Ellery Queen: Frederic Dannay (11) Signed Letters

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Feb 14, 2024

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• Lot Description
  Crime fiction writer (1905-1982) who authored the Ellery Queen detective stories along with his cousin, Manfred Bennington Lee. Archive of 11 letters (including two ALSs and nine TLSs) by Ellery Queen writer Frederic Dannay, signed in a variety of ways—including "Fred Dannay," "Fred," "'Ellery Queen,' F.D.," and "'Ellery Queen,' (Fred Dannay)"—totaling 16 pages, ranging in size from 5.5 x 3 postcards to 7.25 x 10.5 sheets of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine stationery, dated from 1942 to 1961. Dannay discusses his own work, mystery fiction in general, and purchases books for his collection.
  
  
  
  Highlights include:
  
  
  
  January 14, 1942: "I'm tickled to get the English edition of 'The Thinking Machine.' The book hasn't arrived yet, but I'm sure it will reach me...Perhaps Honce told you that I collect the detective short story in all its forms—fiction, pseudo-real life, anthologies, etc. I have what is probably the finest and largest collection of its kind in the country—so, your book joins a very distinguished coterie. I don't go at all for criminology or straight real-life stories...The new Queen novel—'Calamity Town'—will be published in the Spring. As soon as copies are ready, I'll send you an autographed 1st edition. And I'll keep an eye out for the real-life stuff you want."
  
  
  
  March 21, 1942: "The truth is, I'm much too bust for one guy. And it shows, even in simple letters. There's the weekly radio show—a colossal stint; and the editing of the magazine (and like all Queen opera, this isn't an 'in-name-only' project). And because I'm incorrigible, I convinced my publisher some month or so ago to let me write the first bibliography of the detective short story—which the publisher will bring out late this year. So, when it's not a radio or magazine, it's a deep-in-the-well bibliography...I'm very glad indeed that you like the magazine...I can't expect everybody to like everything in the magazine. So I try deliberately to be catholic—on the theory that if all the stories are high in quality, though varied in type, everybody will like a good hunk of the contents."
  
  
  
  April 4, 1942: "Yes, it is a great source of satisfaction to me to realize from time to time (when guys are good enough to write me and tell me so—same like you!) that I have been responsible for much pleasure—reading pleasure—to others. It helps, when thing get tough an the knots won't unravel. But don't envy me for it: believe me, it's hard work...I'm vain enough to work up an inner glow when readers say thanks—but really thanks aren't an essential part of the game. Readers owe me nothing further than their reading and their continued loyalty. For one thing, this is my livelihood: readers give me my bread and butter—and a good hunk of cake. For another thing, I am only doing what better men before me have done. If a debt exists; if thanks are due—then I am in debt also, and I owe more thanks than any of you. Before I came along to do my bit for present-day fans, there was a mighty coterie who gave me untold pleasure. I'm not that old that I have forgotten how I gobbled up other writers' books. I'm only helping pay my debt for those wonderful hours I first spent reading Doyle, LeBlanc (yes, I'm still inordinately fond of Arsene Lupin‚ a much underrated character, judged by LeBlanc's really fine books), and all the others. They will never tarnish."
  
  
  
  November 24, 1945: "I know how you've felt about not hearing from me, but when you know why, you will understand. My wife died after a long and terrible illness—I think I had written you she was not well—and I am still going through hell...I still cannot write with any feeling...About the books you list, I should like to have Strange Schemes of Randolph Mason, 1896, in yellow wrappers—I have the edition in cloth."
  
  
  
  May 5, 1961: "I could write you a full-length book on the 'significance' of the Grand Masters Award—suffice to say, MWA had nothing but the best of intentions, and it is truly a great honor, and I am of course proud to be a recipient...Yes, I sold my collection to the University of Texas—it is a long story and I won't bore you. My wife and I are building another collection—first editions of English and American poetry, chiefly after 1800 (actually, I mean, after Wordsworth's & Coleridge's Lyrical Ballads). Yes, I taught at the U of T for one semester—Creative Writing—with really fabulous results. For a time I seriously considered starting a new career—becoming a teacher. I still might do it."
  
  
  
  In overall fine condition. Accompanied by several additional pieces of correspondence bearing stamped or secretarial signatures.
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