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Typed Letter Signed, 2 pages
Saturday, April 11, 1936
Casa Genotta
To Leon Mirlas

 

(Letterhead: CASA GENOTTA / SEA ISLAND / GEORGIA)

Dr. León Mirlas,
Rodriguez Peña 507,
3er Piso,
Buenos Aires,
República Argentina.

Dear Dr. Mirlas,

First, will you convey to your friend, Mr. Ocampo, my very great pleasure at his courtesy in sending me his play, and my deep appreciation for his flattering dedication - and all my good wishes to him.  The first person who visits me here who has a real understanding of Spanish, I will ask to read it in translation to me - and I shall treasure Mr. Ocampo's gift in my library always.

What you say about the nature of the faults in the Skinner book seems to be well-founded.  However, once you make allowances for his particular bias - he is a devout Roman Catholic - I think there are very sound values in the book.

In reply to your question regarding the progress of my work, I have not completed any one play in final form yet.  I still am working on the first two of the series.

No, I don't know of any American publisher selling Kaiser's plays.  His "From Morn to Midnight" was published here many years ago but, I believe, has been long out of print.

You have been misinformed about the nature of the American Spectator.  It is not now and never was a theatrical review.  Originally a literary monthly in newspaper form, it was established in 1932 by George Jean Nathan, the American dramatic critic, with a board of four editors besides himself, of which I was one.  The only writing on drama in it was done by Mr. Nathan.  I did scarcely any writing for it - was an editor by courtesy rather than any actual participation.  The first part of last year all the editors became bored with the enterprise and turned it over to others.  Since that time it has been published under two different managements, the second of which is functioning now.  As I say, I never see it any more, but I do know it is in no sense a theatrical review, although Mr. Rice may have had articles in it.

All good wishes to you - and my apologies to you and Mr. Ocampo for the delay in this reply.  I have been so preoccupied with my work I stopped writing letters entirely.

Very sincerely yours,

Eugene O'Neill

April 11th 1936.

 

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