BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 14 MAY 1936
BRACERS 135209. ALS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by K. Blackwell and A. Duncan

<letterhead>
Telegraph House
Harting, Petersfield.1
14 May 1936

Dear Warder

Thank you for your letter of May 5. You will have had meanwhile my letter of description. After the 1st 2 chaps, almost all is letters and diaries; there are explanatory notes, and short bits at the beginnings of chapters, but little else.

I quite agree with you about concealing the fact that I do not inherit my father’s name. Will Durant, in his Story of Philosophy, found this so incredible that he preferred to make misstatements.

The typescript is at present being read by Desmond MacCarthy as arbitrator between the Nonesuch Press and us. It is hoped that he will get the book done to about 300,000 words.

Frankly, I doubt the book selling much in America, though I think a shorter book based on it might sell. I am torn between love of Pelf and feeling for history; the latter has prevailed hitherto.

As for the jacket: I enclose 2 photos, both 1863, when they were 20 or 21. I have another copy of the one of my mother, which she gave to my father at a picnic before they were engaged, marked on the back, in her writing, “Kate Stanley (the unconventional). July /63.” I must have these back when you have used them. If there were time I would send you something better, but it would involve photographing miniatures.

Yours v. sinc.
B.R.

Notes

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  [document] Proofread against a microfilm printout of the original.