James, Henry.
Autograph letter signed, to W.M. Colles, dated “May 3rd, 1898” and annotated on printed notepaper from “34 De Vere Gardens W. [London]”, 3pp from James + 1p note verso from Colles [over two double-sided sheets], 25.2 x 20.2cm.
The letter from Henry James to literary agent William Morris Colles concerns the timeline for his short story Covering End being delayed: “I am sorry to say, therefore, that it will not suit the date of advance publication of Covering End that the serialisation of it shall not begin for 4 months ‘at least.’ Kindly help Mr Bell know this & withdraw the [manuscript]…Be so good as to return me the copy. I oblige yours very truly, Henry James.”
Verso is a draft return letter to James, written in crayon by Colles, in which he states “Is Harper’s serial Oct – Dec ’98 Covering End? If so why not set the weekly issue date first? I offer another story[?] & that The Two Magics is to appear in book form in August or September. The Turn of the Screw must then be cancelled as well?”
The Two Magics, containing The Turn of the Screw and Covering End was published by Heinemann in 1898. Both UCLA and Columbia University hold correspondence between W.M. Colles and prominent authors, but none hold letters between Colles and English-American Henry James (1843–1916) who is considered among the greatest of the English language novelists.
Old folds and staple holes.
