LETTERS: Editorial Correspondence with Viking.
David, Gwenda.
LETTERS: Editorial Correspondence with Viking.
Letter(s)
Gwenda David - Viking Correspondence
1983 - 1997
David, Gwenda. Viking Correspondence, 1983-1997.
Correspondence between publishing consultant Gwenda David (b. 1905- 2002) and various Viking colleagues. Hired in 1937 by Harold Guinzberg and B.W. Huebsch, David acted as scout and sounding board to countless writers during her half-century tenure at Viking's London office. Known for her keen judgment, she is credited with bringing Iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark, John Bayley, and others to the publisher. In an obituary for David in London's Independent, Elisabeth Sifton wrote, "For the writers whose cause she championed she was a discreet yet zestful friend, indispensable adviser and canny entrepreneur, and her work was critical in bringing many important and popular books into the light of day."
During the last 15 years of her career, covered by this correspondence, David continued to work tirelessly, reading dozens of manuscripts and offering her opinions. Her letters swiftly cover daily business and she manages to lace shrewd commentary with literary gossip and often humorous personal anecdotes (in one letter she admits wanting to punch a secretary in the nose) as she ticks off items on her agenda. Her unique position as consultant gave her access to inside information at other publishing houses and her letters frequently include summaries of news and activities there. To quote once more from Sifton: "In a time before faxes and e-mail, when expensive transatlantic travel and telephoning were not as common as now, Gwenda David's blue air letters were literally priceless."
While known for her ability (described by some as legendary) to deftly assess the manuscripts that came across her desk, she frequently asked for the opinions of her colleagues and there are countless queries of her own. One of David's strengths was assessing the viability of a book for American audiences; comments to the effect of "too English, too dense" are not uncommon.
Among countless other topics are details on book deals and updates on clients. There is also a handful of related material, such as photocopies of book blurbs and fact sheets.
Item counts below reflect original letters, although in some instances there are photocopies of additional letters present.
Approx. 1 cubic foot.
Summaries with representative examples
January - September 1983
Ca. 100 TLS, primarily one page, from David to several colleagues at Viking, but largely to editor Winnie Osborn and frequently with Osborn's autograph replies in margins. With photocopies of Osborn's outgoing letters.
David's assessment of manuscripts is considerably progressive as she considers titles such as History of the Sex Manuals by Alan Rush and books on artificial insemination, lesbianism, and Marilyn Monroe. Meanwhile, she finds a book on dieting boring and she describes Garth Wood's The Myth of Neurosis as essentially an "attack on psychoanalysis" and "doubtful." Her line-up of potential projects includes biographies of Vivienne Leigh and Rebecca West.
January 19, 1983, she writes that she heard The Riding Mistress by Harriett Gilbert "is a first class Lesbian novel," and goes on to add, "Harpers were her publisher but there are too many changes there."
January 22, 1983, she writes, "I have read the 90 pp of the Death of Marilyn Monroe which tells about her sex life with the Kennedys and Sinatra etc. and foul play which all makes for goggling reading. Don't you know all about this already? I'm amazed that VG [Victor Gollancz] made all that money for this." On other occasions she discusses the bidding for the book between Macmillan and Gollancz, and on February 17, 1983 divulges the inside information that the book contained "some startling material."
October 1983 - September 1984
Ca. 150 TLS, primarily one page, from David to Alan Williams. With photocopies of Alan's outgoing letters to David (located in 1985 binder).
Her letters to Alan are lively and she thanks him in particular for a lengthy letter that made her laugh, explaining that it's "something I haven't done with a Viking letter for a long time." Among many writers, she mentions Norman Mailer, Ian McEwan, Iris Murdoch, John Bayley, and finalists for the Booker Prize. There is a handful of related material including newspaper articles, as well as brief notes and memos.
October 19, 1983, she writes, "Did you know that Philippa [Harrison] paid £90,000 for the Mailer. Crazy, yes?"
October 19, 1983, she writes that she "just finished the Coetzee" and thinks it's "terrific." She expresses hope that he gets the Booker, and writes on October 24, 1983, "Coetzee is the favorite. I hope he wins."
September 1984 - September 1985
Ca. 150 TLS, primarily one page, from David to Kathryn Court; photocopies of additional letters throughout. With carbons of Court's outgoing letters to David. Carbons from Dawn Sefarian as well.
Authors mentioned include A.S. Byatt, Paul Theroux, and John Banville. She considers countless manuscripts and comments bluntly, often with characteristic punchiness.
February 25, 1985, she rejects the idea of publishing a new edition of The Haunting by English writer, poet, and International PEN co-founder C.A. Dawson Scott, writing, "Not good enough for us."
September 1985 - January 1987
Ca. 175 TLS, primarily one page, from David to Sefarian, Court, and others in the Viking offices. With photocopies and carbons of outgoing.
She evaluates potential acquisitions and comments on recent publications. On Iris Murdoch's newest book she writes, "I've already written to Iris. It's her best, I think. Ed calls it 'miraculous.'" Other projects on the table include cookbooks and travel guides.
October 15, 1986, she writes, "What about asking Mrs. Gorbechev for her life story. Everyone else is writing one."
September 1989 - January 1990
Ca. 50 TLS, primarily one page, from David to Christine [Pevitt].
Includes her usual gossip on other publishing houses, as well as literary critiques of forthcoming titles. In one letter she predicts that Perdido by Jill Robinson "will be a blockbuster." She dishes, "Scribners bought Henry Shukman, aged 26," and reports on psychiatrist J. Silverman's novel Happy Divorce.
November 15, 1989, "I have read the new Shona Remaya which Toby hammered on and on during lunch with me. He praised it to the skies; I have just talked with him and he agreed with me that the poesy must come out; it asks too much of the reader and, in any case, it doesn't work."
January 3, 1990, she writes, "Andrew Stuck gave me lunch today and it was very enlightening about houses like Hodders and how little they earn."
1993 - 1997
Over 200 pieces of incoming and outgoing correspondence between David and Viking colleague Al Silverman.
She considers a book called Women's Voices: Their Lives and Loves Through 2000 Years by Olga Kenyon, writing that it is "an important historical source of women's lives through their letters." She also reports favorably on a new book by Arthur Miller and an in-progress biography on Alfred Kinsey. There is a smattering of the usual gossip about colleagues moving, either of their own accord or because they've been "wooed," to other publishers, as well as tidbits about salaries and diminishing expense accounts. In one of the last letters, on April 2, 1997, Silverman tells her, "Great talking with you this morning. You sound as wise and perky as ever."
October 25, 1995, she writes, "I've read the Arthur Miller novel: it's brilliant and it ought to be read for style and tautness by every young author."
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