Description:

Peter Taylor 3 ALS with Accompanying Signed Envelopes Re: Fellowship at UVA

A group of three autograph letters signed by Peter Tayler, with their three signed retained covers. The letters all measuring 8.5" x 11", and are written from Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, Department of English, Wilson Hall. Dating from November 30, 1971 to March 30, 1972, the letters are to a prospective fellow, Jonathan Carroll. Taylor provides application information and encouragement about Carroll's creative writing career. All are signed "Peter Taylor", and each letter is accompanied by their respective envelopes, which have also been signed "Peter Taylor". With flattened mail folds and very faint soiling. Expected minor wear to the covers. Boldly signed by Taylor.

Excerpts from the letters:
November 30, 1971: "I hope very much that you will send me a sample of your work. I feel certain that you are qualified for graduate work here, but I have found that it is a good idea for me first to see a sample of the work of someone who is coming to Virginia, especially to work with me. Since I won't be teaching next semester and even may be out of the country. I hope you can send something fairly soon."

December 22, 1971: "I did like your story - very very much. And I sincerely hope will see you here next year. We offer a Master's Degree, to complete which the candidate may present a short story or a group of poems for his thesis…I might mention that though I shall be back next year, teaching my writing class, we are also going to have a young writer named John Casey teaching a class or so…I should mention, too, that we have one creative writing graduate fellowship, for which you might wish to compete…I want to say again how very much I liked your story. I actually laughed aloud as I read it. I also squirmed uncomfortably at times."

March 30, 1972: "…The English Department is waiting to receive your GRE scores. When they have received that report and if it is satisfactory, they will recommend you for admission to the Graduate School. You would then be awarded a fifteen hundred dollar Balch Fellowship. I believe I wrote you that this Fellowship would carry a grant of three thousand dollars. But since we were unable to decide between your candidacy and that of another, finally we agreed to divide the amount between you. I hope this will not mean that you could not accept the Fellowship, because we want very much to have you here. I feel that I should mention also that I shall not be teaching during the fall semester. I will, however be teaching again the spring semester. Moreover, I shall be here in Charlottesville during the fall and would hope to see something of you there. I would even be glad to read a manuscript and talk with you about it…"

Carroll did in fact accept the Emily Clark Balch fellowship in creative writing. Matthew Hillsman Taylor, Jr. (1917-1994), known professionally as Peter Taylor, was an American novelist, short story writer, and playwright. He studied under critic Allen Tate and became good friends with fellow literary figures Robert Lowell, Katherine Anne Porter, Jean Stafford, James Thackara, and others. He went on to teach literature and writing at Kenyon and the University of Virginia. In 1943 he married fellow poet Eleanor Ross (1920-2001).

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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