20.
1923:
Rapid City, Man. October 24,
1923
Dear Mr. Phelps,
I received the Ms. last night. Thanks. I started at once
to read it once more. - And so far I cannot see anything
in it. I find it as empty and hollow as any dime-novel; only
much more tedious. I'm all up. Or in. Or down and out. I
don't know.
And yet, when I wrote it, I was aflame. Both in 1919/20
and 1923. And Mrs. Grove insists that is a great book. I
have half a mind to sent it to a certain lady in Ontario
, the author of Anne of Green Gables (a book I have never
read). I know she has a palate. There is one trouble. I have
only 1 eligible Ms., and that I am going to send to M&S.
Yes, if you don't agree with my verdict (which, I am afraid,
I heard you do) - for I, I must frankly acknowledge, am no
judge at all when my own work is concerned - drop a line
to them when you have time.
Of course, stylistically it is a horror in its present shape.
But, should M&S take to it, that could give me the necessary
impetus to work it over sentence for sentence. Then the public
can decide.
Yes, also, with regard to that other question: if M&S
turn it down, as I expect (the will object to the "Hahn" and "Ellen" chapters),
I shall be glad if you would open the road to another publisher.
However, this much: I am not quite so despondent any longer.
The proofs of the Turn came back to me; and this time I like
the book; probably because I read it through from beginning
to end within twenty-four hours. But, since the printing
has not been started yet, I am afraid it will be very late
in appearing.
Well, remember me to Mrs. Phelps.
Yours,
F.P.G.
P.S. - I wish we could talk about the book. I remember in
spring, when I rewrote pt I, I also felt that section X of
chapter 2 is flat. I thought about it a great deal. Then
I come to the conclusion that when I first wrote it - back
in 1920 - I put it that way intentionally - the death of
Lund creates only momentary flurry: quite external. It does
not stir any depth in me. Bobby is only curious - Mrs. Lund
loses the homestead, that's all - Olga thinks it's terrible,
but is glad she has Nelson. Nobody else really cares, except
in as much as it may happen to him.
But I do not mean to defend it - merely explain any pt.
of view at the time of writing.
There is one trouble about the technique of the book: everything
is seen through Niels. It would be possible to write just
as long a book from the pt. of view of Ellen or Mrs. Lindstaedt.
In fact, I often play with that: reversing the tide of the
book, as it were.
Well...
