[Rarebooks] FS: Archive of 10 Letters from H. L. Mencken Regarding a Manuscript on Ring Lardner's Language

[Charles Agvent]

MENCKEN, H. L. ARCHIVE OF TEN TYPED LETTERS SIGNED (TLSs) with 
Additional Materials. Baltimore, 1944 - 1946. Ten TYPED LETTERS SIGNED 
on personal stationery, ranging from 1 to 2 pages, addressed to Isaac 
Edgar Clark, concerning Clark's manuscript, “An Analysis of Ring 
Lardner's American Language: or Who Learnt You Grammar Bud?” Ring 
Lardner (1885-1933), American sports journalist and short story author, 
was known for his satirical style. Over the course of their 
correspondence, Mencken suggests publishers who might be interested in 
publishing Clark's work, including Maxwell E. Perkins of Scribner: 
"Perkins spoke of your thesis in very complimentary terms, but added 
that it didn't fit into his own scheme." All of the letters are SIGNED 
in ink, and a few have emendations to the typed text in Mencken's hand. 
All letters come with their original envelopes. A few examples of 
Mencken's comments: "I certainly hope you don't abandon your scheme for 
a grammar of the American vulgate based on Lardner. It would make a 
really superb book." "So far as I know, there has never been any serious 
proposal to abandon capitals in Englis. Even the most extreme of the 
simplified spellers seem to retain them. I am in some doubt that getting 
rid of them would make for easy reading. I hope to discuss the subject 
at some length in the second volume of my SUPPLEMENT." "You have not 
missed much by not reading LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER. It is of such 
ponderosity and is so solemn that it frequently becomes ridiculous. 
Lawrence, who originated in the English mining region, was obsessed all 
his life by a vast ambition to sleep with a lady. I doubt that he ever 
really managed it." Accompanying the letters are ten copies of letters 
from Clark to Mencken on 8-1/2" x 11" onion skin paper. There are also 
two 1955 letters to Clark from Mencken's secretary, Rosalind C. 
Lohrfinck, requesting Clark's date of birth to update Mencken's records. 
Normal creases from folding. Near Fine. (#020989) $2,000

https://www.charlesagvent.com/pages/books/020989/h-l-mencken/archive-of-ten-typed-letters-signed-tlss-with-additional-materials

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