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Margaret Mitchell

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Margaret Mitchell

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Auction Date:2018 May 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
TLS signed “Margaret Mitchell Marsh,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, August 3, 1948. Letter to Lucile von der Lieth, in full: "It is difficult for me to tell you how much I appreciated your very perceptive letter about 'Gone With the Wind.' I am glad when any reader likes my book but when that reader is a thoughtful and analytical person it makes my pleasure even greater. Yes, that part about Mammy shouting out of the window (in the movie) always jars on me. I understand that it jarred on Hattie McDaniel, who played the part, and on Susan Myrick from Macon, who, as technical adviser, protested that no well brought up servant in a nice house would have acted in so common a fashion. But the movie people said, 'But it will get a laugh.'

It is interesting that you mentioned 'Seven Years that Changed the World.' I had never heard of it until you mentioned it, but the very day after your letter came someone else spoke of it to me. Either the author had never read 'Gone With the Wind' or, like most readers, read into the book only what was in his own mind. Otherwise, he would never have had Rhett down as a Northerner.

I was interested in what you wrote about Mrs. Avary and I am glad that your relations with her were pleasant and your memories were happy. It's unpleasant to say it, but those of us who tried our best to do for her in her old age found ourselves to be entangled in dreadful accusations and unpleasantness that we look back on our efforts with horror. No, I had not known Mrs. Avary as a child and a young girl. I know she said she 'raised me at her knee' and assisted me in writing 'Gone With the Wind' and she wrote articles for national magazines and gave somewhat embarrassing interviews which I could not bear to contradict, not only because of her age but for the genuine respect I bore her for the historical spadework she did on our Southern history. Without her 'Virginia Girl' and 'Dixie After the War' researchers of today would have to dig much harder, and we are all in her debt. The Truth of the matter is I never met Mrs. Avary until shortly before 'Gone With the Wind' was published in 1936.

I love Augusta and it was with happy anticipation that my husband and I made our recent trip there. He has made a good recovery from the heart attack and it was our first little vacation since his illness. I took a dose of vitamin tablets and suddenly discovered that I was allergic to them and for some time was quite ill and had to return home ignominiously on the train and have the automobile brought back by a kind Augustan. We hope to visit in your city again some time, and I hope to see you. Again, many thanks for your kindness." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope. Myrta Lockett Avary was a successful journalist and author whose 1906 novel Dixie After the War become a national best seller and served as the inspiration for Mitchell's Gone With the Wind.