The Brick Row Book Shop

Zane Grey Calls it Quits

GREY, ZANE.

Holograph Letter Signed to Mr. Alvah D. James, Shelly, North Carolina.

Place and Imprint: Altadena, California, Nov.23, 1931.
Condition: In fine condition.
Book ID: 29002

Physical Description

Single sheet, 26.5 x 18.5 cm, light gray stationery with the printed letterhead "Zane Grey / Altadena, California". Approximately 180 words, in blue ink.

Comments

As the Depression set in, Zane Grey found his popular adventure stories and westerns suddenly unpopular; publishers began to turn down his manuscripts, with comments about wanting more relevant, modern material, more in tune, perhaps, with the hard times. In this letter to a friend Alvah James, who had apparently proposed a publishing project, Grey vents his frustration and essentially says that he had given up trying: "Dear James, / That was a kind letter from you which I found upon my arrival home. I’m sorry I cannot see anything in your proposal. You could not get a dime out of a book like that now, even if some publisher would put it out. . . . It probably seems incredible to you or anyone that I could crash so suddenly and amazingly. But it is a fact. What the future holds in store I have no idea. My last story, one of the very finest I ever wrote, brought this reply from a big editor: 'We are buying only ultra modern stories.' I don’t know what he meant. I’d like to write you a long letter, but as it could only be a resume of my troubles, I’ll refrain. You said the tide ebbs and then flows. Yes. But it may be far too late for me. / My best to you and all yours, Zane". With the stamped and postmarked envelope.

Price: $500.00