Summary

Creator:

Nin, Anaïs, 1903-1977

Abstract:

Letter from writer Anaïs Nin to American collector Thomas C. DiGenti regarding his wish to purcase a copy of Nin's literary magazine Two Cities. Acquired as part of the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture.

Extent:

0.1 Linear Feet
1 item (2 leaves) + 1 envelope
21 x 27 cm.

Language:

Materials in English

Collection ID:

RL.11655

Background

Scope and Content:

Letter from writer Anaïs Nin to the American collector, Thomas DiGenti, who wants a copy of her literary magazine Two Cities. She does not have a copy, but directs him to the NYC bookshop The Phoenix, on Cornelia St. Nin has turned over distribution of Two Cities to The Phoenix at a financial loss due to constraints on her time. She writes of her desire to publish the work of new writers. She goes on to describe a recent trip to Europe where she visited London, Brussels, and Paris, where she was well-received due to her European popularity. Nin asks DiGenti if he has an extra copy of her book D.H. Lawrence: An unprofessional study. She wants to send it to her London publisher, who is interested in putting out a new edition. Nin states that she's currently busy writing Seduction of the Minotaur, the last part of her Cities of the Interior sequence which she describes as a "finale to the novels."

Biographical / Historical:

Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) was a Cuban-French-American writer, best known as a prolific diarist. She also wrote novels, critical studies, short stories, and erotica. Nin co-founded the literary magazine Two Cities (1959-1964) in Paris referred to in this letter. Her D.H. Lawrence critical study Nin mentions in this item was first published in 1932. During her lifetime, Nin self-published many of her works, which were critically ignored, but admired by other writers. In 1966, Nin published the first volume of her diaries to public acclaim, which spurred interest in and eventual critical reevaluation of her earlier works. As mentioned in this item, Nin actively promoted the works of emerging writers.

Acquisition Information:

The Anaïs Nin letter to Thomas C. DeGenti, 1962 February 21 was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2015.

Processing information:

Processed by Megan E. Lewis, March, 2022.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2015-0050-LUBMSS359

Other Descriptive Data:

Letter addressed from "3 Washington Square Village, New York 12" to "143 Newbury St. Lawrence, Mass". Postmarked Los Angeles, 21 Feb 1962. Letter dated from postmark.

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related

Related Material:

Two Cities correspondence, manuscripts, and proofs, Department of Special Collections, MS 49, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Subjects:

Book collectors -- United States -- 20th century
Women authors, American -- 20th century -- Correspondence
Women authors, American -- 20th century -- Correspondence

Names:

Lisa Unger Baskin Collection (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
DiGenti, Thomas, 1926-1992
Baskin, Lisa Unger
Nin, Anaïs, 1903-1977