LETTERS: Rebecca West - William Shawn Correspondence.
Correspondence with William Shawn
1952-1975
West, Rebecca. Correspondence with William Shawn, 1952-1975.
A collection of 16 letters – 14 typed and two autograph – and 5 telegrams from Rebecca West to William Shawn. Her letters to him begin early in his tenure as editor at The New Yorker, in 1952 (there are two earlier letters, from 1950 and 1951 from RW to Harold Ross, Shawn’s predecessor), and continue until 1975. Also included are copies of Shawn’s responses to her; one autograph letter from West’s husband, Henry Andrews, to Shawn; letters, telegrams and memos from various secretaries; and a copy of Bernard Levin’s Memorial Service for West.
West’s letters to Shawn are articulate, verbose, humorous and intelligent; she discusses her work in detail and she communicates her ideas crisply and effectively. She consistently keeps Shawn abreast of the progress she is making on her articles or her books, and, in some cases, suggests new topics. It is evident that West and Shawn had deep professional respect – as well as tender personal feelings – for each other.
In the July 7th letter, quoted here to represent the tone and content of the archive, she discusses the trial for the Marshall case – in which a young British man was charged with espionage for the Russians. She describes it with acid wit and palpable frustration:
It is a difficult case. The boy is a fairy who has gone into this thing, I think, for sheer gain. I would not know if he were a practicing fairy but he should have been born a girl. He has spun a story about having had a terrible time in Moscow Embassy because he had to mix with striped pants diplomats who made him feel his humble social origin.
I have gone into this thoroughly with the Ambassador under whom he served for nearly all his year’s service in Moscow, Sir David Kelly, and the truth is that he was one of a community of 100, most of whom were his own kind. But his family tell the same story; and are the nastiest family I have ever interviewed. They stink several malodorous ways. I have never felt absolutely no pity for the relatives of an accused person before, but these lied so viciously and were so reptilian that I would cheerfully have done anything I could to get the boy out of jail and put them in.
Shawn responds to her article with praise, gushing in a telegram, “Marshall piece fascinated us and gave us the customary feelings of wonder and delight” (December 2, 1952). It is easy to imagine her work generating feelings like these; soon after, she writes a proposal for another piece, and describes it so compellingly that it seems impossible for Shawn to decline. She begins: “There is a very fancy murder here in Rillington Road, Notting Hill Gate, which is our dingy not quite slum quarter – the sort of place that might have been dreamed by Graham Greene. The murderer liked ladies after they were dead; and was so seemly in his bearing and dress that the world wondered why he should live in a street where there were such wicked things as tarts and bookmakers” (April 6, 1953).
Each letter is summarized below.
Typed letter signed, “Anne Charles,’ (secretary to West), to Harold Ross; March 19, 1950; one leaf of Ibstone House stationary; torn at top left corner (not affecting text). Enclosing two parts of West’s article on the Setty Murder Trial.
Typed letter carbon, “Rebecca,” to Harold Ross; August 6, 1951; three leaves of paper, stapled. An entertaining letter alerting him to the arrival of her family in New York and telling him about an encounter she had with Alan Moorehead.
Autograph letter signed, “Rebecca,” to William Shawn; undated; one leaf of Ibstone House stationary, creased. Providing him with her address in Italy, and requesting funds.
Typed letter signed, “Rebecca West,” to William Shawn; marked “Private and Confidential;” July 7, 1952; one leaf of Ibstone House stationary; recto and verso. Discussing a trial about which she is writing a
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