Description:

Tennessee Williams
San Francisco, CA, ca. August 1976
Tennessee Williams on Sexual Relationship with Young Man
TLS

Tennessee Williams (1911-1983). Typed Letter Signed, "T. Williams," 1p, 8.5" x 11", [San Francisco, California], dated in his hand, "Aug '76." Blank verso. Expected creases and flattened mailing folds with a bit of separation starting at edges. Block of toning at center. Minor soiling. Ink is a shade light. Accompanied by an Air Mail envelope postmarked August 25, 1976, San Francisco, California, addressed in Williams's hand and signed by him as "T. Williams" above the return address. Opening tear at top of envelope, with expected soiling and creasing. Overall, the pair is in very good condition.

Williams writes to Tim Moore, of Somerville, New Jersey, on a wide variety of topics spanning from his memoirs, traveling, and his English bulldog to "a 5-year alliance with a young man..."

In part:

"The principle trouble with my letters is that I turn to correspondance [sic] after I've finished my day's work and my energies have been spent...My memoirs were also written after I'd done my real day's work on plays and therefore they had no literary quality to speak of...I am very soon heading back to New York after a few days rest in Laguna Beach...If you leave your phone number...I'll call you and perhaps we can get together...As I probably told you a 5-year alliance with a young man who could not distinguish between love and sex has come to an apparent conclusion. He remains in Key West, living with someone out on $10,000 bond for pushing dope to which my confused friend was addicted to in Vietnam...My English bull-dog...was DOA the last time I flew into the Necropolis. She was the only dog I had...that would watch television with me...Her name was Madam Sophia...I hope to buy another nearly like her...I doubt that you are any shyer than I am. Wine makes me garrulous, though. However, I do know how to listen..." Williams pens a postscript after his signature which reads: "Thanks for photo - looking forward to seeing original."

The "young man" mentioned here was likely Robert Carroll, a Vietnam War veteran and aspiring writer who was in his twenties during the period of his relationship with Williams. Along with Williams's sister Rose, Carroll was one of two people who received a bequest in Williams's will.

Williams found success in 1945 with the Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie," a play based on the life of his schizophrenic sister Rose, the helpless victim of a botched lobotomy. It was soon followed by other hits, including "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and "Sweet Bird of Youth." Known for innovative theatrical techniques, Williams's plays rely on idiomatic and compelling dialogue to express themes of latent violence and degeneracy. After the death of his longtime love, Frank Merlo, in 1963, Williams fell into a deep depression leading to increased drug and alcohol abuse. His "Memoirs," published in 1975 and mentioned in our letter, vividly describe his addiction and homosexuality. In 1979, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

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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  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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