JOSEPH "JOSKA" SZIGETI - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/23/1945 - HFSID 49492

JOSEPH SZIGETI
Autograph Letter signed in 1945, discussing draft chapters of his memoirs sent to author Frances Winwar
Autograph Letter signed: "Joska", 1 page, 5½x7¼. No place, 1945 April 23. To "Dear Frances", in full: "You once said (on your very welcome sheet of recommendations): 'never explain, never apologize'. So I won't - even though I am again thrusting all this upon you! These three rewritten & expanded pages of "Final Chapter' are to be followed by those which I've already sent you, last week. (The Saigon letter is also a little revamped.) I am very impatient to have the end in sight ... [Ellipses in original.] Sleeping a little better these nights though the rare days when I can get the typist are pretty bad. A thousand thanks dear Frances!" His postscript written with a different pen: "Our canaries multiplying and singing crazily! Artichokes so tender we eat in the patio in sight of our camellias.)" Hungarian virtuoso violinist Joseph Szigeti (1892-1973) debuted as a child prodigy, touring and recording until his retirement in 1960. Known as "the scholarly violinist," he championed works by contemporary composers, including his lifelong friend Bela Bartok. Szigeti and his wife Wanda (Ostrowska) Szigeti lived mostly in the US from 1939 to 1960, returning thereafter to Switzerland. Szigeti's memoirs, With Strings Attached, obviously a work in progress when he wrote this letter, were published in 1947. Szigeti on the Violin appeared in 1969. The addressee was Frances Winwar (1900-1985), author of many literary biographies, who was evidently helping edit Szigeti's manuscript. Horizontal mailing fold. Top right corner creased. Lightly soiled and creased. Pencil note (unknown hand) at lower margin. Otherwise, fine condition.