GOTTLIEB ROBERT: (1931-2023) American editor and writer. An interesting, small correspondence ...

GOTTLIEB ROBERT: (1931-2023) American editor and writer. An interesting, small correspondence collection of eight T.Ls.S., Bob, ten pages (total), 4to and 8vo, New York, January 1968 - September 1983, all to Tom Maschler, most on the printed stationery of Alfred A. Knopf Inc. The earlier letters concern Gottlieb's departure from Simon and Schuster for Knopf, and there are also various references to writers including John Updike and Edna O'Brien, in part, 'No way to describe the horrors and glories of the past week. But all is more or less serene again, and has worked out better than could be expected. Feelings are calm again, expectations high. Authors okay, since S & S will release almost all who want to (and ought to) come along. The problem is convincing the ones who should stay to stay' (10th January 1968), 'Edna's [O'Brien] "dissatisfaction" with you, if that's the word, hasn't to do with you as a friend or with you as a publisher. What she misses in you according to her, is an ediorial empathy that can help her towards the proper writing for her. And she has been approaching panic because she doesn't have a book. That, in infer, is the heart of it - her hope, or belief, or fantasy, that someone else......will be able to lead her into the right writing again......I did of course tell her what I believe to be true: that you have been wonderful to her; and that Cape was likely to do better by her books than W&N. But she doesn't care about that....now......You know how strong Edna is (why one loves her, apart from the charm). She is using that strength to force her into a position she thinks will rescue her as a writer' (4th January 1968), 'Knopf has begun, all quiet and charm and everyone treating me like royalty. What a different world. All editors and no publishing - none at all!....The last weeks at S&S were hard, but not horrible......let me shout at you not to let Charley Portis' new book TRUE GRIT get away from you on any account (have you read it yet)? It is a glory; and already a fantastic success. months before pub date......$300,000 movie sale.....If you have an impulse to turn it down, call me before doing it and I'll talk you out of it.......The big Knopf news is the [John] Updike, which will be a tremendous best-seller. But you can't get it unfortunately. I have my eyes upon other things for you' (25th February 1968), 'This is simply to put in writing what Knopf would pay for Kit Williams' new book, should it come free from whatever option situation it's under: An advance of $100,000 against royalties of 10% on the first 25,000; 12 1/4% thereafter' (26th September 1983). Together with related carbon typed copies of letters from Maschler to Gottlieb, and a few photocopies of other letters. Some very light, minor age wear, generally VG, 8

Tom Maschler (1933-2020) British publisher who, from 1960, was head of the publishing company Jonathan Cape for more than three decades. Maschler was also instrumental in establishing the Booker Prize in 1969.