April 2014 Auction Ends Tuesday, April 29th, 5pm Pacific
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Joseph Heller typed letter signed, giving praise and also correcting various inaccuracies in ''Critical Essays on Catch-22,'' edited by Professor James Nagel, to whom this letter is written. Letter dated 25 February 1974 on Heller's personal stationery reads in part, ''The arrival of your volume Critical Essays on Catch-22 this weekend delighted me. Hasn't it been years and years since we first communicated about it? I, at least, feel the effort was worthwhile, although there may have been times when you regretted ever starting it. I was particularly impressed by your own essay--I know of none other that treats this character who has always been one of my favorites with the attention he deserves--and especially pleased with the two closing sentences. He has indeed been there before, which sums the intent up better than I could have done. There was one disappointment and many surprises and pleasures. The Lehan-Patch article is perhaps 100% in error with all the factual material it attempts to present--I've just paused to flip through the pages again and am unable to spot even one personal detail that isn't at least in part inaccurate. On the credit site, I've at last learned the author of the anonymous review in Daedulus. How did you find out and who is he? And I was astonished to learn from your footnote that Jess Ritter is currently working on a book about me. You must know him, as you mention him in your preface. Tell him for God sakes not to rely on Lehan-Patch for any biographical information! I'll supply him with whatever facts he needs if he consults me. Tell him also that I've just handed in my new novel and that it will be published this coming October...Thanks again. [signed] Joseph Heller''. 7.25'' x 10.25'' single-page letter is in near fine condition.
Joseph Heller Typed Letter Signed -- ''...The arrival of your volume Critical Essays on Catch-22 this weekend delighted me...''On ''Critical Essays on Catch-22''
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