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Lot 106
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Murderer Jack Abbott Over 100 Handwritten Pages Plus Annotated Draft for 2nd Book - Author of "In the Belly of the Beast", Muse to Mailer, Walken, Sarandon
Murderer Jack Abbott Over 100 Handwritten Pages Plus Annotated Draft for 2nd Book - Author of "In the Belly of the Beast", Muse to Mailer, Walken, Sarandon
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Description:

Murderer Jack Abbott Over 100 Handwritten Pages Plus Annotated Draft for 2nd Book - Author of "In the Belly of the Beast", Muse to Mailer, Walken, Sarandon

This archive includes over 100 pages of Jack Henry Abbott’s handwritten letters, most of which are addressed to eminent Jewish playwright, Lionel Abel, and nine typewritten letters from Abel in response, some of which are copies. Most of Abbott’s letters are very lengthy and have been transcribed. Abbott writes on the front and verso of pale yellow ruled 8.5" x 11" sheets, dated between October 1, 1984 through September 11, 1985. The archive also includes correspondence between Abbott, his publisher Donna Sheinberg, and Naomi Zack, who became interested in the Abbott case while doing research for a film on the victims of crime and of the criminal justice system; typed copies of the drafts for Abbott's second book, heavily notated in his hand; and a copy of the book, “My Return”, which was published after Abbott’s final return to prison.  

Abbott's letters offer a profound look into his feelings about his crimes; his relationship with Norman Mailer and Abel; his study of philosophies, political systems, and religions; and his intense feelings about anti-Semitism. Abbott and Abel communicated for several years and developed a warm relationship. A large and interesting archive which tells the story of Jack Henry Abbott, who, for a time, stole the hearts of the New York Intelligentsia.

EXCERPTS:

December 25, 1984, deeply into politics, Abbott writes to Abel, “I just finished your book the Worlds of Collision. I have a confession to make: I knew nothing about you. I never even knew that you reviewed my book...I know very little about the American intelligentsia...I ignored American intellectuals because I felt they ignored American reality and I felt they were counter-revolutionary. I only lived to prepare for the armed struggle."

Abbott tells of the Jews he met in prison, "I only met two I knew were Jews. At the time, I thought it was a religious denomination. I was a hospital orderly in Leavenworth when I met my first Jew. He had a heart condition...was in a 12-bed ward...He was an old man...very cynical about everyone...I was about 27 years old...He never discriminated: He was short with everyone...I loved old men like that. It shows spirit...He had a medal on a chain around his neck...diamond studded – in Leavenworth it could have gotten him killed. It was valuable. I asked him what it was...He looked at me as if I were joking...It was ‘a star of David'. What does it mean? He replied: ‘A religious symbol’. He rolled over in bed. He must have thought I was an idiot.”

March 23, 1985, Abbott believed that college professors maligned him in the media, “One professor (at Rutger’s) commented that prisons are becoming a challenge to the institutions of ‘learning,’ to the colleges. It is true, so far as the education of Black and other minorities go. They could dismiss the minority educations that occur in prisons today—but they could not so easily dismiss me."

Abbott then defends Bernard Goetz in what seems to be an indication of his defense of stabbing Richard Adan – not retreating in the face of an assault. Goetz shot four African American youths he claimed were mugging him on a New York subway, “They (the media) took Bernard Goetz apart. The idea that a person should surrender his money to a thief or blind himself to retreat before the threat of assault, is perverse. It has not a thing to do with justice and (in fact) is an insidious attack on justice and humanity. These people in the media who attacked him are Zionists, here to emasculate the Jewish male. Keeping him down to a ‘Nice Jewish Boy'. I tell you all this, Lionel, because I’m convinced you know I’m sincere and honest. Some like Mailer would pee his pants and run and burn the letter.”

September 11, 1985, Abbott offers a defense of killing Richard Adan as he planned to write in his play, “In the play, he (Adan) would not talk to me except to tell me (order me) to keep moving and advanced on me threateningly when I tried to return to the café. My friends were in the café...I saw him pick up a knife but never actually saw the knife except for an instant, the last time he tried to stop me from returning...They never got my knife, either and Susan Roxas (a friend who was in the café with him) testified I threw it at the site of the stabbing before I started running.”

Abel responds to Abbott on October 24, 1985, calling Abbott’s letters, “interesting and provocative...I must thank you for your kind words about my piece in The New Republic.” Responding to a statement made in Abbott’s letter, Abel writes, “Are Jews less likely to resort to violence than non-Jews? I do not think so. They are more likely in some situations to try to achieve their ends by persuasion...On the other hand, in the Mideast, the Jews have shown a zest for fighting equal to that of any of the more martial states known to us."

“Your letters...indicate that you have a capacity for reflection. Perhaps you would prefer to write a novel about prison life. This indeed might be the right medium for the expression of your thoughts. Choose a form which would require you to work regularly and consistently. I feel you should have a big project, not a small one, and that if you find yourself working on the same project every week you will also find the days of each week more closely connected to one another. Jack Abbott, you have nothing to lose by being bold. I urge you to be ambitious and think big. We may all profit from your efforts.”

Abel became fond of Abbott, and on November 15, 1984, writes, “Because of my book’s publication, I’ve had to write letters to lots of people. But you are the only person I enjoy writing to.”

December 16, 1984, Abel writes, “All your projects are interesting. You can be the solution to the problem facing many people who want to read a good book and cannot find one. Write something splendid as I know you can and I’ll help get it published."

“P.S. It bothers me that you say you were ‘lynched.’ You were attacked but who hasn’t been? Writers are attacked every day, and often without having offended. Don’t forget, in the minds of those who tried to help you—I am thinking of Norman Mailer—what you did, however unluckily motivated – has weakened the cause for clemency...”

Abel and Abbott’s relationship continues to build. On February 5, 1985, Abel writes, “I am not offended with you, I am not angry with you, I look forward to hearing from you, I worry about you, I think about you, I speculate about your future, I wonder about when I will be able to see you, and I find your letters absolutely fascinating. Whatever gave you the idea that I was sore at you...? The only thing I could tax myself with is the failure to answer your last letter more promptly. Yes, maybe I have neglected you. But I had many excuses all of them excellent. I have had a great deal of correspondence since the publication of my book; my health [is] not good and I have been trying to put the finishing touches on a play about Rosa Luxemburg about which I would love to have your opinion. I shall send you a draft...No more complaints, Jack. As far as I am concerned, you are my Jack, and shall always be that."

September 5, 1984, Abel writes, “I have heard that the play based on your book – I am assuming the script is not by you – has already won five awards. Now that means something. Evidently you are not too pleased with this treatment of your life. What you say against it may be quite in order...You should realize that in the theatre the author of a play never has the last word...First, the director takes over his script, and then the actors determine what it will mean to audiences...Don’t be too hard on the people who put the play on. They did have to tailor it to the public’s taste. Otherwise, why do it?”

April 9, 1986, Abel writes, “It is a long time since I have written you, and of course, as was to be expected, a number of things happened in the interval: an offer to publish your play. That’s the important thing. And then, you decided, without consulting me, to edit your letters to me, also my letters to you. In addition, you want to dedicate the whole book, containing my preface, our correspondence and your play – to Norman Mailer, ‘Uncle Norman’."

“On that last matter, I must register disapproval. It is not that I am against Norman. I’ll remind you that I defended him in one of my letters to you against charges of insensitivity and lack of understanding made by you. But whatever Norman is to you, he is not a personal friend of mine."

Jack Henry Abbott (1944–2002) was a notorious serial criminal whose life improved, albeit temporarily, after he began writing to author Norman Mailer. Abbott offered to collaborate with Mailer on what would become Mailer’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, “The Executioner’s Song”, a fictionalized account of executed murderer Gary Gilmore. Mailer recognized Abbott’s writing talent and successfully advocated for his release from prison. Abbott soon became the darling of the New York Intelligentsia, including Susan Sarandon, Christopher Walken, and Jerry Kosinski. He attended parties in Manhattan celebrating his release. 1n 1982, Mailer wrote the introduction to Abbott’s first book, “In the Belly of the Beast”, a narrative of his personal experience as a prisoner and all the violence he saw and experienced. Abbott appeared on TV shows “Good Morning, America”, “60 Minutes”, and in magazines “Rolling Stone” and “New Republic”. Abbott would ultimately commit suicide in prison, leaving a note that officials wouldn’t release.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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