Greene, Graham--Moor, Elizabeth.

with scattered corrections throughout by Greene and others, comprising several different interviews bundled together, most with their own numeration and some apparently incomplete, a mixture of top copies, carbons, and photocopies, c.185 pages, chiefly foolscap, together with an editorial summary prepared by the publisher Zsolnay Verlag, and an autograph letter signed by Guilietta, Dr Moor's daughter, about the death of her brother Ludwig, in Italian, 2 pages, with two covering notes, all housed in a clear blue plastic wallet with a note on a label in the hand of Yvonne Cloetta ("Transcription des conversations entre la Dottoressa Moor & Hans Pollack [i.e. Hans W. Polak, Greene's German translator]. Point de depart du livre "An Impossible Woman"."), a few nicks and minor tears

"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The raw material for Greene's 1975 book on Dr Elizabeth Moor, who practised for 40 years on Capri and became a personal friend and something of a local celebrity. Greene explained the unusual mode of production of An Impossible Woman in an editorial note to the published book: "Dorroressa Moor was 'interviewed' by someone who had not previously known her (Kenneth [Macpherson] and I suggested the main questions he should ask). Her words were recorded - in German - on tape. The result was then translated literally into English for this edition, but I wanted to reproduce, if it was possible, the tone of her voice, so unmistakably her own."