372
JOYCE CAROL OATES
21 October
Dear Mr. Lurie:
Having waited hopefully but futilely for your reply, I would
like to explain myself a little more. I am not - repeat,
not
-
an
ordinary seeker after the talented and illustrious.
As
I said at the
outset of our correspondence, I have never before written a "fan"
letter (and hardly anticipate doing so again); indeed, my desire to
talk with you is purely professional. As I am at this moment working
on a lengthy analytical study of your work, it can 11ardly be said that
my appeals to you have been mere "fan" (I detest that ugly term ).
Perhaps you have misunderstood.
Is it possible that you are so deluged with awards (the recent
Academy grant was richly deserved - but why did they wait so long
to give it to you?) and invitations and congratulations and offers of
various types (beyond my ability even to imagine, I suppose) that
you cannot recognize a legitimate inquiry when it arrives? Or is your
mail scanned by a secretary, who has only a superficial concern for
your career and a limited awareness of what might truly advance it?
It
is something of a tragedy, I have always believed, that sensitive,
dedicated people with much in common can be separated, perhaps
forever, by middle parties with no clear grasp of what they are doing.
Please let me hear from you - I will be home all weekend, await–
ing your call.
Dear Mr. Lurie:
Why didn't you call?
Very sincerely yours,
Roberta Brightmore
26 October
I am very disappointed but I guess I understand.
Let me explain further: it isn't just your work I admire, but
you yourself, the personality I sense behind that rigid, careful face
of yours. It is not a handsome face, but strong, powerful, command–
ing - it speaks of a titanic soul. Have you read Edgeware's biography
of Beethoven? There are uncanny similarities between you and that
great, unhappy man.
Enclosed is a pen-and-ink drawing based on one of your photo–
graphs. I thought it might amuse or interest you , and I would ap-
