs, and Morogco, T hardly
know what to tell you about hotels in Rome singe my flrat. cholee would
have been the Villa Naseler, When I wag in Rome Lt was definitely the
pest hotel » just a little better than the Excolaion and was Inhabited
py characters. out of Henry Jamea nevela, My second ghoiee would have
been the Excelaior for whien I have had a peoulian affection singe last
winter when 1t was the warmest plage in Rome. Since L have a taste for
| nia hob ela my thivd ghoige would be the Grand (that. da, the Grund
@l of Remo, [taly and the univerae). I knew I always proyarest
the hotels on the Pinelan Hill because of the wonderful views, bub
4f you want to live down in that flat region between the Plagze dh
Spagna and the Piber there la a Lalrly nioo Little aotel called the
Inghiiterra, Thera are obher hotels in tho flossy tourist seation
BUGh ad the Flora, the Rden, and the Savola. They are all run by
Swies of course and most of them are Inhabited by English. 7. atayed
at the Majestic mast of the time but LT really don't recomend 1b because
it has a really Swiss dreariness about it,
Your friend Garl Ostertagea called me and I told him what Tt
gould about Rome and ar although really there was nothing 1. could
tell him that he didn't alremdy know, Ab present the Italians make
everything so easy for visitors that 1b 1a no more trouble than _
going to Hoboken, I am looking forward to seeing you on Marah, end.
With love,
Mies Viokd Baum
2477 Oanyon. Oak Derive
Los Anglees 28, Galt,
P.9, Molly has juat given me the enalosed forms which you must £411
out for the Prenon and Morgacan visa, If you ave golng for pleasure
only £111 oub the blue form, If you have a business peason also £111
out the white form, We wlll be glad to give you a iether saying that
you are going for the purpose of writing a book if you want us to.
bag we have the forma filled in by you, we can get the visa in one
aye
February 10, 1049
Deay Vicki:
Here area the details waich you re~
quested, Your mame, in case you didn't imow ....
it, La Hedwig Lert, known as Vicki Baum, The
passport is No. 1082268 issues 4/28/48 at
Washington, D OG. The birth date isa given .
as Austria, January 24, 1088. Aa you will
know by this time from my last letter, we
gan't get the French visa until you have
filled in the forms so I think it 1a better
for us to hold the passport hore.
As ever,
Donald B, Elder
Miss Vicki Baug
2477 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 28, Galif.
&
April 22, 1049
Dear Viokdt
ZT cabled to Rosle the minute I got your letter fron
Plorenee and Tt hope that she gob in toush with you, he had
juat vevurned to Yaris, I am awfully glad that you are having
8 good time in Hurope and I envy you your tour through Prance,
Italy 49 0 little sad and J hear that 46 4a much worse than when
T was there. Spring seena to have helped New York and there are
faint stirring in my heart, Otherwise there la nothing much to :
do but work and no etartling news of any kind that you cant read
iu the Rowe-Amerigan. X hope that you Love the Spanish atepa and
the “Panga di &p the Forum, and the Palatine and the Vilia
Borghese, all of which 7 regard as my personal pogsdaasions,
algo. think that X ow the Applan Way at sunset especially after
having toured ald the towns in the Alban Hille and sampled the
looal vintages, I am dying to hear all abouts your trip. :
With mohlove,
Donald 8. Bldex
Miss Vieks Baum
Villa Saaeler
Rome, Ttaly
&
vie alrnadd
. Tody Ub, 19h
Doay Vickie
t hope that you arrived home ond found your family well, 1% was alee to
poo you Lf only for a couple of days and T hope you understood from one
talke that ve value you ven highly ae a friend and as en outhor end that
wo exe atlas at the ides of loalng your 1 hope you will give ues
ehance with thie mext teok which you aro witing aa 2 serhal eines I'm sure
» Bie we wil went 44 ond T with muster all cur fovens te @ive Lb a good
tmmohing, Aa for the followliig beok, when it's fintehed, wonlt you ab
Teast show 4% to ue snd give ue on opportunity to lay out a complete
Lag for Lin pobllaation inc nding Jackeb, advertiving approagh anid
eb end every Loraseesble detail, ‘then Lf you exo not gntiafied with,
vha’ we con protilee you, would be quite Justified in golng elsewhere.
Needless to sayy all codeamnes would be stxdobly praservad, 1 realise
thet you heve some very well founded complaints and I'm anxtong none of
our. error'a should ever be repeated, I also realize that you want to do
a, different. kind. of book but I feel that 41+ is quite possibke that we
i might. secouplish your literary transformation as well as embher pulligher,
‘ nahi quite willing e give any necessary guarantees and to live up to
+
Biten senda hee Love to you ond gave me heli. for not Letting her know ab
once theb-you. were in tow.
Thie de one of the woral omuors that I have ever spent in New York tat
it hes been brighhened, =e bef some, ose visite ond a few
extepules whith have relaxed me oo WolLt up my ego, . What really
worries me ig that the hooke we ere getting ave ao terrible that I
hepdly imow what to pat on our winter Ligh,
1% very dled thet you are auch a comfort to Rowhe ond wore able ba, belp
hex on her ‘bool, felb quite useless at thie Giatance and 1 waa ‘beghne
ning to fosr that ehe would diapaix of it entiwely, Zon saw hor in Fvance.
He te oti in Bagland and will probably be bark the end of the month,
T saw Mvby the othor evening and whe sends love, Rex ehildren seem to
be anda quite nicely.
My ‘beat ite ol. yotur fant,
) With Love,
/
DEN] ai Donald B, Blder
thay Viol, ‘oa
Kenyon Oak Delve
angeles 28, fiaistorate
La
|
/ fi
i ‘ A
1
i
VICKI BAUM
July 18th 1949
Dear Don,
your letter struck such a lovely balamce between
emotion and formality, it read almost like an oldfashipned marriage pro-
posal, Thanks a lot for it, darling, I didn't realize it meant anything
to you personally or to the anonymous moloch called Doubleday's whether
I stay with you or go somewhere else. Bub as it seems it does matter
and as you promise me such @ paradise, - of course you may cofnt on
my next book.I'm starting to write it tonight, and, please, give me your
bievaine and keep your fingers crossed for it, Writing has become such
ahard task for me in the last years that I'm almost afraid of my
typewriter. I hadn't known those panics when I was younger, Well, any-
way- could you do mea great favor? I'm going to San Francisco by August
third for a bit of background and research; could you give me the address
of your office there? And the name of the nicest and handiest guy to ask for
help and/or information? And drop him a little line amouncing that I might
come and pester him a bit? I'll write. him myself beford I'm. going up
North, Mainly I'll want him to tell me how and where to get access
to the two S.F, papers from the nineties up to now.0therwise I lmow the
toxn fairly well, my bestfriend is curator of the Museum there and can
give me a wealth of information, and I am persona grata with some of the
old time S F society lionesses and toothless lions who'll be hard to
‘stop from ,telling; me all.
As for the book after this-well, you know that it will have to be
discovered by an especially astute editor, and the less said or written
about it beforehand, the better. If it pans out the way I plan it, you'll
be thak editor. If not, there wont be any reason to be mysterious “about
it. So, let's keep this a secret between you and me, and just have
a gentlemen's agreement on it, right?
I'm so sorry for you people sweating it out in New York; we
are having a pleasant time here now, with those very rare warm evenings
when we may at out on the terrasse wanting for things it's too late to
get, if you know what I mean.I ‘still feel that Europe has done me
a world of, good, I F8HX know again that I have roots somewhere, even
though I don't come from Brooklyn or Ushkogh, and, more important, I've
got things into their right proportions again and lipped out from that
hysterical American notion that the world is coming to an end,
If you want to send me a contract, it's okay with me. As
for the money- could you again hold it for me, until I see how my income
for this year shapes up, respectively what my taxes are doing. ) have an
idea that it would be more just to us writers if the income would be
spaced the same way the work. is. But I simply am not bright enough to
engineer such matters to my advantage.
:-The novel shall be called:" Danger from Deer".The title comes
from a sign in Bushey Park near London: The public are warned that it
is GHEUEMER at all times dingerous to go close to deer; the danger is
especially great during the rutting season...scscovee
Wishing you the same, I'm as always,
... Branglace who can tell you everything that you
July 20, Lodo
Doar Vioki:
T waa overjoyed to receive your letter
this scening and to imow thab you accepted
my proposal of marriage. I give you my assure
ances that overytning will ba done as you vant
it and L am very glad that you are starting te
write the book inmediately. :
‘Aa for San Francisco, we no Longer
have our office thera, but T have aaieod Hovard
Gady who formerly was in charge of it to Look
up aA wollequallfied associate of his im Ban
need to know and direct you to all the necessary:
sources of information, He la writing teday
- and I will have definite word for you in a day
ov two, You may be sure that you will be well
looked after, :
i am drawing up the aonbract at the
usual terme and wlll gend it on. I'LL let you
know all the news as it happens.
With lo @y
Miss Vicki Baum
£477 Ganyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 28, Oalat.
6
adenaLl
US-9FS-AC&R
American Cable & Radio System
“Via Mackay Radio “Via AN America” “Via Commercial”
ORDINARY MESSAGE UNLESS MARKED OTHERWISE
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SENDER SHOULD MARK WITH.AN ‘“X"
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Viekil Saun definively signed up.
Don
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July Qh, 1o49,
Dear ViekL;
Lam onelosing the contract for
DAP CMR FROWN DEHR wade oul according to the
usual terms, You will note that I have put
in a purely fiotitiousy delivery date, just
because I have to put something in that
space, If the book 1s finished BOONOL, gO
wuch the batter, and if you need mora tine
we won't rush you.
With love,
Miss Vicki Baum
2477 Ganyon Oak Drive
Los Angelos 26, Gallf.
g
ene,» (2)
atirmaLl
5
pe pe AD Ma ritnt Sta
OSCAR LEWIS -zkssetuRdkGtzabkbleDteee -SAN FRANCISCO &- CALIFORNIA
duly 25, 1949
Dear Howard:
Sure I'11 be glad to be of what use Ican to Vicki
Baum when she arrives in towme ‘There won't be any
difficulty steering her to a place where she can examine
the files of SF newspapers from the 90s on and maybe I
can, give her some other leada in the way of source material. |
Ask her to give me a ring when she reaches town and we
can arrange then to get together.
Otherwise, how goes it? Thanks for the Hest and Mora,
books; the Mora looks quite handsome nd even reads well,
which last is surprising considering the mess the manu-
script was when we first got nold of ite
ALL best,
(Su
Mr, Howard Cady,
Doubleday & Co., Ince,
14 West 49th St., NYC.
Wed | Sry,
¥
Hhome 2940 Union
lle Set, > $32
VICKI BAUM
July 8%th 1949
Dear Yon, ‘orgive me for not returning the contract sooner,
iy guite wrapped up in writting that Yenger from Meer" story, and, as
you might know by bitter experience, beginnings of novels are always
a hard job of concentration, as you have to have the whole deveopment
down in the little seed of the exposition, t least, thats my method,
and during the first few weeks of work Dn a rather unlovable character,
+ discovered that a split bottle of champagne makes me work much easier,
it's also possible that it inparts dhion to my self- appreciation which
the quality of the writing doesn't quite justify. Anyway, it seems to go
fairly well, md 4'm having some fun with the old bitch I'm writing about.
“nd of the week 'm going to "an “rencisco for a bit of background
» and thanks for the helpful address. L yon't pester the fellow too
much, but + might need him to introduce me to the public relation
people of the “outhern ‘acific as 1+ need a few details from them.
4isten, Yon + made a question mark to paragraph 1Y of the
contract which provides your agreement to any magazine publication. We
never had such a thing before, or, atl least Abth +t didn't notice it.
+ think you could cross it out, as + won't sell to a pulp magazine,
and if, as + hope, a magazine takes it, tt won't delay the book
pub;ication too long. * should have the book ready by New “ear, and
the magazines are hungry for material md won't keep it too long on the
shelf, Vkay?
So long, and 4'y. tell you how ath coming. “ive al my love
fi
2
to “len, oat going to write her soon a little line. vi
duly 2%» 1940
Dear Viekd:
ZX have found your guide to show you
avound San Francisco. He is Oscar hawis
whose books you probably know and who was
agsoclated with our San Francisco offiee.
He knows the city very well and says that he
will be glad to be of any use he gan, He
suggests that you call him when you get there.
His effiee address la 549 Market Street, San
Franeligeo and his telephone ls Sutter 1-7552,.
Hie home address ia 2740 Union Street and
his phone number ie Walnut 15742, He is
extremely frlendly tous and very glad to
be of any service.
Z hope thet your trip will be
pleasant and profitable.
With loves
Miss Vicki. Baua
Rar? Ganyon Oak Drive
os Angeles 28, Calif.
&
awed],
Ry
August dy 1049.
Dear Vicki, . a a ue —
% am sending hack your copy of “the
contrast with Glause #10 omitted so that
you are porfeotly free to do whatever you |
gan with the book before we publish it. = a
hope that you will take advantage of Oscar :
4gwiats help in §an Franelsco beeause he
really knows a great deal about every phase
of the city and will be very glad te give
you assistance in any way he can. I am sorry
that you are having birth-pangs over the j
novel but 1 gwas that they are inevitable, |
We ave sthll. sweating out a dismal summer A
and I can't wait for Ootober to come around,
Lova,
Miss Vicki Baum.
2477 Qanyon Oak Diawre
Los Angeles 28, Calif,
&
ONG»
advmed.
AIR LETTER
IF ANYTHING Is. EN. 4
<—— First fold here >
: pee ee SaRENCR ued
eioy ano Wado OL > / hae
1 Granville Square Nv
Wharton Street WC 1 |
August 30,1949
my dear Vicki, It seems awful that the first letter to you after
all these years should be a business letter. First let me ask
how you all are and send my love .All well here, though we all haa q
rather a heotio war in London as you can imagine. ‘i i
The businessletter is this: you may remember that I translated
RESULTS OF AN ACCIDENT (Was it @ife goes on in USA?) at any rate |
Zwischenfall in Lohwinkel--on a’royalty basis of 1 and a half |
percent. I have never from Bles or from Heath,the agent, had |
any moneys for any cheap editions,and am now trying to follow
this up( as in commén with most writers here I am short of m sh) |
I gather that there have been several editions of a cheap
edition in this country, and wondered whether you can tell me H
when there was a cheap in the USA and by whom published. I should |
be extremely grateful if you could send me this information
soon,so that if necessary I can get the author's society onto |
all concerned, Thank you very much for any information about it. |
Norah James now lives in Jersey in the Cyannel Islands but is here
just now for a few weeks and sends you best regards.She has bem |
here only to do some dialogue for a film.
I have not takenany trips to Germany since the war, as I simply
could not bear 66 se many ox-Nazis up to oold tricks and
finding that “Né rg Had ever been a Nazi", I, still read French
and German books;;for publishers and have. seen eae e s from
Germany and so ffr Auvént found a one tha} was LLP Of self j
pity and "it'was;the other man's fault"... am still, in love
with the eightedntit-century and ‘orfjoy fur M ing nf agrt of books
as mitWeas overs, mg ‘
It wou¥a be ar nd to see you again if you eygr cone this way.
And in.the.mean¥time I hope to hear Saat ee aber\cot only about
Zwisohénfall but your own news. Love from
“yp E
Reyflak
September 27, 1049 .
Dear Misa Goldemith:
Vieki Baun has forwarded your
1ettor to me. T have looked up our records
on LIPS GOES of and I find that there
neve: was a raprint odition in this country «
wo bought the translation oubright fvom
Bless and the contract is now voided since
tno book is entirely out of print in this
country. I am sorry to aay that there
fig no possibility of any further royalty
from us.
Sincerely yours,
Donald B. Tider
Ghief Associate Editor
Miss Margaret Goldanith
1 Gronville Square
Wharton Street
London WC 1, England
&
atvmall
Novenher 17, 1049
Dear Vighis
Thanke Lor your lebier which T reasived in
Rome, 1 found Home just ae oosy wand wonderful as ever
and all my shady frienda sueh aa pimps, gangsters,
and blackewarkoteors weleoned ino with open army and
made life very agroeable, T find that in Rome, of all
piasdae the underworld and poliee are the beat poople
Oo know, © alao mob a lot of ay old American friends
there and did soma tntonsive sight-seeing, J think that
Tt know every stone of Rome now and I also know the
Alban bills woll, X% found Perla a Little hy bch The
Pont Royale was very confortable and thank God: the;
bad heat without whieh DP would have frozen te death,
i aew Rosie and she seema unusually nappy
and very sanguine about hor novel, However, I think
ahe does want to come back bo Amorioa,
i have a b1t of businesa to report. We have
sold the twenty-five gent roprint rightea to MORTGAGE ON
LEPE bo tha avon Publish, ompany for a voyaluy of 1g
to 180,000 sophea and dae horeafter, and an advance of
9800900 on alpnature and $500,00 on publigation. They
will publish betwoon April. Lat and quly hat, LOBO,
They mey whieh to ghange the bible but wid. gae to At
thab they dontt shange 1G to something: horrible,
| I hope that you are feeling wall and that the
work ia progressing.
i With Lovey
Mies Vioki Baum
e477 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angelos 28, Galt,
Sionstt
VICKI BAUM
Nov. 21st, 1949, . ,
Don dear,
Welcome home,| flags, fanfares, red carpet to you and everything
else. I started wondering wether you would stick to your schedule and am
pleased to know you some threethousand miles closer, While you did in Rome
as a certain percentage of the Romans do and, as I understand, left no
stone unturned, I was a very good girl, hunched up over my typewriter
every nicht till fourvon ive in the morning. The result is a first draft
of "Danger from Deer", consisting as far as I can see of two fair parts
plus: four rabher malodorous
es. After Thanksgiving I'l] clean it up a
bit, then I'll tet it simmer for a month or so and then I'll rewrite some
more. The material as such turne out rather thin and, damn it, I don't
seem to be able to write anything ‘out of spite but it works only if I feel
some sympathy and even pity for my characters. But that's not the way for
treating a mean old biteh like my Lea: lady’
Mr. and Mrs. Black came out heré\and gave us little authors a
shinding in which I felt rather lost among those awfully nice, spry and
"sincere" salesforces. I admit it's a much a@reater art to sell a book than
to write oney but it's always a joke to see ho’ “a the distangks from the
heartbroken experience that makes us write a bob], and the typewriter drenched
in blood,sweat and tears, to the people in whose hands the final product is
!
put. I wished all evening long to have you at my side, exept that you would
have got high-stinking, you would've fallen into the pond where jem may
catch Mat at a dollar extra and IT would have had to take you home and held
your head over the black marble washbasins of the Townhouse.
Glad you found Rosie in good shape and at work, she sounds as if
she had found something ugeful in the line of a lover or consort of some .
sort.
Not knowing that you were back I pestered Molly Ryan to try and dig
up two copies of my Shanghai book which are needed for the Mil. Government
to clear the book for a Japanese translation, Could you. possibly look into
the old Garden City wastepaper baskets or something? And thanks for the
25 cent edition of that old little stinker, fivehundred bucks might come
in very handy around X-mos time. As soon as you have caught up with your
work will you have time to let me have a peek into your private soul?
Love as ever, Yours,
102
Jiolioa { Greeting A_WESTERN UNION
1949 DED 9%
yt 10
950 |
LeLLW48s are. NL PDRLOSANGELES | CALIF 235
sDON ELDER» Re DOUBLEDAY AND COs
aa WEST “49 ST WY Ke
ALL
LOEB DY I” ZT” D0
i re oe
VICKI BAUM
pec. 51,1949.
Hello Don,
Just a line to «ish you a happy New Year and to thank you for the
books you sent me} I tried industriously to learn how to write both » Short and
long stories, and it is faintly possible that a few months from now a new
young American writer whofs name I don't know yet will submit some of his first
short-stories to you for kind perusal and to one or the other highbrow Little
Magazines, Anyway I'm looking forward bo some sort of fun in that field, The
books you sent me were more than xelcome xs I had to spend a few days in bed
with a touvh of the flu, In alittle while I want to start cutting, Danger From nen”
to a reasonable length- please write me a line how long the thing can be. It
hasn't much weight, but,on the other hand, whatever quality it has seems to be
in the mood, sometimes in the background, and in the psychology, and that, as you
know runs always into wore words than just a simple slam-bang murder.
Will you ever have time to get a little less impersonal, my pet?
I want to know how you are, #hat you're dojng and whether it's fun?
VICKI BAUM
March 2d 1950
Don darling, I'm trying hard to picture you as the second half
of the century's Mc Fadden, but it takes all my flamboyant( ots Leas) imagina—
tion} anyway, flothing could have pleased me more than your letter. Keep up the
good works and stay just well enough not to Mse your sensitivity which is
such a rare thing in God's own country. Hoitfiek for Hurope? Me too, ever so often
when things seem just a trifle toogtoo adolescent over here- do loyalty spies
rifle through the letters you receive? Please, burn this subversidve document or
hide it in a pumkin, but auick.Well, what should I tell you from this. end? I
was. dutyfully plodding ahead on my " Danger from Dear", £ think it stinks in
parts and is faintly fragrant in others, and it's no chef d! oeuvre by any stretch
of the imagination, but, hope, still a tenth of a degree above the " Parasites."
As this obituary may show you, it's finished, the goddamned thing., and just in
the process of being delouged and copied, As promised- or threatened- it's going
to get to you on or about March 15th, I'11 send a copy to Jaques Chambrun who
in turn will try to palm it off on some magazine- though it turned out a bit too
sour and pessimistic for magazine digestion, I'm afraid- anyway, I'd ask you to
get losely in contact with him about the whentand where’s of the opus. I guess I
wrote a lot of gall out by creating a sweet, stupid, charming old bitch. For some
reason the story makes wide circles and detours around any of today issues- partly
wecause @ few things I'd have liked to say where too heavy for the material, partly
because I am not less mixed up HHH than the next person, Things seemed a bit
clearer when I was abroad, bub overhere you can't hear yourself think for all the
din.and the noise and the fury. Horizons get more and more covered by artificial.
fogs and sprays, and I think we're approaching a new sort of Middle Ages. We be-
lieve a bit too implicitly in hells of our own invention, and what makes for
dark ages is first of all fear and secondly ignorance, So, we're afraid, and if
we aren't jnewspapers are trying their best to make us,~-all for the purpose of
better circulationy-and, certainly, no people has ever been left more ignorant
about the real issues at stake, It's an awful feeling to watch how the final deci-
sions have been taken completely away from a nationy) who originally was to be
governed by the people~ oh, hell, maybe I'm only rating because I'm having the
headache of all headaches today,
So: Germs! They've been crawling all over this here family ever since
November and by the time one person comes out of a temperature and the pukes
or the sneezes or the cough the next one has got it and that way it's been going
round and round and round. Especially the little boy has been in and out of bed
all the time and looks very peaked and I feel sorry for him, As for this here
old party, I'm having a considerable Biton in my stern for going off and away.
At first this will take the mild form of a four weeks vacation with my husband
in Mexico, just sitting around a highly radio-active swimming pookl _ that's
what they advertise in any case_ and maybe motor around a little bit. But that's
no answer to my itch, and a trip down to Tehuantepec and Chiapas doesn't come off
quite the way I hoped, My faithful. boy friend who drove me all over Europe last
week and wanted to drive me to the jungles, too, has to stay if town because he
ig learning to be « silversmith, on the GI Blea) and can't break training. In the
meantime I'm hung like aff Xmas tree with the products of his considerable talent
and highly limited craftsmanship$ just now I'm éxpecting a very beautiful sugar
and cream seb, handwrought, whose two parts can also most handsomely be used as
breast shields a la Cecil de Mille, I tried them and they fit, ( Cup sheped, the
fbrassiere industry calls it.) Well, in any case, I might roam all by my little
self a bit through Chiapas and into Guatemala, I liked it so much the last time
I was there. From Paris arrive anguished cries demanding I go there soon, but
I certaiily wouldn't during the tourist season, and also, it all depends tery , pel;
VICKI BAUM
on the question of whether or not I can manage to make some money with that
Dangerous Deer, I have an idea that I'11 get to New York in early Fall, pro-
viding you'll be there. Out here my bit of English is deteriorating by leaps
and bounds and that's very bad. As soon as I have ‘the manuscript off my chest
I want to go into a bit of Spanish and French reading and talking- or trying
to, at least- and that won't be much of a help,Today I have a feeling as if
I were pretty soon, maybe this afternoon, going to die like Roosevelt. Just
a bit more pressure on those calcified nerves and veins in my head and something
is apt to bust.Othejwise I'm in a fine mood, my garden is full of Roman hyacinths
and almond trees in bloom and some highly oversexed birds are making quite
a to-do in the tree before my window.
Thenks for squeezing in a bit of time for writing me a letter, I need
very much to know that you're there, somewhere, even if terribly busy and
successful and preoccupied.So Long
as ever
March 8, 1960
Dear Viokit
Sust_whon t etart bragging about ny
good health T get struck again by my resident
virus which is tho only germ J have left but
a yory persistent one, and it knocks me down
every week or ton days. However, my reaupe
erative vowers are better and 1 does ne
serious damage.
3. am delighted to lmov that DANGER FROK
DNR de finished and IN1L be looking forward
to seeing a-copy. I hope that ve ean have It
for the fall list but that of course will
depend on serialization plens. Jd know exactly
how you feel about the atmosphere of America
these days and I watch with regret all oy
friends getting off to Rnrope as fast ae they
gene i hope you will be able to have a good
vacation. This year I will have no more than
the aga) two weeks and I can't think where to
go> haven't heard a word out of Rosie for
weeks and I shall have to write herctodsy and
nudge her,
With Love,
Hiss Viek? Bann
2477 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 26, California
8
airmiil
March 9, 1950
Dear Viekit
t an sorry to be sending on
this dismal statement which I am sure you
would rather not sec. Sowever, tt 1a my
duty to do so. 1 am looking forward to the
new book.
With Loves
Misa Viekt Baum
2477 Genyon Oak Prive
Los Angeles 28, Gelifornia
&
aivmall
VICKI BAUM
March 15,1950,
Dear Don,
Today I sent you my "Danger from Deer" and I hope it meets you surroun-
ded by millions of slaughtered resident-germs and on the up-curve of your manic
depressive wobble. Really, you mustn't do that to me and get feeling sick again,
just when I am beginning to be glad about your pep and health, I'm sorry that
I'm sending you a rather messy manuscript, but my regular girl went to Europe—
as vho doesn't~ and the ones who did the copying made quite a mess of it. How~
ever, before you piorle will be through with it yt suppose the mamiseript will
look a lot worse yet. Let me know fairly soon how you feel about the stuff and
what BX sort of a dazzling contract you vant to give me on it; remember, jou
promised me heaven on earth when I saw you last. Jacques Chambrun has a copy,
too, and I suppose you'll want to keep in contact with him about what the magazines
will or won't do with thé stuff.
I'd like very much to come to New York in Fall, provided youtd be there
ab that time;also, if you'd put the book on your Fall list, it might be a good
idea for me to be available for those RBA gawd-awful publicity doings which
seem to become more and more the most important part of writing a book, Have
you read anything goofrecontly- and I don't mean the Flair-babies? If yes, tell
me whet as I'm quite hungry for something good to read, Otherwise I'm having
the usual pooped~out hangover, but that will pass within a few days,
Yours, with all woah wishes, as ever ALMA Ad howe “y
f )
‘A ~
\j . p,
WoW [ALA
Maroh 21, 1960
Dear Ficktt
fhe menuseript has arrived and I shall ~
read at this week and write to you sbout it.
Meanwhile, 1411 be in touch with Ghambrun to get
information regarding the serial, As for the
contract, don't you remember thet wa made one
lest duly with » $8000.00 advance?
4 would love to put this on the fall
List and I hope that you will be here so that
we ean give horrible parties for you and put
you on all kinda of ghastly housewifely radio
programs. 1411 be writing te you again in a
wook or two.
With love,
Miss Vigki Baun
2477 Genyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 28, California
g
airmail
April 3, 1980
Dear Viokit
I have read DANGER FROM DEER with the
greatest pleasure and I think that you have done a
really remavkable job, 14 49 damentely readable
and my god, what en awful bitch your central,
sharacter ist have never seen anyone handle that
double flashback trick go akilifully before and it
is never in the least confusing. Tt ie certainly
more bitter than sweet and I am afraid that might
hurt your magagine market although 1 don't think
it will affect the book market. — wonld dike to
suggest a few cute but T would Like to have Lee
Barker read the manuseript first, since he is our
‘book club export and la very good at sbroanliniag
menusoripts for book elub acceptance. After he has
read 1¢ 1111 make my suggestions which are really
not drastig, 2 think that you have done an excellent
Jov on the period and background whieh have réal
flavor and greet deal of appeal, Gongratulations
and much lovel 421 be writing you again in a few
days.
Sincerely,
Miss Voki Boun
2477 Genyon Oak Drive
boa Angeles 28, Galifornta
8
alymgi1
Apyil 7, 1960
Dear Vicks
tthe enclosed letter is self-explanatory
and I trast that it will not bore you too much.
I don't know what tventy-five cent editoriel
genius invented the subtitles and 1 don't know how
they ave going to promote the book to any grant
extent, bub if you have no great objection te lt,
won't you please soribble an okaying lettor and
return 1t to us.
hee ia going to read DANGER FROM DENA
over the weelend and then wa'll put our heads
together over what we would like to suggest to
you regarding cuts. 7 stil) have no definite word
from Ohdmbron os. to serial,
Hugh Leve,
Kiss Vieki Baum
247? Genyon Sak Drive
hos 4ngeles, Galifornia
8
airmail
May 11,1950,
Don ymy Darling,
Just alline to tell you ‘shat I'll be off to Mexico for six to
eight weeks with hardly a constant address, Meil will eventually reach me
if you send if to my Hollywood address, The hagazines have so far observed a
dead silence about my Dangerous Deer, a fact thet doesn't surprise me at all
but hurts me deeply in that most sensitiv spot, the bank account, Are you
in touch with Chambrun about that lovsed-up stony? ina will it be on your
fall list or could you palm it off on an nnenepacted! geadership around X-mas
time? I'd like to know ,so that I can cyndronte the uropean publications
with ours. It would also be nice to get some money on ay NY bank account.
by the time I'm coming back- or is no payment due until publication? Gosh,
what a businesslike disgusting sort of Letter} Let's hope Tehuantepec will
Be
put me in my usual mellow-romabtic mood,
All my love as ever,
V ae ohh.
May 12, 1950
Dear Vieki:
I am sending you a sketch for the °
Jacket of DANGR:) FROM DEER. Ib is rather
& mough one but Itd like to know whether '
or not Fou anprove of the idea and if
ou have any other suggestions to makes
The manusorlpt has been circulating madly
among the book clubs end consequently.
Lee has not finished reeding 1t. In regard
to my own suggestions for cuts, they will
not be drastic, but I'd still like to hear
i@ reactions from book ¢lubs before I
go abead with too many, Wontt you please
returm this sketeoh to us by airmail, since
our sales conferences are approaching fast
and we are very anxious to have jackets
finished as soon as possible. I am up to
my eave in work but will write you more
later.
Love,
Bur Vieki Baun ”
e477 Canyon Oak Drive
Les Angelea 26, Calif,
8
ia am ch
VICKI BAUM
May 16th, 1950
Don, my darling,
Thanks a million for letting me have a pe@k at the
sketch for the cover and) please,don't get mad at me if I
keep wondering loudly, and even shrilly, what causes the
immeasurable difference of taste as expressed in, let's say,
the nice fodern seum prints in your office and the combined
cottage cheese salad and banana split on said sketch.
Itm afraid I'1] have te go into a few basgical ideas of and
about mod@&n design, even if it bores hell out of you and
gets me the wrath of your highly esteemed sales department
on my obstinate noodle. Item onezsit has been known for
about forty years that a crowded design distracts rather
than attracts the attention of a prospective buyer. Today
even Klein's and Ohrbachs realize that a window which focus~
ses the attention on one or two worthwhile features gets
better sales then the old general-Store ways where everything
from fishing tackle to salted pork and men's woolen under-
wear was cramped in ontexhibition; consequently, a jacket
like the proposed one seems to have gone out of fashion to—
gether with the spitoon and the cracker barrel, Look here,
my pet, your designer is always trying to tell the whole
story on the jacket; but telling a story is my business and
not his. His business seems to be to catch the eye of the
browsing castamer and possibly arouse his curiosity- but
this design ain't it. I wouldn't utter even a whisper of
protest if the public would respond to the oldfashioned and
stuffy Doubleday jackets with a nad buying rush. But I can
only repeat that in all other countries my books come out
with quiet designs in fairly good and contemporary taste,
and in all other countries my reputation is much better,
and my sales are incomparably higher than here. I guess we
have been through all this before and I'm sorry if I bore you
with this, but all I can say is that this might be a mighty
fine jacket for Faith Baldwin and that I,-hard as I might try,
and hard as your sales department might wish I were- & just
ain't no Faith Baldwin. Of one thing I'm sure, a jacket like
this would cause meyer every single person I care for, to
turn away from the book in abhoybnce,
As you know,I'm the last one to think that I've written a
masterpiece, but I believe that it's feirly amusing stuff which
would ‘lose whatever charm it might have;if you let the reader forget
that it's all told obliquely,bbichély and with irony; the jacket,
however, is a hodge podge of melodrama, while I tried to make fun
of it alljeven with my title. My personal idea of a good jacket was,.
for instance, the one for "The Sheltering Sky". I realize that I
don't belong to the breed achrLAair" igs growing in ites little
hothouses and, therefore, can't endeavour to demand really intelligent
jackets for my little book; but if Doubleday insists on an illustra-
tive cover, may I humbly submit my idea of just putting up a somewhat
lopsided warning sign !.! !' DANGER FROM DEER { 1! and keep my name
and whatever else in a separate little box somewhere at the bottom
of the cover. Unfortunately I have not the slightest talent for de-
signing and the sheet I'm enclosing will possibly give you not even - ve ia:
an indication of what I mean} however, if you agree in principle;T
might! try to make one or the other of my young designer. friends in-
dicate what I mean in somewhat more comprehensible terms, — and I'd
send it on to you and maybe you. could feed it to your designers as
a suggestion of your own,
One more little things when you start ng I would like
the sign which sent me off writing the nove ‘otto yw before the
beginning of the story. At the moment I don't have a copy of thet
sign at hand,but I have the old Lawyer quote it somewhere in the
first part; it goes something like "Denger from Deer! Visitors are
advised that deer is dangerous at all times, especially during the
rubting Seagon....seceeeeee” Also, when you get around to cutting the
damn thing down, please, indicate the cuts and let me do the final
cutting myself {ge way I did in the Weeping Wood; you will remem~ J
ber that I'm a pisionate avid not at all complaing cutter-down:
I can always help the cuts by putting in little transitions insmy
\ own indmitabl. yon't look so patched up. I a ea | ,
“euts either between dune is d 15th when I'1) stay put in Peine-
arioffSan José Purva , Mexico, after my return to the States;during
"As soon as you have an jfea when the book will be published,
pledwe gt, me Know, because like to make my own plans accordingly.
There might” sone neason”for me to go to New York in fall anyway,
Enough and too much for one evening and heaps of love for you
alweye yours
=
VICKI BAUM
5 May 20,1950,
Dear Don,
I wonder if Doubleday's would do one of their less successful
and somewhat dated authors a little favor? Could somebody ask somebody
to make a few copies of the manuscript of "Danger from Deer", and do it
right away and send some of them off to the -fibhowing addresses? And
kindly charge whatever expenges against my account? cary just tak¥ing
off for Mexico and can't do ib, respectively I'm out of copies and the
one blurred stuff ee here I want to keep to myself @gd,for making
euts and changes etc. Yow for the addresses:
Pearn,Pollingér and Higham
38-40 Bedford Street Strand
London/ England
M. Georges. Robert
80, Rue de 1'0bservatoire
Paris (14e) France
Mr. Ingo Preminger
204 So. Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills/ Calif. ay
Thanks an awful lot and let's hear from you.
Love, as ever,
Velen
May 22, 1950
Dear Vicki,
Y oan't thank you enough for that blistering letter with
which I agree so thoroughly. I took it right down to the art
deparbment and found that they also concurred, We have a
running fight with the sales department on this business of
jackets, and we have some hae é good art directors and designers
who would much rather do the kind of jacket that you like,
We threw out the whole sketch and got hold of a good modern
artist who has done some very fine and simple jackets for us,
Your Letter provided me with just the ammunition I needed,
I talked to Jacques Chambrun today, and while he has: not
yet sold the book, he still feels that there's a good chance
and wants to keep on trying, According to our present schedule,
the manuseript should be due on press June 1, bub if he does
sell the book, the present October date will be Lmpossible for
us, ‘There's also the matter of cutting which 1s golng to be
diffioult if you are in the wilds of Mexico, Obviously since
yu ere on your way to Mexico, we oannot work thia out before
‘une 1, and altogether it ‘Looks to me ap if weld better postpone
the publication until after Christmas, This wlll give Chambrun -
a chance to exploit every possible market for a magazine sale
and we gan alse do whatever cutting is necessary with much
less preasure, It seems to me that one of the troubles with
HEADLESS ANGEL was that the publication schedule required a rush
job on the cutting, I would much rather see this postponed by
one season and come out to everyone's satisfaction, Consequently,
I have removed it from the Pell List and pub it over to Winter,
T hope this delay does not cause you any anxiety, Our Fall list
is overloaded anyway, and I see no point in trying to jam the
book through a heavy schedule and eat the expense of its magazine
gale and ite editing.
I hope that you will have a good trip and will not worry
about business mabtera,
Much lovey,
DBE/ fb
Mias Vieki Baum
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 28, California
MICHOACAN, MEXICO
June Ath
Dear Don, just a line to let you know that I got your
letter, and I'm sure you'll do what you think best for the
book. I'll be back in L.A. by the beginning of July and ready
to do my part in cutting and editing, if you just want to in-
dicate where the darn thing is too long, too involved, or re~
petitive.
Down here I'm frighteningly famous and my books swell
like erazy itcn would be fine if my agent would deliver the
royalties with a bit more accur-acy and asperity. Anyway,
books sell so cheap, on account of the low currency. By the way |
here, as in France, Italy, et al, I get constantly complaints
from the bookstores that they can't obtain my books in Engish.
I have cried many a silent tear about the Doubleday policy y
quickly killing off any book that isn't a roaring best-seller
right awey- but, well, what's the use! T haven't read a paper
in weeks and so I don't know about water shortage, heaifraves
and the newest fashion in atom bombs and withh hunts. Hope, though,
that you're well and content and that the battle of the bugs
and/or baoiteriae goes in favor of your side.
Lots of love, always
dune 9, 1950
Doar Viekis
I hope you xecoived my letter in
which I told you that I was postponing
PANGER FROM DEER to the winter list.
We could not have kept to our schedule
if we had had to seud the manuscript
te you Fel ee ee alao be id bg
unas ok gol very wa, anol
well ahead of the GheLs tung market, it
would heve been swamped by iveme ab
Rome, bablesy and other such novelties
which now seem tucWe the standard fare
for Chiieimms consumpblon,
T hope thet youtre having a nice,
trigy I expect Go take my vacation
BO! and if you had heen at home, T
would have flown owk to California.
Now t don't know just what T will dos
ft an having the extra coplea of
book typed and will semd them to
poople whose addresses you gave
me, Meanwhile, I have no word from
Chanbrun and { gather he bas hopes of
selling ity
Ab SVOry
Misa Vicki Baus
Balneario
Sen Jose Purua
Moxico
DBE bs
July Sy 1L9s0
Dear Vieki:
T have had ecoples of DANGER FROM DEER
made and sent to the addressea which you
gave me, We have now scheduled 1% for
Pebruary lst which gives us until september
ith to work on it. I still have received _
no definite word from Chanbrun as to serial,
so I guther he has not given up tryinge
I just hed my vacation which I apent
with my brother and family Im Michi, and.
for once in Life, Ib was oxtrenaiy: Lnbexm
esting to ge als to native town and
pack up « few things % I seened to. have
forgotten when I lefts I think I Learned
more in a few days than [ did In all the
Lo yoawe I Lived there and it dispelled
all Kinds of lliusioms, I take great delight.
in ay wa and they think that Tan,
wonderful, and so wy ego has been rebull ty
T hope that you are enjoying your trip
thre Mexieo, Won't you let me kuow when
you to be back so that we can work
oub a schedule for working on your manu
soripty
Much Loves
As ever,
DEE: ba
ae Vicki, Baum
ai7 ‘om Oak: Dedive
Les Angeles
or
VICKI BAUM
July 8th 1950
Dear Don,
Thanks a lot for sending out the copies and for
your letter. I toddled back into USA two days ago and have been nursing
a chest cold ever since that lovely Los Angeles air hit me like a sledge
hammer. I'm now at your beck and call, zoe let me have whatever work
andf/ or editing you want me to do.I ama fiend for cutting, as you know,
and a very old hand at doing an editor's job. If you want to make it easy
for both of us, please let me have one copy with your suggestions( and
I mean yours, personally, and not those of the girl-however charming-who
answers Grahena nor of the ebbeemed middle-aged lady entrusted with the
cleaning -up of the ladie's room)and another copy for me to work on,
as I am out of such. I shall go to work on it with a vengeance, as I'd
like to clear the decks by and by for future work,Also, having returned
fairly broke, it would be nice if some funds were forthcoming; you wrote
me once about a small advance payment on the cheap edition of I don't
quite remember what; and the garantes on the dangerous deer. How about it,
pal?Excuse the poor typing, I'm still back on my Mexican typewriter with
all things in different places. I had a sweet- sour time down there, having
been loaded down with husband and his friends, his tooth“ache, his distressed
‘tomach and his general phobia against lice, flees and alacrans. Only the
(. ten days of my stay I was left to myself and went way into Chiapas and
off the roads, and I mean literally off the roads pinto forests with millions
of orehidehnd strange Indian tribes and unbelievable mountain lakes, and,
Gawd, was it cold up there in the highlands!And hot at the Isthmus!
So now I am, as always: a sus “Srdenes A
—
ees
aa
/ (
Meas) } \/ wig
July 13, 1950
Dear Viekis
I'm sorry that a Mexican trip wel
not an unm: Os oe
are back so tha know where you are, I'm
sorry that qu have a cold, I have been
having beas Little sumer sinus infec
tions that all seem to ocowe after my first
atring doctor has gone out of town for #
few wooks, However, be glad that you're
not in New Yorks
As for the editing and cutting of
DANGER FROM DEER, we sent oub ali copies
whieh wo had made at your request, and T
have #t111 pe Bey eopy you sent mo, T
think that I wld make ny auggestions on
this copy and send it to yous, Do you prefer
to have the bon appehenaree made on the margine
or on a seperate sheet? Since wo will have
to use this for peipere 4 copy, it might be
patter if I do not mark it up too much.
As for money, you have $5000 coi on
DANGER FROM DEER and I have ordered # ok
for it. Ag soon as I get Rosiets book to
the prdégs, I'll atart on yours, since hers
ia already due.
With Lovey
DBE: ba
Misa Vieki Baum
277 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles 28, California
VICKI BAUM
August 12th 1950
Dear Don, n
Just a line to remind you that you wanted to send me
my manuscript for cuts and such- wouldn't now be the time to do it? Later in the
fall I might have my nose to the grindstone and not be as unencumbered by worries
about the stuff I want to write next. So- Tim waiting
yours, ever /
Vary
August Uj, 1950
Dear Viekir
I'm @ louse not to have written
you sooner. Itm working ‘on your manu«
script but I have been slowed down by
the fact that my resident vieus has
flared up for the past few weekea and
I've lost a good deal of time, I'LL
shoot the manuseript along to you
very shortly. I'm sorry to have held
you ups Itm nob making any drastic
cuts because the underpinning of the
story is rather intricate,
T want to write oa a long jule
letter soon since I have mach to tel}
Yous
With love,
As every
Miss Vicki Baum
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive
hos Angeles 20, California
DBE: be
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wien Vieus Sawe
os i angeles 28, al california :
DEAR VICKI ‘
YOUR POINT IS WELL MADE No CHANGES uons@aRy
MUCH LOVE,
Dee DON
VICKI BAUM
August2hth 1950
Dear Don,
T can't tell you how grateful T am to
you for the tenderness with which you handled my story. You are
right, the darn thing is so tightly figured out and written, that
it would fall to pieces if we would-take out great big hunks,!'y
trouble is that I'm such an oldfashioned, solid eraftsman, all the &h,
seans hold and are hard to rip open, I'LL go over the whole thing
once more and see if I can snip off little bits here and there
and. you will see that T have gladly accepted almost all of your
suggestions, but one. It hurt me deeply that the only scene
T really like and that is honestly written, didn't meet with
your approval. I wrestled with it for two days now, but, no, dear
darling, T cantt change Larry basically. I re-grouped those dialogues
a bb t, cut out some and tuned down some, but the facts have to
remain as they are, You say that Larry becomes too important; but
T made him so for good reasons, Tirst of all, there is so much
Period in the story, that I must balance it by something that's
today. Also, I wanted to give the story a lift at this pointy by
bringing in a new and fairly amusing-and interesting character,
There was none of it since Florian's exit and the thing would sag
badly without the intreduction and build-up of Larry.Now then,
as to hiw being homosexual:it's the only possible answer in the
situation.A normal man, telling al girl that he is her friend but
not in love, would appear terribly rude, and it would make poor
Joy appear still more unattractive. A girl, on the other hand,
might not take No for an answer and keep on trying to get him,
if no6 as a lover then as a husband, furthermore, and to be a bit perg |
somél, there exists a certain compulsion in making one write
certain things, 4s it is my tough luck to have varicusly fallen
in love with ‘arries, and, have gone through experiences of the
described sert, } guess I just had to get it out of my system, So
there, Don~ it's the one point where 7 have to be adamant,
And thanks again and again for the trouble you took and
the job you did and, please, let me have the promised letter and
tell me all about your: virus , and 7'11 tell you everything
about my overwhelming and greatly troubling white blood corpuscles.
Much love , now that) have a new typewriter I'm doing werse
than before, don! qT,
Le
ARG.
Den
Suggestions for cuts and changes for DANGHR FROM DEER
p. 25 - The brakeman couldn't open the gate from the outside if the train
were moving. (Don't forget, I'm an old railroad man!)
PPo 22-23- slight cut
pe Zl+ slight change for style (too many train noises) Also P, 29
. S%~ slight cutm-not ebsolutaly-necassarsf Samacefnct Ahr cut & f
Pe 40- cut- 9 little repetitious Bent a
of Tena ney poeroegrugor ‘ {
Pp. 85- cut - this point is sufficiently made elsewhere
Pe 10Z-103~ cut- just nto breale up the Generalin's conversation o bit
107-108= cut=- to spped up action a little
pp 116 ff--Mousie's lang scems a little too modern for 1898, go I've
modified it a little.
“ a ho te
p ® de Enea
pp. 129-130--alsc--shang seems too modern tet dun, a wel? 7 ke y , bac
wo BQ Antdatta nh Eabtttg, or Levod ee
De 138--cut- 9 Little irrelevant “at keke Proll Fadler —obe
Pepe 187—= The full moon---it was three nights before, wasn't it, that
Ann lest saw Florian, end the moon wasn ¢ due peffvll quite
yeb. See p 124, We et pag laa, Aaee yi
— J i
pa Ll Gown a fill Ataadithtd *
vt 4 a
Ged beetaty
p. 162+ eut, to speed up scene d
P. 165~ cut -- unnecessary over emphasis
p. 176 = cut (I've made a few cuts like this because Angelina's feelings
and charadter are by now quite predictable and don't have to be
pointed up so much,
181 = cuts<- th8 suspense seems a Little téo muck
P, 192+ cut
p 200- cut
Pe 213= I've made a few little cute because the fire scene seems to me a bit
long.
Pe 215=-— same
pe 218 same
De 224— 225--same
D> 235= sliht cut- a little too tesrful
Pe PA4l~ cut a little dialogue which Seemed unnecessary
pe 247~-- It isn't clear for over a page whom Angelina is talking to,
fy qt
fe
rf flea off
/
A
|
1p. 288-- slight cut--Joy wouldn't be old enough to realize this, and anyway
it isn't necessary to point up how glad Angelina is to get rid of
Hopper
pe 355b- 359. Thisn is the ohly very drastic changenx I have to suggest, 1
Pe
don't think it is necessary to have Lerry be a homosexual. The purity
of his motives toward Susan is already sufficiently established for
the reader, and the fact that he is not "in love" with Joy is not
hard to explain. His confessing his homosexuality seems to. me one
twist of the knife too much, Besides, this is a long and rather
talky scene and ought to be shorter. I have indicated the cute 1
think might be made; if you agree, a few sehtences are needed to
fill in. If you feel strongly about it, leave it as it is; but it
seems to me that it:makes Larry 9 more important, more highlighted
character then he needs to be, and puts him out of proportion to the
rest of the characters. It is Joy who is important here, not Larry.
Im think he'd be just a8 convincing as monkish sort of mm who is
fond of put doesn't happen to be in love with her. I think that
as he is, he is overemphasized.
B71 = Would Susan have spoken go bluntly and insultingly in the presence
of Angelina? (Presumably Angelina is present, or she wouldn't have
knowg of this conversation.) This tactlessness seems out of character
for "usane
375-~ I have cut a line which seems to he an abrupt change of point of
view.
404~ cute- unnecessary detail
406--cut--this line is all too familiar by now.
I've been through this three times and it still seems very readable, the background
and detail are very fine and the characters §it it perfectly. Sorry to have
Deen so long, bub it takes just as much time to decide to leave something in
as to teke it out, and you see I haven't cut much. Hope it doesn't cause you
much work--you may have even more drastic ideas yourself,
VICKI BAUM
August 25th 1950
Year Don, I wanted to be a good little author and go over
the stuff once more to look for cuts and/or slips of taste, but I'm simply
not up to reading it, and * really think you have done such a magnificent
* might still cub won't amount to much. It seems
job that the few puny things
more important to shoot the manuscript back to you on time, isn't it? The
trouble is that just now + am slowed down quite a bit, doctor's orders,
there's a crisis brewing about my health and, well- you have your resident
virus and + have a few other nasty little items, and so, forgive me, please,
for being , with your help and consent, a bit lazy. Thanks again and all
my love i
if
\J a an,
Beoptember 6, 1950
Dear Vielks
I have senmb your manusoript to the press without making ~
any further changes although no doubt some queries will ariae
in the course of copyreadings T shell take eave of all that
I oan to spare you the trouble, but I might have to pass a
few on to you with galleys.
Please don't feel hurt theb I suggested a ¢ @ in the
scone between Joy and Larry, It was not because I did not
foal that the scene waa honestly written and, as I told you
at the start, I did not insilat on your ¢ ing it. IT onl)
felt- that from a abpuctural point of view 1b cauged a Little
OVere asia» As for the characterization Ibavlfy you are
quite right and I hell not touch Lt.
Tim terribly sorry to hear that youtre not in good
health and I hope that there's nothing serious wrong, Myself,
T am tuproving although my virus has not been clearly diage
nosed and I have to have more tests to be aure I don't have
undulent fever or maninucleosis, Howsvers my own good giiutor
is back fvom his sumer vacation and that alene makes me Teel,
better, My only other worry is that my mother is hopelesal,
iLL with a cancerous blood sondition and we are rather grimly
awaiting the fatal outcomes
I am enclosing a voyalty sbatement as of 7 304 1950.
I'm sorry that the typing of DANGER PROM DEER ate up your
profite and I hope that I'll have a move cheerful statement
to send you the next time,
Much love,
DBEr bs
Miss Vioki Baum
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles
California
VICKI BAUM
Sept. 15th 1950
\ Don, darling,
\ Thanks a lot for your letter and
the sketch for \the jacket. First of all, though, what stuff and nonsense
about your health! Undulant fever- the last thing I had exfected from
you is an atiment induced by drinking the wrong sort of milk. But mow
that they know nk itis, tinee certainly get you well quickly, won't
they? As for tmyseut.\well, I'm just sort of pooped and not feeling too
good, and now it soem), the doctors agree that it's sort of a slowly
sneaking, crawling leukekia, nothing alarming and it don't hurt, just
keeps me way under par ard will eventually kill me, if not my wobbly
heart or tye very old growth in my ear will do it before. But as life
in general is one of those ailments that inevitably end letal, it nd-
ther bothers nor worries me. Just makes me at times as listless as the
Depressions And
stockmarket during a depressidy lease, don't talk about it, I didn't
tell anybody, not even in my family, and the last thing I'd wish is to
be treated like a patient catient, \
Now about that jacket, and I feel like a crabby old bitch
if I say that it don't quite hit the spotsei ther. The stripes are okg
I guess, although the colors are pretty vile especially the yellow.
Anything on the more dimwrtmenee mbeisl Foxe} petter with the rest, but,
hell, eny paint shop or hardware store has now those charts which the
new science of color dynamic has evolved and where you can't go wrongs
However, that " Field-eandStream'..degr with the doublechin is really
quite out of keeping with the s“lightly more contemporary rest. And
why have the animal at all~ after all, it's not a hunting story and no
real deer ever makes an appearance. And if a deer, why not have a funny
cartoony line drawing, a carricatur of one,let's say a Steinberg or
Thurber deer attacking a ditto man, just a little black scrawl in a
corner, if you know what I mean, Or, for that matter, why have any-~
thing illustrative at all?My, I think I've lost my innocence by having
too many good painters and industrial designers for friends]
I treated myself to a new typewriter, and for the time
being it makes nothing but mistekes, excuse, please.
Much love, always
\
| Uke
VICKI BAUM
Sept. 19th 1950
Gosh, darling Don, I really don't like to be a pest
but the longer | have that new jacket on my desk the more horrible
it begins to look , and whatever simple, objective people enter my
room and accidentally see the thing there, utter cries of anguish.
Doesn't your art department like me at all and do they do it for
spite? Or are they so unbelievably tincompetent and without talent,
knowled/ge, training or ideas?0r is somebody sitting on top of
them who has his own taste- shoukf' an Hoobs, one can't dispute?Gee,
well, I mean to sayliJhen I go to my basement where the various
translations of my book kick ground, comprising everything from
Finbibh to Urdu, Italian to Hebrew, they all have decent, more or
less contemporary, or, at the worst, inoffensive jackets. I shot
a “apanese one to you that had arrived the same day, the downside
is the upside if you know what I mean, well, it looks decent to
me, good colors, well balanced, and catching the eye. Can't anybody
in your department cut three pieces of colored paper and paste it
together in a bearable pattern and put some lettering on it so it
can be read?
This, obviously, isn't meant for the official files
of the venerable House of Doubleday & Co, nor to be read in a aales-
men's meeting, but, after all, we do like to sell books, now don't
we? And why make it so hard for the customer?
Forgive me, I love you dearly, and 1 hope your undulant
resident is in the moving-out stage. \ ) ' ‘
\ AAA,
September 21, 1950
Dear Vicki:
_t sent the Japanese jacket down
to the art department, delivered a
brief orationy and asked for a now
sketch, They have promised me some~
thing tasty and simple, Their trouble —
is that they really try to hard to be
dazzilings
My undulant fever is officially
cured now dince it takes very little
to kill it once they've diagnosed its
Tim still a little tired from 1t but
that should pass in a week or so, TI
hope the new sketch Is a good one,
With love,
Mises Vieki Baun
277 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles
DBELba
VICKI BAUM
Sept 28th 1950
& Don, thanks for bolny, so pationt end
with oll ay bitching about the Ja
t, and Tha slad kuaow Liet your
bug is
slo weeks in translating
oe
the dawn story
o German, some fun, sand in the process of 1t IT found
vurioue Little mi
but also va where Ttd like to cut
S Pp pebtil¥oan unnessecary, Gua Uhat be
nc galleys, or
does it make trouble and acat money?itts a
itvare, to Unink that
the entire Arive
onee ov teiea more, hut etarct ls viel
Uscuse my thin writing
is swfully tired end 12 never lesimal
to pub = new one
setting mysolf Lato a sort of Lankoon Sroup
All the baat to you, fontly
Oeteher 6, 1950
Dear Vicks
Im sorry that 1% is too
late to make changes in the manu
seript since it's on ite way to the
press, However, if the changes
consist mostly of cuts, it won't
be so terribly expensive to do
in galleys.
I'm having a new jacket sketch
made up and will send 1% on to hi
ag soon as Lt begins t&chook 11
anything. Meanwhile, would ,
return the striped horror. :
artist wants 1t back In case he
oan peddle 1t somewhere elas,
With leva,
Donald B. Bilder
Miss Vicki Baum
2h.77 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles, Calife
DBEs ba
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CHARGE TO THE ACCOUNT:OF TiMe FILED
NO. WOS.-CL. OF SYO. Pb. oRCOLL, [1 CASH.NO.
Send the following message, subject fo the terms on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to
- Miss Viek’ Baum i
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive .
Los Angeles, 28,
California : 7
, ; j
é
io
HAVE REPRINT OFFER FOR 35 CENT EDITION OF THE SHIP AND THE
SHORE PROVIDED TITLE GAN BE CHANGED TO ONE TROPLOAL NIGHT
750° ADVANCE PLEASE WIRE REPLY
DON
ELDER
October 17, 1950
Dear Vicki:
No less than thres Doubled
authors got together and proposed te
ug that they collaborate on a novel.
with a United Nations backgrounds I
remember that this idea ia one that
we discussed a couple of yoara ago and
I firmly vetoed the idea of anyone
else's doing tt. As a matter of facts
we didn't want these three particular
people to try it since it would be a
rather sheddy bi foot job. They may
take the idea elsewhere and we can't
prevent them from doling that. I wonder
if this book ia still on your agenda
beeause the idea appealle te us and we
think that you could do an especially
good job on ite I juat wanted you to
know that I am protecting your ideas,.
Have you looked at the jacket
proofs yet?
With love,
Donald B, Eider
Miss Vicki Baum
2).77 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles, Cal.
DBEs bz.
VICKI BAUM
Oct. 17,1950.
Don Darling,
In a tearing hurry I just waht to thank you from
the bottom of my heart for giving birth to a real nice cover=
and salesmen be hanged! I like best the one with the black
ground and the pink,white and gray print, I could possibly
imagine that my name gould be printed a litile smaller and
still a little shockinger pinker, if it could be done without
causing any trouble. If not, I'm perfectly happy, and my never
ending gratitude, etc. ete.. By and by I'm getting a bit homeshck
for you and the big city and avery small handful of friends
I have there, By the way- sinod I read that @eneral Speidel
is the Herman *ssanaer presumptive , I'm just waiting
for the day when friend Rosie will be made Empress of a future
Ynited and through and through fascist Germany, Heil!
As ever yours,
love,
VICKI BAUM
October 21st 1950
Dear Don,
Thanks for being such a knight. in shining armour
about that UN novel, I shed a silent tear over it, because
it could 'a been such a good novel, but that was when the UN
had still hopes of becoming what it was meant to be, not
a political tool, or whatchamacallit, where we do g lot of pushing
and ocfasionally get pushed a little oushéves., Also, at that time
I had secured me g job as liaison officer for the visual propaganda
department which was headed by my good friend Yenoit-Levy( La
Neorneite, remember) a man of greatest integrity; I could have
worked there in something I knew how to do, would have been
sent around 4XX to all other departments, would have soaked up the
entire atmosphere and lingo, and, well, it might have been good,
Now Benoit has left and is or was in Paris, he saw me just before
leaving; and furthermore, my lovestory would have taken place
between a Russian and a British girl who click in bed and in
a few other things, but remain eternal strangers, like most lovers,
because the man was in constant conflict ebout his belifs, his
orders,in other words, an indoctrinated Commnist discovering that
he had also an individuality. In the end he simply disappeared,
and no one knew what, whereto and why. Well, what's the good of
erying over spilled milk, today it is impossible to paint a Russian
Communist as a quite human, quite likeable and rather tragic human
person, and so- no soap.
But thanks a lot for thinking of that old idea of mine and
protecting it. I couldn't write it today, and tomorrow it'll
be outdated.
Much love, and how's the bug?
October 23, 1950
Dear Vieki:
Tim delighted that you Like
the jacket. I like Lt too and so
does the art department. We are
ali, battered and bleeding fron the
fight that we put up for a good
jacket end I hope that the reaction
from book sellers and book buyers
wlll justify uss
I don't think that Rosie is
going to stay te be empress of
Germany since she says shets
coming back hers in November,
Much as IT would love to have her
here, Itve tried te dissuade her.
since she has money In Hurope,
but none heres
T hope that you can come to
New York soon. I would love te.
808 Yous
With love,
Donald B. Elder
Miss Vicki. Baum
DEB: bz
Oatober 27, 1950
Dear Viekis
im very sorry that I made a mis=
take when I wrote you the letter of
agreement concerning the publieation
of ONE TROPICAL NIGHT (THE SHIP AND
THE SHORE) by the Garden City Pub.
lishing Company, I said that your
shave of the advance would be $1000.00
whereas actually 1t 19 te be $750.00.
The veason I made thie mistake is that
Tt was dictating from a new clause in
the contract which named a hypothetical
figure. However, ‘Yous royalty remains
the seme, which is the tmportant thing.
It's teo bad about the United
Nations novel, Tt really could have
been a humdinzer.
With love,
Donald B. Elder
Miss Vicki Baum
2h77 Canyon Oak: Drive
Los Angeles, Calif.
DBEs be
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apis Vield. Baum . “o ¢
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive <
. Les Angeles, California
URGENTLY NEED CORREOTED GALLEYS HATE TO RUSH You
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Ne
en
Bagnold, Enid ( ae AND ENVIED 3.00
Oddly period in feel, this is actually a contemporary tale of the fading glories
of a vanishing generation of the socially elite of Paris and its environs.
Clinging to a past whenthe standards of social success had been within their
making, a tiny segment of a lost world iind their dreams have become ashes, that
Jealousy is stronger than passion, There is the Vicomte de Bus-Pouilly, to whom
his relationship with hose over thirty three years means more than marriage could
have meant, thouyh Kose can still be jealous of the once glamorous Lady Maclean,
whom all men love, and of Edouard's unhappy sister, whom she had never seen...
There is Rudi 4olbein, playwright, whose shadovy wife, Cora, suddenly stepped :
out of character, left him, and becane a painter ol some renown,,, There is Ruby
Maclean, envied by all, but defeated within herself by the withdrawal of her
husband, the hatred of her daughter, Miranda, with whom she Lad abysmally failed.
There's fortune seeking cad, Tuxie, who falls in love with Ruby ad marries
Miranda, only to m&ke her life a double hell in Jamaica, where they are sent,
Such is the cast. The drama is acted out to almost classical tragedy dimensions
of death on all fronts, with wasted love and active hate as motivating forces.
There is no feel of the modern world; the story ~ which might have carried con-
viction in more glamorous days ~ seems to exist in a vacuum.
Baum, Vicki DANGER FRO: DEER 3.00
Some extroverted emotions and a familiar flourish for the story of Ann Ambros,
whose doe~eyes concealed a lifetime of deliberate destruction to those around
her, a life-tine now in full recall after she is pushed off the platform of a
train by her stepdaughter, Joy, From the time when at fifteen Ann had fallen
in love with the famous violinst, Florian Ambros, she had let nothing stand in
her way - not even his marriage to her older sister in whose death she had been
instrumental, sarrying !lorian, she later drives him to suicide, ruins Joy's
chance at marriage, and is now bent on breaking up her son's home when Joy
intervenes, and, for her brother's sake, tries to kill her ... The expected
largesse of decor and drama, for the expected audience, om
Hindus, “aurice MAGDA, 3.00
Drom his own early experience in this country as an immigrant farmer, stems a
substantial, sentimental if quite earthbound story of mike Koziol, a Polish boy
of twenty-one, who comes to America with a Jreat "hunger forland", goes to work
for Titus Lockwood who treats him as a son.. And from the beginning there is
~ike's worship for hagda, the wife of a neighboring farmer, Dan, ~ Magda vho
served the finest food but also read the best books, and vhose beauty as well as’
attempted self-betterment made her suspect. Although aware of the tension
between Dan and juagda, uike stil. refuses her when she makes herself available,
stands by through the tragedy when she becomes pregnant by another man, Dan
takes his life, and she leaves forever to atone for his death... A lot of dirt.
farming talk and Polish folkways temper tLe rommce with realism, give this a
certain vigor. ‘The market however may be less vigorous.
TE Slama. Chis rv 2 MWR -
She Dau § phe ota hovge Style vow
bet wands © Kp Mee he 4 Osmenl
\t Iaaf ome Sha wrcleasd, Mhte
VICKI BAUM
Nov. 16,1950.
Dear Don,
Please have Doublagday's send one set of galley proéfs
¥& of DANGER FROM DEER to .
S* ditorial Sudamericana
; ve? Calle Alsina 500
\ Buenos “ires
Argentina
and charge it to my account. it spppose Michael Joseph will have
asked for galley proofs also- if not please let them have some,
Foreive the briefness, I'm dead pooped.
Léve as always
Novewber 22, 1950
Deap Viekis
Itm sorry to hear that you
feel so tired and I hope you're
feeling better now, We have
received the galleys of DANGER
FROM DEER and we are itellelzing
the foreign words where you have
indicated italics, I'm afraid
that thie is going to make the
atyle a little inconsistent, but
it ia almost impossible to
entirely consistent about foreign
words,
I have sent galleys to
England and also to the publisher
in Argentina, These are, of
course, tmeorrested, but no doubt.
you will have a chance to see
proofs of their editions,
With Love,
Donald B. Elder
DBErba
Mise Vicki Bawn
277 Canyon Oak Drive
December 5, 1950
Dear Vieki:
DANGER FROM DEER has been
taken by the Plotion Book Clubs
This club does not make any
minimum guarentees and it's not
& Doubleday Glub, so I have no
very accurate idea of their
sirculation, It's one of the
amealier clubs, but whatever we
get is pure gravy. I hope
you're feeling well and able
te withstand all the rigers of
a family Christmas.
With love,
Donald B. Elder -
DEBs bs
Miss ViekL Baum
277 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles, Calif.
VICKI BAUM
\ Dec.20,1950,
Don Varling,
Thanks a lot for the Maugham, I shall take the old Master
ee
to bed with me tonight and enjoy hiv-keorpaged bitchiness as usual.
I'm just in the process of betaking myself to Mexico for the Holidays
and want to wish you a very merry X~mas, sabisfying New Year with
only a mild hangover and not too many good intentions and most of
all very good health, At the same time I must pother you to have
somebody send me post haste a statement about the amounts paid to me
during 1950, I need it for my income tax return, Please don't forget
to give my request to whom ever it may concern, After my return I
want to settle down to work on my next book although the tdea of
work somehow seems for the time being rather inconceivable to me,
Well, we'll see if I can get this experienced old behind glued to
the chair once more,
With all my love
BG 90°
29 Desember, 1950
Dear ViekL:
4 harsnal that you heve had a good holiday °
in Moxl oe ak ave in good health.
You asked me for a statenent concerning.
the amowits paid to you by Doubleday
during 19505 We made no paymenta except
for the advance of $5,000. on DANGER
PROM DEERY
uvaie hes 6 arrived from Euvope with
& spectacular solffeur, She ts now a
platinum blende and looks very fine ine
deed. She's very happy to be baci and
altogether seems to be in excel Lent
spirits, It would be fun if Din sould
some to New Yoris go that we all could
have a reunlon,
Thanks se much for the now photograph.
It's really stunmings fT have shyly
hinted to the publleity aepartonent that
they might pay for it,
With Loves
Donald B, Elder
oa Viekl Baum
77 Canyon Oak Drive
Les Angeles, Calif,
VICKI BAUM
Jan 11,1951.
Dear Mr. Elder,
Vicki asked me to write a few words to you as she is
at the. moment completely submerged in her new book and refuses to answer
the telephone. So, please don't mind that the letter has her name and
my signature on it.
Vicki would like to know if you have sand a set of
R&K galley proofs to Edition Sudamericana in Buenos Aires as they have
written again and would like to have them as soon as possible.
Thank you very much.
Very sencerely yours, a
NM.
15 January 1951 -
Dear Mr. Ostertag:
We sent galleya of DANGER FROM
DEER to Hdition Sudamericana in
Buenos Alves last Novenber 20th.
Since they have not reeelved them,
they must have got lost and con.
sequently wa will send them a copy
of the bound book which we expect
to have this week.
Please give my love to Viekl.
ALL best wishes,
Donald B, Elder
* DBBs bs
My. Carl Ostertag
277 Ganyon Oak Drive
Logs Angeles, Calif,
21 February 1951
“Dear ViekLs :
I am enclosing a dull ging! atatement,
- without a cheok, but I hope that the
next time, 16 wll be considerable,
“DANGER FROM DEER has had e very good adp_
vanes sale, the way novely are selling
these days. I'm extremely disappointed
in the reviews, which are very unfair
and whieh seem to reveal, in most oases
that the reviewer hadutt read the book.
preg hope thet the book will sell
@ long time in spite of them, ‘
I hope everything goes well with yous
With Love,
Donald B, Blder ©
Mise Vickt Baum
2.77 Canyon Oak Drive
Log Angeles
California
DBE/bn
Dear Don,
VICKI BAUM
Please have a copy of my book sent to
Miss H.M.Hirschbach
119 West 87th Street
New York 2h, NY.
Mrs, Johanna Mueller
52 Jericho Turnpike
Mloral. Park, L.I.
Theodor Hagun
895 Westend Ave.
New York City. NY
Dr. Elisabeth Moses
2700 Polk Street
San Francisco
Beth and Dana Reddish
Pacific Grove
Gen, Delivery
Calif.
\rrunler
)
VICKI BAUM
March 1,1951, E
Dear Don,
Thanks for your letter, statement and my
five books, I haven't seen any reviews aside from the
very benevolent and completely illiterate local ones and someth-
ing in the New Yorker and NMXNXAKN Newsweek, “*hose I thought
falr enough, as I myself have no illusions about the
qualities of my opus, That the critics don't read it is
understandable as long as everything they need to know
is told in the blurb. I guess I never get together with
the Doubleday sales forces, that there should be a just division
of works; that is, the writer would write the book and the
salesman would try and sell it. Sometimes I have the im-
pression that I could do a better job of selling my books
than. they do,. while on the other hand I doubt thety eould
write it better than I, Miss Thomas has stirred up a lot of
people who are only too willing to have me speak on the
radio and in all sorts of clubs and I appreciate that.
However, after I have spilled charm all over the place and
made my pitch for that goddamn book and ge@sdhma succeeded
in bringing my kisteners under the magic spell of my personality
so that a few of them actually bustle around the corner to the
bookshop to buy the thing- well there is no book, It's the
good old Doubleday policy, I know it, and Siously itts
working fine for the shareholders. As for the writer
- well, sometimes I have my doubts f in any case, it's
quite a bother to me to have so often to answer letters
asking me where they could obtain one or the other of
my books and why it can't be had. Forgive me if this sounds
especially grouchy , maybe because I'm in bed with influenza
bugs sitting all over me, and, anyway, I know that you
play on my team,
I should have liked to get bo New York in
spring but in the meantime I have plunged into work, it goes
a little Blow but not unsatisfactory, and I figure that it'll
take me another three or four months to get through with
my first draft. If I get stuck, I might still decide that
a bit of NY air might give me a lift.
~[There is another little item I wanted to tell you
though it's strictly confidential yet: a highelass musical
is being made of!GrandHotel'and if things go according to
plans it should be on the stage by next winter, I have an
idea that in such a case a new cheap edition of the old
chestnut would be called for. “ometimes I ask myself, what
has Fitzgerald got that I haven't ~ except aypsomaniaa
How are you doing? Are you being a good poy?
I'd like to go to “urope this summer, how about you?
ALL my love,as ever
?
(cafe
ERKKMRERAKAKKAER AA RRERE
S75 Madison Avenue -
6 March 1952
Deay Vials
Tim very worry that you're disturbed to hear that
there are no copies of DANGER FROM DEER in book
shops. This ia a phenomenon thab I oan only compere
to Flying Saucers, It happens with every book that
wo have ever plblisheds someone always tella us
that they have gone te a book shop and have found
no coples of the book. Our Low Angsles accounta
ave parblovlarly well eovered, and Tim afvaid that,
af the bookseller does mot have the book, it 1s
because he has failed to onder sufficient coples.
Tt is not a Double polloy te keep booke out
of book atores, whieh you can readily see would
be of no advantage to the shareholdera who ont,
make money on the books we sell. It happens that
the Booksellers of America ave the greatest coals
in the world and are only too willing to blame the
publisher when they don't happen to have the book
that the customer weats.
Tim sorry that you've had 'flu, 1 lmow how miserable —
it 1a because we have ell had it here, There seema to
have boon a amall epidemia.
t wilh make a mental note of, the mudioal of GRAND
HOTEL, Ag goon as you tell ‘me that it is not a
confidential matter, I'L go to work on a reprint
oditlons :
Tt am very well and have got through this winter
with fer leas diffioulty than any previous winter
in 159 yeare, itm afraid that the peagon ia clean
iivings which, although very dull, hea lta eompen«
sablona.
With all my love,
RARRARRAAE ERR A AEN,
BRKXEXKRRK
575 Madieon Avenue
New Yowk 22, NwYy
Haroh 9, 1953,
Dear Viekis
We have a chance to sell segond
sorial plghta « lye, the right te
publish in newapapera after bool
publication = but our conbrach. for
DANGHR FROM DEEN does not tnelude
these righta, The usual ayrangemont
is a fLftyefitty aplit between
author and publisher, The sum of
money involved ia not large, bub
it's all gravy, and if 7 would
authorize ue to handle theas righta,
T think we might plek up some extry.
moneys Won't you leb me know if.
ilelg wiliiog to let us handle
sare?
With love,
Donald 8. Bldex
Mies Vieki Baum
277 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Ang@lesy Calif,
pBE/ps
cc: Mra. Pollard .
2
a VICKI BAUM
. i)
geo’ March 12,1951.
/ ae
: veer Don,
4
If you'd let me know a bit more definitely who wants
ae those second serial rights and what they want to pay for it, I
a could give you a more definite answer, Off-hand I'd say that I'd
vather not do it; you knowg that when I make myself write something
for the magazines, I set very well paid for it and I don't want to
risk lowering my standard as a high-priced magazine author by
selling sechnd vishts for chicken feed, But thanks for trying to
prop up my fhthaniices,
How is my little misscarriage dolng? I saw it
on one or the other bestseller list- does Miss Thomas hustle some
business in San Francisco? +f one could make the people there think
that it contains the dark secrets of somebody of the mame of something
they probably make a run for it, their local pride and gossip being
what it is. Also, if it should help, I could fly over and do my
bit,
Yown with the fly again, or still, yours fondly
Viele
KREMER RE RALRERN EER
XERXREKNK
5375 Madison Avenue
New York 225 N«Ve
March 15, 1951.
Dear ViekL:
We have a chance to sell a condensed one+
PELAITTREDE SO RO oe woud at
adelphia 8 and we wo abiow
ulate that if could not be published for
sone months to come so thab it did not
Amterfere with the book sale, Another
good possibility is the Toronto Sta:
which might pay $000.00. Actually, your
‘second serial sales would not effect the
price of your first serial sales,
DANGER FROM DEER ia doing quite nicely.
The last sales figures I have are for
Pebruary 2oth, when it was a little over
10,000 copies, and its weekly rate was
very steady, I'11 see Lf we can't start
@ whispering campaign In San Franclacos
im sorry to hear you're still down with
‘flu, and I hope you'll get over it
quickly.
With lovey
Mise Vieki Baum
77 Ganyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles, Calif.
VICKI BAUM
March 17,1951.
Dear Don,
Thanks very much, but I really wouldn't like
to make hash of my tough old deer for just that little bit of money,
so, please let it go. I wouldn't want to have it in any newspaper
in the USA and as of Canada, my British agents have the rights to
sell it there and, in fact, might already have sold it as it was
published as a first serial in “ngland and I think in Canada too.
Thanks very much and all my love
a)
\ ,
rete
Al Lobel ® : Sea 5,
Billing
Don Elder 1
Please send a copy of Baum: DANGER FROM DEER te each of the following?
Miss H.M. Hirsehback Drs Elisabethioses ; =
119 West 87th Street 2700 Polk Street
New York 2, N.Y. é San Ppanciseo, Calif.
Mra. Johanna Mueller, : Beth & Dana Reddish
52 Jericho Turnpike ‘ Pacific Grove
Moral Parks Lele Gen. Delivery
Oalif, N
Theodor Hagun ‘
895 West End Ave.
New York, N.Y.
These coples ave to be charged to author.
DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC,
Memorandum For Don Bilder Date March 21, 1951
Dept. —iditorial.
From linea Turner Res GRAND HOTEL by Baum
We are making a contract with Permabooks for publication
of the above book at 35¢ in late 1951 or early 1952.
Phe guarantee is $1000,; royalty is .014 to 150,000 and
.021 thereafter, Proceeds will be divided equally with ,
the author.
As you know, this has already been in a 25¢ reprint with
Avon and is now out of print with them,
hoe 0
peep MMe: Bre
22 March 1951.
Dear Viokis
Tt have asked our syndicate department
not to try to do anything with the
a) gorial rights of DANGER FROM
D a
Your request for a reprint edition of
GRAND HOTEL must have been telepathic,
since we are juat now making a contract
with Permabooks for publication at 35¢
in late 1951 ov earky 1952. The guar~
antes is $1,000.00, and the royalty 1a
<OLy. to 150,000 oh ,O2L thereafter,
with the usuel 50/50 aplit between
author and publisher. ;
I'm hoping to take my vacation in April,
although so far I haven't decided where
te go» T hope thet you have no more
'flu germs and are feeling well...
With love,
Mies Vicki Baum
277 Canyon Oak Drive
Lea Angeles, Calif,
pBe/ba
Apel 2, 1951
Dear Viekls
In the gourse of moving our offices, we have found
that ow old flies have regurgitated 4 great many manusoripts
from the past, some of whieh are German copies of your books.
We have the following titles:
DAS LEBEN OHNE GBHEIMNIG (1932) # many coples.
ULLE DER ZWERG ;,
GARRIERE (més) :
FALLENDER STERN (aloo the English translation)
in m6e)
HELL IN PRAUENSEE :
I don't like to do anything about them without your per=
misston, Bo won't you let me know which books or manuserip te
‘ou would idke to have vetwrned to youy and whieh can be
ewbroyeds
the manusowipb and galleys of DANGER FROM DER have
been returned to us by the press, Would you like to have
them back, o” shall I throw them away?
DANGER FROM DEER is A a healthy weekly sale
and ite total, based on an unaudited figura, ls go fer
about 11,000 coples,
tT hops you're feeling well and not working too hard.
With Lovey
Donald B, Elder
Migs Viele Baum
al.7? Canyon Aok Drive
Los Angeles 2h, Oalif. a
DBE BS
VICKI BAUM
April 5,1951.
Dear Don,
Thanks very much for letting me know about
the treasures you dug up -please, burn all manuscripts, and let
me have a few copies of "Ulle der Zwerg" and "liell in Frauensee!!
"Leben ohne Geheimnis" and "Fallender Stern" are one and the same
book and I wouldn't mind having two or three copies of it.
Otherwise I believe that you could sell any German remnants to
PHTER FISCHER - you will find his address in the classified - he
specializes in German books. Manuscript and galleys of "Danger from Ded
can be thrown away too as far as I'm concerned,
. Now another thing which you might relay
to Miss *homas if you will be so kind: I'm going on May 17th to
San Francisco to peddle my book at one of Mrs, Girvin's very
efficientWp *Book and Author Club luncheons*. It occurred to me
that this could be coyveniently combined with an autographing binge
at one of the big bookstores, either on May 17th in the later
afternoon or on May 18th, as Typlan: to stay over theaweek end
in San Francisco in any case. As San Francisco is a goooreading
Mcity and this is a San Francisco book we might sell fairly
well up there and Mrs, Girvin would also give it a good build-up.
In fact she offered, in case you people are too bored or feo sleepy
or too something to handle this thing, that she would have your
rk, Myers arrange some rousing festivity of the sort, Me, suffering
senile amnesia, I don't quite remember whether Myers is or is not
the good-looking and friendly gentleman to whom you handed me over
when I did my research in S.F.? Mrs. “irvin is going to San francisoo
on April lOth, and she as well as I would like to know whether and
what before that. So please, Don, my darling, could you shoot a letter
or a wire to me on time?
Thanks and loveli, still or more or less
wobbly with afterflux germa, yours ever
f ; ;
Doubleday: & Co.
Miss Vieki Baum , (April 10, 1951)
2h77 Canyon Oak Drive
Loa Angeles, Calif.
Doubleday arranging autegraphing and all possible
publicity for your Sen Franoiseo visit.
Detalis follow. Loves
Don.
VICKI BAUM
May 7, 1951
Dear Don --
As IT don't know how and where to contact the Doubleday boys
in San Francisco, would you kindly let them know that I
shall be at the Fairmont Hotel,;arriving May 17th in the
morning. However, I'll have to wash my neck and make my
luncheon speech, also at the Fairmont, which means that I
wouldn't like any calls etc, until after the lunch,
Another thing -- at the time I went to San Francisco for
background you had fastened me to a very nice and helpful
former Doubleday man whose name I,in my usual idiocy, have
forgotten, Though I think he'll be glad if I leave him in
peace, I should at least call him up and thank him once more,
Could you tell me name and address?
Had a rather melancholy letter from Rosie, do you see her or
is the divorce total?
All the best, as ever,
Yours,
c .
Al A a
, MOTHERS Day LE 5 Te RN 4 ms ere :
W. P. MARSHALL, PRESIDENT veal nel Vicor Le
ATTRACTIVE BLANK
SPECIAL ENVELOPE fag y letters is STANDARD ‘TIME at point of origin, ‘Time of receipt is STANDARD TIME at point of destination
aNNA3 29 PD=FY LOSANGELES CALIF 11 11224
/-=DON ELDER» DOUBLEDAY AND COs
3BT5 MADISON . AVE:
| 2SORRY CANNOT AFFORD HANGING AROUND SAN FRANCISCO JUST FOR THE -
| PLEASURE OF MEETING BooK SELLERS LETS FORGET THE WHOLE THINK |
I THANK $* Lo
av CKIES
ad. <
bedi Ctdat h
\
Se
d May
“PRE COMPANY WILL APPIECIATY: SUGGESTIONS FROM ITSPATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE J ‘his » ¢
flus Wea Per Or bia. of Py lee JolwSon ,
poubleday & Go«
Tos Miss Vieki Baum May Ll, 1952
2h77 Canyon oak Drive
gan Los Angeles, Calif.
Autographing pared May 19th cancelled. Will be party May elat
Monday to mee lo booksellers. Please give xiitex your
address to Sady, 44. Phelan Building, and gontact him for
debate. ms
Lovee Dorks
f
f
so? ier, \ Absa lhe wo
Doubleday & Co, S75 Madison
May 16th, 1951
Miss Mary Lou Mueller
if Phen & Gooey Inc,
tT
Phelan Bldg.
Market Street
Sen Francisco 2, Calif,
Please send niece bouquet flowera te Viekl Baum, Fairmont
Hotel May 17th enclosing ecard saying Love and Good Luck,
Don Elder, Many thanks.
Bon Hider
wf
ae
DOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC. - pusiisHers + GARDEN CITY, N. ¥. ===
14 West 4gth Street, Rockefeller Center é New York 20,N.¥. Circle 61700
=== HOWARD &. CADY, 44! Phelan Bldg., San Francisco 2, California + YUkon 2-5158
0yred0 fay 16, 19521
D
ear Mr. Elder:
Helen Girvin of the Book and Author
Luncheons telephoned yesterday morning,
somewhat upset because the Fairmont
Hotel had informed her Vicki Baum had
cancelled her reservations. Later Al
Meyers of Macy's called, equally con-~
cerned because of the ad scheduled for
May 17th.
In the afternoon, Mr. Meyers called back
to tell me that Helen Girvin, as I under~
stand it a personal friend of Miss Baum,
had gotten in indirect touch with her.
It seoms Miss Baum's daughter is seriously
ill and it was necessary for her to cancel
her trip to San Francisco. The message
as I got it indicated that Miss Baum is
most apologetic about the whole thing, and
that she might consider making the trip
in June.
All this is simply by way of saying that
in view of the above 1 have not sent the
flowers that you requested for Miss Baume
I should imagine that you would be hearing
from her directly as soon as she has an
opportunity to write.
Sincerely,
Mary Bou Mueller
Mre Don Lider
New York Of'fice
May 21, 1951
Dear Vicki:
_ I have heard from our San Francisco.
offices that your trip had to be cancelled
because of Llimess in your family. T don't
know the detaila, but I do hope it tentt
serious and T hope whoever the patient is
recovers vapldly,
If you are able to wake the trip later,
we'll try again to arrange some sort of
function which wlll be helpful to the hook
and not too painful for yous Tnoidentally,
autographing parties seem to be almost oub
of the question since none of the stores
seem to want them. F
Gurt Rless is here, in an agonizingly
eomplacent mood,, In appearance he ia com=
pletely square, T still see Rosie. our
divorce Is not complates it's just a tem
porary separation, She's doing one hook’
for another publisher and then she will |;
return to use
With love,
Misa Vicki Baum
277 Cangon Oak Drive
Loe Angeles
DBEsba
VICKI BAUM 4, flur ae fa O26 &
Dear Don,
An old friend of mine, Dr. Paul Moses ~ or
maybe he is Prof. at Stanford by now ~ writes me that he sent
Doubleday's a manuscript of popular pKychology about his special
field which has to do with speech defects and Analysis of voices
or some such vz You know that I never recommend things and
I wouldn't ior wis case as | haven't read his stuff; I under~
stand though, that Doubleday's have repeatedly asked to see his
manuscript. Anyway, Pau} is a very good lecturer and a very
amusing and original fellow and it is quite possible that he's
got something good there, On the other hand, I'm not sure that his
idea about popular writing is the same as Doubleday's. After all,
he is a very renowned scientist and his standards might be quite AZKX
different from those eople who have to sell a book, Far be it
from me to inflict upon you another Herr Professor like Dr.
Ernst tert ; all I wish to do is possibly to pave the way for
Paul's manuscript so that it might be read with a friendly and
interested eye,
I'm just getting ready for a brief vacation
in Hawaii, my address until the end of June will be Hotel Hands
Maui, Hawaiian Islands,
All the best for you, as ever yours,
Velon’
June 6, 19512
Dear Viekis
I find that Dr, Paul, Moses! manuscript
is in the house and is being given very
careful consideration, Thanks very
much for writing to me about ite
Y hope that you'll have @ good time
in Hawail and that you'll send me a
postcard of a girl in @ grass skirts
With love,
Misa Vieki Bau
Hotel Hana Maul
Hawaiien Islands
DBEs bs
July 31, 1951
Dear Vicki:
Itm sending you @ check and a royalty statement
covering your account up until April 30, 1951.
This amount does not represent the total sales
of DANGER FROM DEER and I hope that I will be
sending you more at the next royalty period,
I'm afraid that I've forgotten the original
title of ONE TROPICAL NIGHT and I dontt .
suppose that 1t's worth going into. If you
want to, I'll have you meet the Perma Book
title man persbnally the next time you come
to New York «= he might take us to the Latin
Quarter or spme other glamorous Broadway
bistro. Meanwhile, here is a cool grand to
squander on your second grandchild.
I hope you've had a pleasant vacation in
Hawaii and are feeling well.
With much love,
Miss Vicki Baum
2477 Canyon Oak Drive
Los Angeles
California
DBE: bs
VICKI BAUM
Aug 6,1951.
Dear Don,
Thanks for thé most welcome check, nice to
hear from you in any case. I had nehbther a nice vacation in Hawait
nor did I feel well,which sounds more \sour than I actually am.
What are you going Vo do with your vac&tions and how are things in
general? The original title of "One Tropical Night" was "fhe Ship
and the Shore", but who the hell cares aryway. Forgive me, but I'm
in no writing mo@i tonight, so just thank Pal, and all the best,
As ever yours,
VICKI BAUM
November 3d 1951
Dear Ken,
- I want to thank you for your very sweet letter,
and 1 just want to repeat to you what I told Don. I don't biame any thing
or anybpaypout my own somewhat vague feeling of restlessness and uncertain~
ty for warlting to get away, I guess it's in the air, I've been working
very hard - and am still at it- on a very unfriendly novel of which I
am by no means sure that I'll wish it to be published in the U § at all.
There is no country I love better than this, but, on the other hand, there
are so many things going on here which upset me( and I have always been
most critic&l against those I love most, maybe that's why) that I had
to clarify for myself a lot by writing it down.In any case, your sales
forces wouldn't like it and somehow it wouldn't fit into the Doubleday
setting. I'm not sure I'll like it myself after a little while or from
some distancé, but for the time being this book is the most important
thing to me, Let's say I'm working out a compulsion, and that usually isn't
a very profitable thing to do, is it? Well, there it is, and you can
see by this confidence or confession that I think of you very much as
one of my very few close friends. In fact, I '1l feel much better with
you and Don now that no business gets mixed up in what I hope will be
a lasting contact and some good talks when I get to N Y~ in early Spring,
I hope,
Personally I'm a bit under a cloud just now- Wolfgang has another
grave operation coming up next week, just when the younger boy is sent
back to Germany by the army,And my own health isn't all it ought to be-
but that's less important. However, the two grandchildren are great fun
and I'm getting lots of pleasure out of life, malgré tout.
Thanks again, and every good thing to you
always
/ *
Vrehe
4
beens
Ogtober 25, 1951
Dear Vicki:
When Don left on leave of absence to write the Lardner book,
he broke the news to me that you are leaving Doubleday. This
ds a great disappointment and I want. you to mow that you will
really be missede We all loved you here very much and if we
have made you unhappy in our handling of one or two of your
books that makes us all the more unhappy. I feel a responsin
bility in this in that I'm afraid your discontent started with
my rushing you through ‘that book three years agoe I've never
really excused myself for that and feel that that was a piece
of very bad judgment on my. parte
The main point of this letter is to tell you that we will
wateh your career with another publisher with the greatest
hops for your success. We are happy that you have been with
us these many years and we would hardly be friends if we
didn't wish you every success in your future.
Thad a nice vacation this fall on Marthats Vineyard and ran
into Iucy Goldthwaite whom I haven't seen for years. We
talked fondly of you. She has her same job at McCallis and
looks very wall,
My very beat wishes to your family and of course to yous
Love,
Ken McCormick
Editor in Chief
Des, ATOKYS
Mise Vicki, Baum,
2h77 Ganyon Oak Drive,
Los Angeles 28, California,
KMo2PS Ocpoper S2° TORT
Ae
’ } VICKI BAUM
Dee. 16,1951,
Dear Ken,
Just to say hello and to wish you all good things
for X-mas and whatever kind of New Year you want, - happy or
prosperous, If possible; both.
Love, as always, yours,
ike
