ALS signed “D. H. L.,” one page both sides, 5.25 x 8, January 30, 1930. Letter to Caresse Crosby, whose husband Harry perished in a murder-suicide seven weeks earlier. In full: “Thank you for the dream book [“Sleeping Together”]. Harry had a real poetic gift – if only he hadn’t tried to disintegrate himself so! This disintegrating spirit, and the tangled sound of it, makes my soul weary to death. I shall be interested to read the diary later if you wish me to – or what of it you wish me to. And if I could write a suitable foreword, I’d be glad to – But for the next two months, I’m not allowed to do anything [underlined]. The doctor came from England, & said I must lie in bed for two months, & do nothing [underlined], & see no people – absolute rest. Oh dear! – and Harry was really so well, physically. And my nerves are so healthy, but my chest lets me down. So there we are. Life & death in all of us! Did ‘Chariot of the Sun’ ever appear? I have never seen a copy. I should like very much to have one, if the book exists. And is it possible for you to send me a couple of imperfect copies of ‘Escaped Cock’ as you once suggested. I should be glad. Oh yes, don’t you try to recover yourself too soon – it is much better to be a little blind and stunned for a time longer, and not make efforts to see or to feel. Work is the best, and a certain numbness a merciful numbness. It was too dreadful a blow – and it was wrong.” A block of light toning from previous display, tape remnants and chipping to edges, and writing lightly showing through from opposing sides, otherwise fine condition.
Harry Crosby, a fellow poet, had committed suicide along with his mistress in a New York City hotel room, prompting Lawrence to send this letter to Caresse Crosby. Her real name was Mary Phelps Jacob, a powerful New York socialite who was the founder of Black Sun Press and had been influential in having the early works of several authors, including Lawrence, published. The work referenced by Lawrence, The Escaped Cock, was the author’s last major work of fiction, ultimately published until the title The Man Who Died. Published in two parts, the first in 1928 and the second in 1929, Lawrence told the story of Jesus Christ’s life following his resurrection. Rather than ascend into heaven, Lawrence wrote of a Christ who traveled the human world. As for Lawrence, his doctor’s order for complete rest failed to save his life; his chest did indeed let him down and he died from tuberculosis on March 2, barely a month after sending this page. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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