Williams, Tennessee | An illuminating and frank group of correspondence on family, his health, and psychological state

Williams, Tennessee

A collection of 5 typed letters signed ("Tom" and "T. Wms.") and one note signed ("Tennessee Williams"), on various subjects, 1959-1980  

Comprising: Typed letter signed to his first analyst, Dr. Lawrence Kubie, Miami, 18 March 1959; 2pp., on The Towers letterhead, with the original envelope. — Typed letter signed to his cousins Stell and Jim Adams, 15 W. 72, [New York] City, 11 February 1966; 1/2 p., on onionskin. — Typed letter signed to Jim Adams, Key West, 6 September 1979; 2 1/2 pp., on onionskin, with the original envelope. — Typed letter signed to Stell Adams, Key West, 5 October 1979; 1 1/2 pp., on onionskin. — Typed letter signed to Stell Adams, N.p., 29 December 1980; 1 p., on onionskin. — note signed, [np, nd]; 1/2 p., on lined paper, giving his approval for expenses to care for his sister Rose.  

Together 8 pages (from 215 x 140 to 280 x 215 mm); old folds, a few small chips, one dampstained. 

An illuminating and frank group of correspondence, including poignant comments following the death of his partner Frank Merlo: "I don't need to tell you, I'm sure, that I am going through a period of terrific strain. Thank you for worrying about me, I'm worried about me too. I know that very soon I'll have to force myself out of my inertia and go somewhere." 

The letters mostly relate to his sister Rose, with whom he was quite close: "I bought a lovely house for [Rose] in a better neighborhood that mine. I am far from happy with the female companion whom I engaged to care for her. The woman is a Jesus freak and a downer. She is continually taking Rose out to her own social activities such as Masonic Lodge meetings and Bible study groups. Last night she phones me that she had told the whole group to pray for my salvation ... Rose is now 70 and I feel that the twilight years of her life should be made agreeable as possible, since she has such a tragic past ..." 

Williams also discusses his partner, Robert Carroll, detailing his struggles with substances: "Robert becomes more and more impossible so I spend increasingly long periods away from Key West. He really wants to take over completely. His drug addiction is pitiable but hard to live with. I keep hoping to somehow extricate myself from this relationship which offers only habitutude ..." 

PROVENANCE:

Christie's New York, 17 May 1991, lots 146 & 152