Fitzgerald, F. Scott

Autograph letter signed ("Scott") in pencil, 1 page (10 1/2 x 8 in; 270 x 205 mm), 14 Rue de Tilsitt, Paris, n.d. [June 1925], to Gilbert Seldes in America; the first quarter of the letter in ink, the rest in pencil, on gray paper, a blank corner chipped, some creasing.

Printed in Letters, ed. A. Turnbull, pp. 483–84 (but Fitzgerald's last sentence, written in a margin, is not included).

Autograph letter signed ("Scott") in pencil, 1 page (10 1/2 x 8 in; 270 x 205 mm), 14 Rue de Tilsitt, Paris, n.d. [June 1925], to Gilbert Seldes in America; the first quarter of the letter in ink, the rest in pencil, on gray paper, a blank corner chipped, some creasing.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Dinner with Gerald Murphy, Reviews of The Great Gatsby.  The first in a series of letters, etc., continuing over the next seven lots, all written to Gilbert Seldes, author, critic, and editor of The Dial (1920–23), whose best-known book is The Seven Lively Arts (1924).  Seldes gave The Great Gatsby, which was published on 10 April 1925, such a glowing review (in the August 1925 issue of The Dial) that "Hemingway believed it made Fitzgerald so self-conscious, that he felt compelled to make his next novel a masterpiece, causing his delay in completing Tender Is the Night" (Mary Joe Tate, F. Scott Fitzgerald A to Z, p. 225).

Fitzgerald writes: "Your letter made me feel awfully good. Please come over! We dined with Gerald [Murphy] last night & had such a good time that I must shift [here he does] to a pencil or my trembling hand will spread the high hint of hangover over the page. If you get a proof of your Dial review please send it to me as I can't wait to see the magazine — having had only three even decent reviews.  Burton Rascoe says The Great Gatsby is just Robert Chambers with overtones of Nedra by Harold Nigrath. So I think I'll write a 'serious' novel about the Great Struggle the Great American Peasant has with the Soil. Everyone else seems to be doing it. Burton will be the hero as I'm going to try to go to 'life' for my material from now on. First I'll spend a week in Wisconsin studying farm life — and then reread Tess."

Fitzgerald letters dealing with The Great Gatsby are rare on the market.