JAMES T. FARRELL - AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT SIGNED 09/15/1963 - HFSID 27269

JAMES T. FARRELL
Author James T. Farrell wrote this short note about his most famous creation, Studs Lonigan, in New York City in 1963.
Autograph manuscript signed "James T. Farrell" in red ink. Black ink notations at top right corner and pencil notations on verso in unknown hand. 1 page, 7¾x12¼, ruled paper. New York City, Sept. 15, 1963. In full: "The years may come, and the years may go, as thsis expressed in a popular story of years ago - years before Studs Lonigan was Studs Longian - but now as the years come, and the years go, it seems that Studs Lonigan is going to stay around and perhaps perhaps, he'll [illegible] around the last [illegible], and sit on the last fire plug." Farrell (1904-1979) wrote a little bit of everything over his fifty-year writing career (1929-1979), from novels, short stories and poetry to journalism, literary criticism and even travel writing. But he's probably best known for the Studs Lonigan trilogy, which consisted of the semi-autobiographical Young Lonigan (1932) and two sequels, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan (1934) and Judgment Day (1935). Farrell often wrote about lower-middle-class Irish Catholic life, combining literary naturalism and realism with moral indignation over the materialism and barrenness of urban capitalist societies. But his politics gradually moved from the left to the right until he became a critic of the New Left during the 1950s and 1960s, with views on affirmative action and Israel indistinguishable from those of conservatives. Lightly toned and creased. Signature and handwriting are lightly smeared in places, but legible. Random ink stains. Lightly toned at top edge. Light tear in bottom right corner. Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.