[Rarebooks] FS: Superb letter by Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller defending the authorships of Their Most Famous Plays

[Charles Agvent]

 From our new catalogue of 137 items, nearly all recent acquisitions, by EUDORA 
WELTY and TENNESSEE WILLIAMS now posted on our web site.

WILLIAMS, Tennessee and MILLER, Arthur. TYPED LETTER SIGNED  (TLS)
by  Both Playwrights Defending Their Authorships of Their Most  Famous
Plays.  New  York:  30 Dec. 1954. Outstanding letter  on  MCA  Artists
stationery  to  Bert McCord of The New York Herald Tribune  SIGNED  by
both  playwrights. In full: "In a book recently published by Mr.  Eric
Bentley,  a  reference is made to the plays, A STREETCAR NAMED  DESIRE
and  DEATH  OF  A  SALESMAN, as follows: 'To me  the  evening  was  of
interest  chiefly as to the latest essay of Elia. We are told that Mr.
Kazan  was  virtually  co-author  of 'A STREETCAR  NAMED  DESIRE'  and
'DEATH  OF  A SALESMAN', even to the extent of changing the  character
of  the  leading  persons; it is arguable that both plays  would  have
failed  without  his  changes.' The undersigned wish to bring  to  the
notice  of  any  interested persons the utter untruth of  this  entire
statement.  As  well,  that  in this same book,  but  in  an  addendum
entitled  'Afterthoughts',  Mr.  Kazan   has  himself  disclaimed  any
co-authorship  whatever,  attesting  too, that he did not in  any  way
influence  the  conception  of any characters in these  plays.  As  it
stands  the book, leaves, and in our opinion, is designed to leave  an
ambiguous  impression,  its author, in effect,  taking  responsibility
neither  for  the truth of the original statement nor for Mr.  Kazan's
disclaimer.  We  wish now merely to remove any such confusion, and  to
say  that Mr. Bentley's statement is a lie." Paper a little aged  with
a  very thin border along the outer edges lighter in color from  being
matted.  Would frame well for a wonderful display of an important item
SIGNED  by arguably the two best American playwrights of the twentieth
century.  Very  Good  and an outstanding piece  of  American  literary
history.                                                    $10,000.00

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CHARLES AGVENT
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