Notorious criminal (1890–1963) who, while imprisoned, became a self-educated authority on birds and earned the nickname 'The Birdman of Alcatraz.' ALS, signed twice, “Robert Stroud,” one page both sides, 8 x 10.5, January 11, 1964. Handwritten letter from Alcatraz to his sister Mamie, in part: "The letter from Marc was very optimistic…George says that Tom has done a wonder job on the book. Much better than Marc and I expected, but that he does need a little more time for revision. He has been given until Feb. 15—then it will take a few weeks to get it published. It should not take more than six weeks at most for a book of that size and kind…George is sure that once the book is out he can close the picture deal at once…some of the biggest people in the field are intensely interested. The story is an unusual one, and if the book is well done, it may become a big seller. It should sell 20 or 30 thousand advance copies, and if it does, and the things go through as planned, my end of it after taxes will be from 20 to 24 thousand dollars. If it becomes a best seller, it will be many times that." In fine condition.
Stroud refers to his biography, written by Thomas E. Gaddis under the title 'Birdman of Alcatraz,' published in 1955. Gaddis, who strongly advocated rehabilitation in the prisons, portrayed Stroud in a favorable light. The book was adapted by Guy Trosper for the 1962 film of the same name, directed by John Frankenheimer. It starred Burt Lancaster as Stroud, Karl Malden as a fictionalized and renamed warden, Thelma Ritter as Stroud's mother, and Betty Field as his wife.
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