Conrad, Joseph

congratulating him on a collection of stories ("...first rate stuff...") that he will pass on to Pinker, explaining he is exhausted having just completed revision to the typescript of The Rescue and is proof-reading Land and Water, commenting in a post-script that "The Resc[ue] is frightfully long and I fear would tire you out, but I would love to have it reviewed by you", 2 pages, oblong 8vo, Spring Grove, Wye, Kent, Saturday [14 June] 1919, weak at folds

Bonham's, 16 November 2004, lot 399

Collected Letters, vol. IX, pp.219-20

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"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."

Edmund Candler (1874-1926) was a traveller and writer who worked for many years in India and was, at the time of writing, Director of Publicity for the Punjab. The two men shared a literary agent, J.B. Pinker, and Candler established a friendship with Conrad after sending him a copy of his novel Siri Ram in 1918. This letter describes Conrad's final phase of work on The Rescue, which he had been working on sporadically for more than 20 years (for an early manuscript fragment of the novel see lot 21).