ALS, three pages, 8.5 x 11, August 24, 1910. Letter to “O’Hara,” written from Glen Ellen, California, in part: “Between being away from home for months, my wife’s long illness, the loss of our little one, and a thousand other troubles, I have done no formal corresponding at all. No; you were mistaken in your anticipations of ‘Burning Daylight.’ He hit Wall Street in passing, that was all. Just received a letter from Olga Nethersole—it seems she is going to produce my play. I agree with you—poker is the game of games. Stud? It is a rip-snorting game. It more inspires me with terror (when I’ve a bad streak of luck) than any game I know….Gee! What a fizzle the big fight was. Jeffries was all right physically, but he broke down under nervous strain and went into the tin in a state of semi-coma.” In fine condition, with small repaired splits along intersecting folds, and a light block of toning and a few small holes to the last page.
Published in 1910, Burning Daylight revolves around the travels of its eponymous character from the Yukon Territory to the streets of San Francisco on a restless search to strike it rich. Deemed one of London’s best Klondike novels, the book was a massive success upon its release and proved to be the author’s best-selling book during his lifetime. The mentioned “play” is likely Theft, a four-act political drama and London’s first stab at a theatre production, published in book form in 1910 but not performed on stage until 1955. Just weeks before this letter on July 4, 1910, in downtown Reno, London had reported ringside at the racially charged ‘fight of the century’ between heavyweight champ Jack Johnson and unsuccessful challenger James Jeffries, the ‘great white hope,’ who he offers some thoughts on here. A fantastic, content-rich letter from a writer who, like his characters, was never afraid to gamble. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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