V.p.: N.p., N.d. [late 1950s]

4 ALS on papers of various sizes, lacking the envelopes, and a handwritten postcard. Old folds from original posting, but a very well preserved collection.

A COLLECTION OF HANDWRITTEN LETTERS FROM ANAIS NIN TO THE BIOGRAPHER AND TRANSLATOR MARGARET CROSLAND.

As the French literature consultant to the UK publisher Peter Owen Ltd., Margaret Crosland [1920-2017] played a central role in introducing the work of Anaǐs Nin to the wider British reading public. Nin's novel Children of the Albatross, first published in New York in 1947, was published in the UK by Peter Owen in 1959, and marked the beginning of a long association between author and publisher.

The letters are undated, but two of them carry the address 35 West 9th Street, New York (one handwritten, one on headed notepaper), placing them in the late 1950s. The postmark on the postcard is dated 18 March 1960.

-- LETTER ONE

Probably the earliest letter of the collection: Nin seems still to be firmly in UK publisher Neville Spearman's stable of writers (she later moved to Peter Owen) and she also praises Crosland on her 1953 biography of Colette:

'I took the Life of Colette with me, to read in Mexico, without realising until this moment that it was you who wrote it! I'm glad because now I am able to tell you how keenly I enjoyed it and how well done it [is]. As a portrait it has a living quality, color and animation. [...] I didn't know you were a writer yourself. Have you done other biographies? Are you planning a new one? I have been unable to read the puerile novels lately, (with the exception of Laurence Durrell's beautiful Justine) and read nothing but biography. [...] Meanwhile as you know Spy [A Spy in the House of Love, UK edition Neville Spearman, 1956] did well in England -- Neville is now reading my new novelette, and because it is short I suggested publishing it with my other two novelettes Winter of Artifice and Stella. Even though I have corresponded with Neville directly you are technically my agent and if there should be a contract I hope you will take over.

-- LETTER TWO

Probably the second earliest of the collection, discussing what appears to be the impending split from her UK publisher Neville Spearman. Peter Owen had been part of that company before going solo, taking Nin with him, and Margaret Crosland was clearly part of that process.

'Tell whatever publishers you are in [illegible] with that whoever does my novels in one Volume can have rights to my Diary.'

'- LETTER THREE

Nin discusses the publication of Children of the Albatross by Peter Owen in 1959:

'By now you probably know that reviews of Children were good, although I only saw two of them. I think Peter has done his best and even if he sells less than Armstrong he is so much more civilised than Armstrong. His heart is in what he does -- and Armstrong is wilful, erratic and none too honest.'

Nin goes on to discuss another Peter Owen writer -- like Nin, the similarly uncategorisable Anna Kavan:

'I understand why Anna Kavan makes you sad. She had such a gift of expression but not nourished by life and she has written herself into a sterile impasse. Asylum Piece [1940] was her best, I feel. Dealing with the irrational is dangerous (Kafka, Artaud for example) and I Believe Tennessee Williams will also end insane. His last two plays are monstrosities.' (Which plays Nin is referring to here is unclear, but the dates of Sweet Bird of Youth (1959) and Period of Adjustment (1960) make them candidates.)

Nin goes on to mention her ongoing work editing her diary; Peter Owen would publish the diaries in the 1960s.

-- LETTER FOUR

Nin asks Crosland to mail her 'my novelette', with a view to self-publishing it in the US; Nin had re- and self-published much of her work under her own imprint, Gemor Press, during the 1940s, but this letter would appear to have been written much later than that.

-- POSTCARD

Dated 18 March 1960, and making arrangements to meet ahead of Nin's arrival in England in May that year.

A collection of lengthy and amiable letters between the two women, who were friends as well as colleagues, and which also tell in considerable detail the story of Nin's early UK publication history.