133.
1930:
Ottawa, Ont. January 17,
1930
My dear A.L.P.,
This will still be business. I want to publish 3 vols. next
fall:
• Fiction - Mrs. Wallis.
• Poetry -
??
• General Literature - preferably
history or criticism
re (2) : Do you know Kirk's little opus THE TIDE of LIFE?
If so, what do you think of it?
re (3) : Do you know anything
in the world that's good and hasn't been printed yet?
I don't care whether the stuff sells. I've $20 000 to spend
on that sort of thing: and I am firmly convinced that I can
ultimately sell what's good . Have you anything your own
self?
Now another thing. I am going to send you another piece
of Mrs. Wallis'. She, of course, want to publish 3 or 4 books
this year, thinking that my acceptance will open many doors
to her. I can't admit that. But the point is that I have
recommended "There Came a Mortal" to 3 different publishers
myself in my former capacity as a reader; never disguising
the fact that all I can see in it is promise rather than
achievement. But I'd like to have your report on it.
Further: Would you undertake to give me a little "blurb" on
The Exquisite Gift? SIGNED . I should like to have signed
blurbs for my catalogue and jackets: careful, balanced work
instead of superfluities. Just as I notify my authors who
is going to read and report on their work and send them copy
of such reports: I have made some of them thoroughly mad;
but I don't care: the more they know of the truth, the sooner
will they quit writing.
My first catalogue is going to be a little work of art:
mighty little. It'll cost over $1000. I am listing not only
my books published by myself, but books from all Can-publishers - good
books: Search for America & Daily Bread among them, even
though I do it myself. By the way, have you seen the Search
for England and Search for Scotland ? Amusing, is it not?
We've just moved into a tiny apartment: 447 Somerset W.
Do break your rule of silence. I need encouragement, having
given up writing to make bread & butter. Mrs. G. is more
dissatisfied than ever: nothing to do . I hate this sort
of thing. But.
As ever,
F.P.G.
