Decca by Jessica Mitford

Author:Jessica Mitford [Sussman, Peter Y.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56566-2
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2006-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

To Pele de Lappe

New York

December 30, 1965

Dear Neighbour,

…Today turns out to be New Year’s Eve Eve; in this wild city, where pleasure reigns, everything clams down shut at 12:00 noon today. Some offices are not planning to reopen till middle of next week…. I expect you are e’en now slaving.

I just floated back to the hotel after lunch with Candida (me agent). It was an extraorder session. I told her I had decided to cut out the articles and like crap, to do me a book on Life & Red Times. She said, would you like a contract? I said, not specially because then I’ll have to submit a 1st chapter and outline. Don’t be daft (she said), you don’t have to do anything, just say if you want the contract, and I’ll negotiate it. She went on to say that she and Bob Gottlieb had talked me over and decided that psychologically, I’m the sort that would work much harder if I had a contract. (They are all in deep analysis so approach everyone and everything from this viewpoint.) So I said well that’s very nice, but I warn you this book won’t sell, as it will be a sympathetic account of life in the CP. She said you said the same thing about AWOD, and look at what happened. Anyway, on we chatted, and she explained there is a formula for working out advances, based on what the last book sold. She took out her trusty pencil and paper, did some figuring, said “somewhere between 50,000 and 125,000.” Of course, I thought she meant books, and that I would get 10% of that; turns out she meant bucks! Bob was sitting there roaring, having noted how I had misunderstood the whole transaction up to then. So, there you are. I told Bob that the next time that chap who keeps coming round to our house saying “That your Chevy? I do body work, could take out the dents and fix the chrome,” I’ve a good mind to say “Do.” It’ll be like a brand-new car.

I’m quite curious to find out if they decide on $50,000 or $125,000; my guess is, they’ll discuss me from a Froodian viewpoint, possible Oedipus complex, penis envy and the like, and decide on this basis. Wish I knew their analysts, who will prob. end up by deciding all. Anyway, so now I’ll have to write it. Will you do the jacket, as usual? …

Decca

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