EUGENE O’NEILL, EXPRESSES HIS ADMIRATION FOR PAUL ROBESON

BUT REFUSES TO WRITE THE INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOGRAPHY… FOR MRS. ROBESON

 

O’NEILL, EUGENE.  (1888-1953).  American playwright.  Typed Letter Signed, “Eugene O’Neill”, on imprinted Le Plessis, Saint-Antoine Du Rocher stationery.  One page, quarto.  No place, February 19, 1930.  Very fine condition.  To “Dear Mr. Saxton”.  O’Neill writes:

“I deeply regret that I cannot fall in with Mrs. Robeson’s suggestion about my doing an introduction to her biography—particularly so since I feel the greatest friendship for Paul Robeson as a man and the deepest respect for him as an artist.  But the situation is this; I am a firm disbeliever in Introductions in general and I long ago made it an absolute rule that I would never do one.  It would be impossible for me to break this rule at this late date and make an exception without seriously offending those I have refused in the past, among whom have been some very close friends of mine.  So you see.  I know Paul Robeson would be the first to understand this—and by that I mean Mrs. Robeson also.  I appreciate very much her thinking of me and, were the circumstances other than they are, I would esteem it a privilege.  With all sincere regards to you, Yours very truly, Eugene O’Neill”.   

 

$2250.00