Letters between George Garrett and John Lehmann

Summary

Dear Mr. Garrett,

I'm sending you, at Tom Wintringham's suggestion, a copy of the ‘manifesto’ for a new periodical, in which I think you might be interested. Tom mentioned that you had one or two stories (particularly one which he had seen) which would be well worth our consideration. If you therefore care to send these stories (to the above address), we would be very glad to have a look at them.

The sooner you answer the more grateful I shall be.

Yours sincerely,

John Lehmann.

Dear Lehman

The story or stories referred to by Wintringham are still in his possession – if not, then Montagu Slater has them. Anyway, I am writing by this post to ask Slater to forward them to you. If you should see him in the meantime, worry him for them. You might get quicker results being near at hand than I seem to get at such a long distance. I've even threatened him.

Thanks for the offer of consideration. Whether the stories are acceptable to you or not I will welcome a peep at The Bridge. Success to your effort.

Yours sincerely

George Garrett.

(Answered. JL. 23.12.35.)

Dear Garrett,

Your stories have been rescued, and I have now read them. I think The Ghost, the long one, is easily the best, and I should very much like to publish it. Unfortunately, owing to its length and lateness in emerging, it can't go into Number 1, but might well do for No. 2.

May I make a suggestion? First of all, that if possible you cut it a little. Secondly, that you think over altering the end? The descriptions of life on the boat, the sea and the rescues seemed to be admirable, almost epic, but the end unworthy of them, almost irrelevant. It's difficult to be very interested in the boxer after all the action has passed him over, and anyway why should he choose to hang about in a sheet? The triumph of the sailor over him seems to have very little to do with the essence of the story, to make smaller something that is very finely told and human.