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20th Century Children's Authors - Thurber
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20th Century Children's Authors - James Thurber - Many Moons
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20thCCA_Thurber_01
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November 17, 1947
Dear Miss Montgomery
"Many Moons" was the first thing I took up
after a series of five eye operations which lasted
from October, 1940 to April, 1941. I had one of the
worse cataracts in history and also one of the most
mysterious eyes. i was shot by an arrow when I was
six in Falls Church, Virginia, and the sight of my
right eye was given up as los also. Doctors regard
it as a miracle that I did not go stone blind when I
was six. Of the 30,000 recorded cases in medical history
only three of us did not go stone blind. One great
doctor said that I saw until the cataract set in in 1940,
although I did not have any apparatus of vision. He said
I could call it E.S.P. or God. Another man said it was
like playing a piano with both hands cut off at the wrist.
The terrible strains of the operations resulted
in a severe nervous breakdown which struck me one Sunday
night in june, 1941, after I had written the first 300 words
of "Many Moons". I began to shake all over but I continued
to write. I managed to finish the story that night, which
is something of a miracle for me who has often taken eight
weeks to write 4,000 words. I used to write on the typewriter
and I often did stories over from beginning to end
from five to ten times. I had to take up a new system of
writing with the loss of 8/10ths of my vision, and starting
with "Many Moons" I used a soft black pencil and yellow
paper, since black on yellow is the most visible of all
color combinations. This is why it is used on all American
highways for traffic signs. Since I could not see what I
was writing, I used to run my thumb down the page to keep
track of where I was, but I often wrote over lines. Now
through practice and strong glasses I write over only when
I get tired. I write on both sides of the paper and get
only 20 words on a side. I use 200 sharpened pencils.
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20thCCA_Thurber_02
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The original draft of "Many Moons" was accidentally
left on the kitchen table in the summer house of
a friend of mine on Martha's Vineyard, and I did not get
it until the following spring. The breakdown had made
it impossible for me to write during that summer and
winter anyway. When I had the story copied it ended
without the three attempts to conceal the moon. E.B.
White, whose criticism has always meant a great deal to
me, in both writing and drawing, suggested that the story
seemed incomplete the way i had it. The little Princess
just went to sleep with the golden moon, and without any
problems. I thought up the solution myself, but I gratefully
acknowledge the nudge from Mr. White.
The story was condensed in Reader's Digest
without my consent, since the publisher had all reprint
rights at that time. I retain them myself now. It was
also done on Radio Reader's Digest. I regard The Great
Quillow", my second fairy tale, as being better than
"Many Moons" and it was seven times as hard to write.
My final expression in this field, "The White Deer", took
me a year and is better than the other two. It was brought
out as an adult book. I have no doubt whatever that because
of my nervous condition i entered the world of fairy
tales partly as an escape. It helped a lot.
I am nearly 6'2", and I weigh only 155 lbs.
I have a thick thatch of hair that is now nearly white
My complexion has been described as "a cranberry in
candlelight". i am extremely nervous as a result of not
only five eye operations, but of two pneumonias and a
ruptured appendix, all within sixteen months. I was given
up for lost because of peritonitis, but I had to finish
"The White Deer" so I did not have time to die. For
further information about my personality write to Mr.
White or Joel Sayre at The New Yorker, or Miss Ann Honeycutt,
an old voice teacher of mine, 22 East 66th Street,
New York City. I sing only late at night. Sincerely yours,
James Thurber
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20thCCA_Thurber_03
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West Cornwall, Conn.
January 14, 1948
Dear Mrs. Montgomery:
The objections to your piece consist mainly of loud
and indignant protest from both my wife and daughter who
feel that the dialogue, since it was made up, definitely
gives the idea of being unreal. In other words, you have
romanticized the situation, since my daughter was not
present at the time and Mrs. Thurber resents dialogue which
is so unlike her, and also feels that the use of "Jamie,"
etc., has the effect of presenting her a little soft
and silly.
Of course the dialogue method helps you to pad out
the story, but it seems to all of us that it would be
improved by casting it into straight third-person prose.
This would eliminate the feeling of artificiality that
the dialogue is bound to give.
Maybe i could send you some further material but I
don't know what it would be. I have always felt that
straight journalistic accounts are better than fancied
situations. Maybe you can see your way to rearranging
the material.
Sincerely yours,
James Thurber
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20thCCA_Thurber_04
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West Cornwall, Conn.
March 13, 1948
Dear Mrs. Montgomery:
Your new version is all right with me and, as I said, the
original one was opposed by my wife and daughter who do not
object to dialogue but felt that your version of how they talk
did not do them justice.
The question of children liking dialogue better than solid
prose has interested me for years. You are quite right that they
like dialogue better but the trouble is that many children grow
to be eighteen or twenty before they can throw off their awful
addiction to conversation. Most girls in their teens prefer some-
thing like "Centennial Summer" to "My Antonia" simply because there
is more talk in the cheaper novel. When they do get around to
solid prose they find it better and just as interesting. I do not
believe they should be catered to or surrendered to by adult writers
and teachers. Indulgence should be tempered with discipline.
Mrs. Thurber and I were living in a house of our own that
summer on the Vineyard and had left the manuscript at the house of
some friends who live nearby, but this is a minor point.
My father was once with the Underwood Typewriter Company and
I began typing when I was eight. I never learned the touch system
but for nearly forty years I wrote extremely fast. You have to if
your are a newspaper reporter, as i was. Not many reporters used
the touch system but they all wrote swiftly. My father was some-
thing of a speed demon but he was not a touch man either. After
six months a typist should be able to type with his eyes closed
by memory of the keyboard, and most of us operate that way. The
only hunt and peck people I ever knew were girls in their teens and
young wives who got typewriters for Christmas. Those who still
hunt and peck after six months or a year should give up and go in
for basket weaving. I could still type but I would not be able to
see the type, and a pencil gives you contact with your words. A
great many writers use pencil and paper and then type it out later.
I'm sorry you have been put to so much trouble. All my best
wishes for the success of your book.
Sincerely yours,
James Thurber
James Thurber
JH
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Montgomery
3209 Alki Avenue
Seattle 6, Washington
jt:jh
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20thCCA_Thurber_05
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"Many Moons"
Published by: Harcourt Brace Year: 1942
Real Name: James Grover Thurber Pen Name: James Thurber
What do you family and friends call you?: My family and my intimate friends
call me Jamie. I am Jim to most people.
A. YOUR BACKGROUND
Date of birth: December 8, 1894 Place of birth: Columbus, Ohio
Father's occupation: An honest politician Number of Brothers: 2 and
sisters: none
Father's nationality: American Mother's nationality: American
Kind of home during childhood (farm, small town, city apt. etc):
A series of two-story houses Where: In Columbus
Amount of schooling (high school, college, etc.): Grammar and High School
in
Columbus and 4 years at Ohio State University. (Not graduated)
Economic status during childhood (poor, middle class, wealthy): poor,
middle class
Special interests as a child (sports, books, games, etc.):
I read more than anything else, but I liked games and could play them
well;-In spite of
the loss of my left eye at the age of six.
Childhood ambitions: To become a newspaper man, artist and writer. I
managed all
of these.
When did you begin to write?: at the age of six.
Why?: You are a writer yourself and you know why.
Who encouraged you?: Several friends and teachers in grammer grades, high
school
and college. My chief influence was the late Professor Joseph Russell
Taylor.
How did you happen to write for children?: I do not write for children as
children. I regard them as more intelligent and aware then adults. I never
use
big words on adults.
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20thCCA_Thurber_06
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B. THE WRITING OF THE BOOK
Where did you get the idea for the book?: Don't know - had it in mind for
many years.
When? (Season as well as year): I started writing it in June, 1941.
Were the characters real people, or based on real people?:
I believe that all good characters are a combination of the imaginary and
the real.
Where were you living at the time?: On Martha's Vineyard
What was your major occupation?: Writer
Names (also nicknames) and identities of members of your household at
the time. (If children, give ages.) My daughter, Rosemary, was 10. I have
no other children. She and I have a thousand nicknames for each other, all
of which
we regard as strictly private.
Did you talk the book over with any of them?: I talk all my writing over
with my wife, Helen, who was a professional editor, and with my daughter,
Rosemary.
Did you discuss it with an editor?: I gather you mean publisher. I
discussed only
the artist, who was the publisher's selection and a good one.
Where and how did you get the material? (library research, travel,
personal experience, etc.) Out of my little mind.
When did you begin to write the book?: See above
Where?: See above
How much had you had published when you began it? (Give names of books):
About 12 books - no space here to list them
What was your purpose in writing this book?: The tremendous pleasure I knew
I would get out of it.
How do you write? (typewriter, long-hand, dictate): See covering letter.
Where? (study, office, etc.): On a card table in the guest room.
Do you keep regular office hours? If so, what are they?: No
Do you revise much?: Yes Write easily or laboriously?: Combination of both.
Do you let your family or friends read your work, or try it out on
children?: My wife and daughter are my best critics.
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20thCCA_Thurber_07
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Who makes your final copies? (yourself, private secretary, public
typist, etc.): Private Secretary
Did you make an outline before writing the book?: I never make outlines.
Did you decide on the title first or last?: I don't know. It was title of
musical comedy Ohio State Scarlet Mask. 1923 which I wrote How long did it
take you to write the book?: See letter.
Did you work on it steadily?: See letter.
Did it go fairly smoothly or did you hit rough spots? (Details of any
particular difficulty and its solution would be appreciated.) See letter
Was your book accepted immediately by a publisher?: Yes
Was it immediately popular on publication?: Yes
C. ILLUSTRATIONS
How much did you have to do with the illustrations of your book?: Nothing.
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20thCCA_Thurber_08
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D. WHAT SORT OF PERSON YOU ARE
What did you look like when you wrote this book? Dark or Fair?:
Tall or short?: Tall Thin or plump?: Thin
Color of eyes?: Blue Wore glasses?: Yes
Color of hair?: Gray Kind of hair--long or short?: Medium
Curly or straight?: Curly
Any special features of your appearance (square jaw, dimples, stoop,
etc.): Pointed jaw, mustache, high forehead
Are you quiet or talkative?: Talkative Friendly or reserved?: Friendly
Do you laugh a great deal or are you usually grave?: Laugh
Are you quick-tempered ir calm and placid?: Quick-tempered
What sort of clothes do you wear most when writing? (sports, suits,
slacks, etc.): Slacks, sport shirts, sport jackets, moccasins
Favorite occupations and hobbies?: Owning dogs, Used to bowl, play ping
pong.
If strongly religious, give denomination.: Non-practicing Methodist
Any other details about yourself, no matter how trivial, which might
help me to picture you in my own mind. See letter
Can you direct me to any articles or books which have been written
about you?: Thurber, Inc., Saturday Review by Robert Coates; The Legendary
Thurber,
The Ladies Home Journal, July, 1946; Thurber, The Comic Prufrock by Peter
DeVries
in poetry about 1943.