In April of this year, a book was published featuring 566 of author Willa Cather's personal letters. According to Random House, "The Selected Letters of Willa Cather" amount to only 20 percent of the total collection of her letters. (There's a review of the book at this link.)A bit of controversy surrounds the book because, according to an NPR story, her will specifically forbade the publishing of her letters. With the death of her nephew, who was also the will's executor, the letters have now been published. The story also says that the will also dictated that her work not be adapted to theater or film; yet, "My Antonia" was turned into a stage play in the 1990s.
Apparently, her letters are fascinating to read, and she's been deceased since 1947. What do you think? Should her wishes have been respected forever and the letters never published? Some of the commenters on the NPR site obviously think that way but not all do.
I'm curious what other letter writers think.
I don't know. It seems a little indecent to publish letters against the author's will, but on the other hand: if the author passed away so long ago and no one currently alive is disadvantages by it, I don't really see why not. Especially if it's educative or enhances your understanding of someone or something.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the point in writing a will if it's ignored? What if someone else famous now decides to burn their letters after reading about what happened to Cather? Or their manuscripts, on the off chance that they will be published without their consent? The same might happen with copyrights. Is nothing protected?
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Willa Cather and have read several of her books, but I will pass on this book of letters since she did not want them published... Thanks for bringing this up! I might have purchased the book for my collection of books of letters, if you hadn't brought this to my attention!
ReplyDeleteI love books of compiled letters ... I really enjoy reading the letters of prolific letter writers, it gives me a lot of insight into the people and the era in which they wrote, but if the will specifically said she did not wish to have her letters published, then her wishes should have been respected. For historical purposes the letters could be kept and in a day, long after her death made available for view in the Library of Congress, but should not be published for profit. As a historical tool her letters could do a lot to give insight into the day in which she lived, but no one should be able to just disregard her wishes to make a buck!
I enjoy your blog, thanks for keeping us all informed!