TYPED LETTER, SIGNED, ADDRESSED TO EVA LE GALLIENNE, DATED 27 MARCH
1953. Item #89454
EVA LE GALLIENNE Re: IBSEN ELIOT, T. S. TYPED LETTER, SIGNED, ADDRESSED TO EVA LE GALLIENNE, DATED 27 MARCH 1953. A single sheet, 9 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches, 32 typed lines on both sides of a self-folding 'Apsley' Air Letter form, custom printed with the Faber & Faber letterhead on one side of the sheet, and the closing lines and Eliot's signature on the top half of the reverse. Double matted and framed, 15 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches, on either side of a photo portrait of Eliot are a copy of the recto of the letter and the verso of the actual letter with Eliot's signature; thus making the full content of the letter readable. English-born American stage actress Eva Le Galliene (1899-1991) translated two Ibsen plays for Faber & Faber, HEDDA GABLER (1953) and THE MASTER BUILDER (1955) and provided a preface for each. Eliot's note is in reply to Miss Le Gallienne's, apparently after she had received a copy of HEDDA GABLER, "... We are delighted to know that you are pleased with the production of the book" and continues on sharing Faber's expectation for the translation, being confident "in its future lasting qualities." Eliot goes on to discuss the possibility of stage and film versions of THE MASTER BUILDER to be directed by George M. Hoellering (who had produced and directed the 1951 film adaptation of Eliot's play MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL) and to star Oskar Homolka, both of which seem to have been unrealized. There is a paragraph regarding the American rights to Miss Le Gallienne's translation and the availability of the Faber edition in American markets. Eliot ends with a note of gratitude: "I have just received the gramophone records through Lady Margaret D'Arcy's kindness, and look forward eagerly to playing them at the house of some friend who has a long-playing gramophone." He closes "with all best wishes, yours sincerely" and signs T. S. Eliot. A letter with good content, nicely displayed.
Price: $1,350.00