Cheever, John | The Stories of John Cheever, inscribed to his daughter, with three letters

Cheever, John

The Stories. The Franklin Library: Franklin Center, Pennsylvania, 1980

8vo. Illustrated by Mitchell Hooks. Publisher's black morocco gilt, grey silk endpapers, all edges gilt; a touch of shelf wear. [With] Three typed letters signed ("John") to Susan Cheever ("Dear Susie"). Overall 3 pages (280 x 218 mm), Cedar Lane, [Ossining, NY], 8 August [1978], 14 October 1978, and 21 January [1979]; previously folded. Housed together in a morocco-backed slipcase with folding cloth chemises.

Deluxe edition, presentation copy, inscribed to his daughter Susan on the preliminary blank "To my dearly beloved Daughter Susan John Cheever May 20, 1980." Accompanied by an intimate collection of letters, touching on the publication and success of the the first edition.

When The Stories was first published by Knopf in 1978, it became a run-away bestseller, winning Cheever the Pulitzer Prize, and affording the writer some long-awaited financial ease. The correspondence included in this lot shows the author humorously grappling with publishers, neighbors, and mink coats in the midst of this great success. Writing to his daughter on August 8th, he reflects: "After reading the collected stories it is my opinion that I am much better with the story than I am with the novel, but virtuosity isn't everything, Betty-Ann."

Reflection gives way to humorous griping in the following letters, as Cheever milks a mink coat for a few laughs: "...your mother seems pleased with the way things are going including a floor-length Blackglama mink that she picked up at Bonwits. She didn't get it for no coupons; she could have bought a flying-machine." And: "Neither your mother nor Sara ever wear their mink coats... if you come out from New York on the train in a mink coat you might be mugged... They both take their mink coats out to show to visitors and they can both be seen shivering in the icy cross-winds of 57th Street in their threadbare cashmeres."

In his letter of 21 January 1979, he keeps his daughter apprised of his continued successes: "On Friday morning Bob called to say that the Collection had sold to paperback for $325,00[0].00. This is rather better than De Maupassant. The hard-cover sale will be over one hundred thousand and the book is #3 on the best-seller list. The book also got the Critic's Circle Award and [Robert] Gottlieb is giving a big stand-up dinner. To celebrate all of this I asked Spear over to play backgammon and won 80¢."

PROVENANCE:

Susan Cheever (presentation inscription) — Roger Rechler (Christie's New York, 11 October 2002, lot 45)