Lot 1427

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Description:

UPTON SINCLAIR AND HIS NOVEL "DRAGON'S TEETH"
(1878 - 1968) American writer and social reformer, his novels The Jungle and The Money Changers did much to reform the way business was conducted in the U.S., awarded Pulitzer Prize for his Dragon's Teeth" in 1942. Fine grouping of 20 letters on his personal letterhead, 18 signed "Upton", the balance with his last name and many bearing holograph corrections and additions, 1941-44, concerning his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Dragon's Teeth". All were sent to Melville Kress, a Tennessee CIO (and later AFL-CIO) representative. Kress, a self-educated factory worker, took an interest In Sinclair's writings in the late 20's and began corresponding with him on a regular basis. In the late 30's Sinclair began writing the "World's End" series of historical novels pertaining to events leading up to World War II and asked Kress if he would like to review each chapter as it was completed. Sinclair completed the eleven volume series in 1953, and "Dragon's Teeth" won the Pulitzer Prize in 1942. In small part: "...I suppose you have hear about DRAGON'S TEETH getting the Pulitzer Prize. I was agreeably surprised...the firm had voted to spend $10,000 advertising...I will send you his letter...so that you can see what a real literary critic is like!...I have finished the book...What do you think of the title 'Harvest of Hate'?...I have Liber's last book...My wife quarrels with him violently...Here is another scolding for you. You should have found some things wrong with chapter ten!...Alston is one of the New Deal circle and will take Lanny to Roosevelt, and Lanny will become a secret agent...I have been buried in reading proofs...I will have a copy of the book for you before long...I have at last started on volume 5...The Upton Sinclair Society was formed by some readers of my books...nothing has yet come of the motion picture negotiations...the price that Warners offered is too low...[my wife] can only try psychic experiments when she is thoroughly relaxed...apologize for my inability to send the manuscript...motion picture producers asked to see it...I sent you a big batch of manuscript...I will see if I have any book on the negro problem...It is a problem I have never touched on. Perhaps the best way to know the negro is to begin with his beginnings...I am reading the page proofs of PRESIDENTIAL AGENT...As to Arthur Ford...I have heard that he is drinking...I assume that John Steinbeck is still abroad...".

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July 9, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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