JOHN HERSEY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/27/1944 - HFSID 273253

JOHN HERSEY
The author signs a typed letter to Leonard Lyons about seeing his Toscani item, included with a copy of A Bell for Adano and two ticket stubs from the play adapted from this novel
Typed Letter Signed: "John Hersey", 1p, 7¼x11. New York City, 1944 May 27. On letterhead of Life, Editorial Offices to Leonard Lyons, New York, New York. In full: "Yes, I did see your Toscani item. You sure have your ear to the ground. Thanks for sending me the letter. Best". Two ticket stubs for Orchestra Seats for the opening night of the play, A Bell for Adano, at the Cort Theatre on Broadway taped to lower margin. Letter is affixed to the inside cover of Hersey's book, A Bell for Adano, 288p, 5½x8, hardcover. Alfred A. Knopf, New York: 1944. First Edition. The original Broadway drama, A Bell for Adano, ran at the Cort Theatre for 296 performances from December 6, 1944-October 27, 1945 (except for the period of June 30-August 13, 1945, when the show was on hiatus). Based on Hersey's novel, the play was written by Paul Osborn and produced by Leland Hayward and starred Frederic March. Hersey's 1944 book, A Bell for Adano, the story of the Allied occupation of Italy, won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A former war correspondent in the Pacific and Europe for "Time" magazine (1939-1945), JOHN HERSEY (1914-1993) brought vivid accounts of war to readers in such books as Men on Bataan (1942), Hiroshima (1946), a graphic report on the bombing of the Japanese city, and The Wall (1950). LEONARD LYONS was a columnist for the "New York Post". His column, "The Lyons Den" (1934-1974), featured tidbits about notables he interviewed in New York, including authors. In the year before this letter, Lyons and Bennett Cerf began a feud stemming from Cerf's publication of a book of stories about celebrities. Lyons, who had been planning to write a similar book of his own, claimed that many of Cerf's stories had been stolen directly from his columns. Cerf refuted the allegation, saying that his stories were similar as both men had been at the same places and events, and threatened to sue after the "Post" printed Lyons' allegations. The settlement between Cerf and the "Post" did not involve any monetary damages, but Lyons was prohibited from using Cerf's name in his future columns and the men did not speak for over 25 years, even though they ran into each other frequently. Letter is lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Tape remnants at upper left and right corners and at upper right edge. Tape stains from ticket stubs at lower blank portion. Otherwise, fine condition. Book is in original dust jacket, which has split at spine (spine portion missing). Jacket is chipped at edges. Book cover has nail head-size stain at upper blank area, worn and creased at corners. Inside cover and first blank flyleaf bear tape remnants and stains. Pages are lightly worn. Two items.