archive correspondence american editor peter de wodehouse (1 résultats)

These letters, each signed "Plum", were written over a period of more than two decades to his US editor and close friend, Peter Schwed (1911-2003), who worked for Simon & Schuster. The recipient believed "they reveal more of the great man's warmth and ebullient spirit than is likely to be encountered very often elsewhere" (Schwed, p. 5). Schwed was responsible for the US editions of Wodehouse's work from 1956 onwards, but revealed he did little except change some titles: "Plum's books needed virtually no editing. An editor is supposed to contribute something! So I became a gilder of the lily, and not too much else" (Schwed, p. 8). Schwed was the dedicatee of four of Wodehouse's works. Schwed first exhibited his letters at the 1995 Convention of the Wodehouse Society. He then published the correspondence in Plum to Peter in 1996. This was a signed limited edition of 500 copies, and a copy is included here. Subjects within the correspondence include international royalties, the writing of Cocktail Time, plans for Over Seventy, amazement at the lucrative royalties of the song "Bill", becoming a godfather, and advertising for The Most of P. G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse expresses concern over his potential overuse of the title "Lord" in his prose, admits having no idea for a new book ("I haven't been able to get what Bertie Wooster would call a point d'appui"), and wonders why his latest writing is short ("surely at eighty-four-and-a-half I ought to be garrulous"). Plum suggests that Schwed will want to change the title of Do Butlers Burgle Banks, reveals problems over a 1968 "musical about Jeeves", and praises typesetting at the printers ("give the printers my heartiest congratulations and stand them a milk shake, for the improvement since they went on the wagon is amazing"). Wodehouse expresses disgust at men's hairstyles in 1968 ("the husband had long golden hair flowing down his back and it made me nearly sick to look at him"), discussion over the title of the book that would be published as No Nudes is Good News, and about his speed of composition ("I propose to do this one slowly. for that is the way I work best"). Wodehouse is, generally, convivial throughout the correspondence. However, when required to explain some of his prose in 1972, his tone becomes less friendly ("For goodness sake, I couldn't make it clearer than that. Surely the most vapid and irreflective reader will get it"). The New York Times Book Review, 23 March 1975; Peter Schwed, Plum to Peter: Letters of P. G. Wodehouse to his editor Peter Schwed, 1996. 22 typed letters, variety of different letterheads (including that of "Mrs P. G. Wodehouse"), total of 23 sheets comprising 26 sides, together with a copy of Plum to Peter (New York: [privately printed], 1996, number 218 of 500 copies, signed by the author, bound in original leatherette). Inserted in "Ful-Vu" folder system binder, brown morocco, with paper lettering piece laid down to front cover with adhesive tape. Housed together with book within purple cloth folding case. Occasional minor loss to some extremities (not affecting text), a few with later editorial markings, some display pockets in folder splitting, loss to binding of book: letters in near-fine condition.