Wallace, David Foster

A group of three letters, two notes, one envelope, with an inscribed first edition of Girl With Curious Hair. Together five pages, predominately hand-written. Some on Viking Penguin Inc. letterhead. Circa 1 August 1989 to 25 August 1990. Generally 8 1/2 x 11 in.; 21.5 x 28 mm. 

A collection of correspondence with conceptual artist Kathe Burkhart detailing David Foster Wallace's struggle with addiction prior to the publication of Infinite Jest. Wallace met Burkhart in the summer of 1989 during his second stint at Yaddo, an artist community in Saratoga Springs, New York. Written over a period of time encompassing his tenure at the Yaddo and his brief time in Somerville pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at Harvard. The last letter, written on 25 August is just months prior to his hospitalization at McLean for his struggles with drugs and alcohol dependence in November of 1990. Wallace would later draw on his experiences at McClean as a model for Granada House, the rehab facility featured in Infinite Jest (1996).

Also included in this lot is a first edition of Girl with Curious Hair inscribed and dated: "8-27-89 With love & wishes for all available joy - David Wallace (Yaddo fly-boy)" and a list of books that Wallace requested to borrow from Burkhart, including Closer by Dennis Cooper, Suttree and Child of God by Cormac McCarthy, and Life A User's Manual by Georges Perec. 

Highlights include:

1 August 1989: "Monday night I drank most most of a bottle of The Glenlivet and passed out and woke up Tuesday with the dog sniffing at where I'd apparently thrown up in my sleep; thank God I don't pass out on my back; what a dumb way to die. sensitive aesthete drowns in own puke! artiste's aspirations aspirated! etc."

24 August 1989: "I'm reluctant to call because I'm scared I'll ask you to send up more art supplies - I always want pot when I'm depressed, but cannot smoke a lot now. Do me a favor - if I ever ask you to acquire some for me, refuse. Please. You seem doomed to be involved with addicts." 

25 August [1990]: "You are doubtless pissed. I've not called in a long time. I am having some personal problems. Some have to do with drugs. I rather doubt you need to hear the woes of any more pathetic Davids right now."