TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.  Two important letters from Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Publishers to Dr. William Shelton Gray, Jr. planning to publish the first biography on Tennessee Williams: “I’ve learned from our traveler at Olivet [College], Mr. Warren Slesinger, that you’re in the process of completing a biography of Tennessee Williams.  If this book is free for consideration by a trade publisher I should dearly love to have the opportunity of reading it.  Do let me know what your plans are and whether we might have the opportunity of reading it…I wasn’t aware that it was you who had collected Mr. Williams’ poems for New Directions in 1955.  I recall that book particularly well, as my wife designed the jacket and, I believe, the insides for it under her professional name, Elaine Lustig.  It was good making your acquaintance that far back and even happier to renew it now.  I do hope you will bear our interest in mind when, as and if the project approaches completion.”

TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS FROM HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON, INC. PUBLISHERS PLANNING TO PUBLISH THE FIRST BIOGRAPHY ON TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

Arthur A. Cohen was a Jewish scholar, publisher, editor, and author.  He was a co-founder of the Noonday Press and the founder of Meridian Books.  Cohen was the second husband of the graphic designer Elaine Lustig Cohen and her first husband, Alvin Lustig, was the well-known book designer who created the covers for several of Tennessee Williams’ books.  Cohen was serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the General Book Division at Holt, Rinehart and Winston when he sent the present correspondence.  Gray (1926–1992) was a close friend and confidant of Williams who famously edited Williams’ In the Winter of Cities published in 1956, of which he is acknowledged on the copyright page.  He later became a professor and the chair of the English Department at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia.  Gray inspired the creation of several characters in Williams' works, is referenced in dozens of biographies on Williams, and his private collection on Williams is currently housed at the Historic New Orleans Collection.  He was contracted by New Directions to write an authorized and definitive critical biography on Williams entitled A Tourist in the Mind of Tennessee Williams, but it is never published.

“YOU’RE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING A BIOGRAPHY OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS.  IF THIS BOOK IS FREE FOR CONSIDERATION BY A TRADE PUBLISHER I SHOULD DEARLY LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING IT…I WASN’T AWARE THAT IT WAS YOU WHO HAD COLLECTED MR. WILLIAMS’ POEMS FOR NEW DIRECTIONS IN 1955.  I RECALL THAT BOOK PARTICULARLY WELL, AS MY WIFE DESIGNED THE JACKET AND, I BELIEVE, THE INSIDES FOR IT”

Contains two pages on personal letterhead, measures 8.5 by 7 inches, created in New York City on September 20 and October 11, 1965, and in very fine condition with only minor creasing.