Four Typed Letters Signed from Author Ramsey Campbell to Author / Publisher Donald Wandrei
signed
1962 - 1974 · Liverpool, England
by CAMPBELL, RAMSEY & DONALD WANDREI
Liverpool, England, 1962 - 1974. Four original interesting letters from noted British horror and fantasy writer Ramsey Campbell to Arkham House publisher and author Donald Wandrei, each signed by Campbell - in full 3 times and as “Ramsey” once. In the first letter, dated June 10, 1962, Campbell writes in response to a letter from Wondrei with supportive criticism of some stories Wandrei had sent to him for feedback. In closing, Ramsey writes: “I would very much like to have your opinion of my work. Perhaps when DARK MIND, DARK HEART [sic] comes out, you could spare the time to give me a review of my story in there?” Dark Mind, Dark Heart is an anthology of horror stories edited by August Derleth (of Arkham House), released in 1962, notable for including ‘The Church in High Street’, the first Cthulhu Mythos story by Ramsey Campbell. In the second letter, dated August 10, 1964, Campbell thanks Wandrei for an autographed copy of his collection of poetry Poems for Midnight, expressing his favorites as ‘Forest Shapes’ and ‘The Moon-Glen Altar’, along with his appreciation of the illustrations and cover art. Campbell closes his letter with this: “We can now, at any rate, look forward to both TIME-BURIAL (retitle, I take it, of ORSON IS HERE) and STRANGE HARVEST. But I’m concerned not to see you represented in the latest AH [Arkham House] anthology - hope your writing has not fallen silent. There are too few authors today who can see beyond the city roofs and walls; those few that remain must be preserved.” Strange Harvest is a collection of stories by Wandrei released in 1965 and his fourth book published by Arkham House, with many of the stories originally appearing in the magazines Weird Tales and Astounding Stories. In the third letter Campbell writes about his work Demons by Daylight, published by Arkham House, and about various other publishing issues. Campbell’s fourth letter, dated August 18, 1974, refers to some legal issues around Demons by Daylight and about Wandrei himself. All correspondence is in very good lightly handled condition with creases from folding. Ramsey Campbell is a well-respected English horror fiction writer, editor, and critic. Donald Wandrei (1908 - 1987) was a science fiction and horror author, a friend of H.P. Lovecraft and edited volumes of his letters, was co-founder of Arkham House - Publishers, and recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1984, which he refused to accept. (Inventory #: 22129E)