Fine Books and Manuscripts

Fine Books and Manuscripts

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 140. London, Jack | A letter from the author addressing his story "Planchette" and plagiarism.

London, Jack | A letter from the author addressing his story "Planchette" and plagiarism

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July 16, 07:21 PM GMT

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Lot Details

Description

London, Jack

Autographed letter signed ("Jack London") to Merle Maddern


6 pp. (240 x 15 mm), July 27, 1906., from Glen Ellen, to his niece Merle Maddern; some rubbing.


London dismisses his short story "Planchette" and addresses plagiarism


"Darned if I know what I was saying... There was no secret motif it was just a short story that they outrageously strung out as though it was more a novel."


A central episode in the story "Planchette" (orginally published in a serial) was a courting couple attending a seance of dubious authenticity. The young man's reluctance to accept the supernatural eventually leads to the couple breaking up (London says herein "I don't believe in spirits anyway" so he seems to side with that character).


Elsewhere, London corrects his niece that a recent article didn't "charge him with plagiarism, but left it to be inferred..." 


London's prolific output and habit of paying for ideas and drawing inspiration from the news, often left him open to such claims. 

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