Erskine to RPW letter 7/27/65 searchable text

(Albert Erskine)

                                                          July 27, 1965

Mr. Robert Penn Warren

West Wardsboro,

Vermont

Dear Reed:

Thanks for the recent communications.  The enclosures are safely here.

The letter from Neibuhr was really impressive.  I wish that I could report

more impressive response on the part of the public: it is not bad, but it

seems to hold steady at an average of 250 a week, so far.  If it would keep

that pace for several years, there would be nothing to complain about.

The real trouble, of course, is the absolute glut of reading material on

that subject and the feeling of many people that they have read all they

intend to about it.  This was dramatized by the recent response of Victor

Waybright at New American Library.  They not only did not want to make

an offer of any size for the reprint rights; they are trying to get out of

some existing contracts which they made some time ago to do other

books on the subject.  Because of this reaction, I strongly advise you to

agree to a Vintage edition as soon as possible—probably Spring-1966.  I

believe that this would generate about as much revenue as any

arrangement we could make outside, and it would certainly increase the

number of readers, especially among the young and non-afluent

(affluent).  Since I cannot tell them to go ahead until I have your

approval, I hope you will let me have it right away.

We have no news beyond the advent of Bridgeport hydrolic (hydraulic)

water—on a limited basis for the time being.  They tore me and the place

apart getting it in.

                                                          Love to all from all,

AE:sb