Letters to May

Puckerbrush Pr, 1986. First Edition. Trade Paperback. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" A Very Good copy (clean inside, tight spine, minor damp-staining to the spine). Warmly signed and inscribed by editor (and recipient of the letters) May Sarton on the half-title page'For Joan / whose mother I loved / from / MS / Xmas 1986 / May Sarton'. Also laid in are an autograph letter signed, and an autograph postcard signed by May Sarton to Joan Palevsky. The letter is complete with envelope - with 'Joan Palevsky' in Sarton's hand. The letter is on a Christmas card, and is of 33 lines, discussing 'Letters to May' and other topics. It reads, in part: 'Dear Joan - A delicious package just arrived from you, bless you! My good news is that I am well at last, just back from a poetry reading tour in the Southwest, then Louisville. Earlier in Ogden, & had a rich experience staying with the Carmelites in Indianapolis - they had invited me 'in', know my work well, use it in their meditations & trated me like an old friend - perfect peace and love.' Sarton goes on to discuss a planned California trip, the gift from Palevsky of a Latin American novel the latter had underwritten (likely in the series she created at the University of California Press), she then goes on: 'Now I wonder did I ever send you my Mother's letters?' [etc.] The Postcard features poppies in flower and reads 'Dear Joan - wonderful to have you letter - Bravo! To ditch all those ['Burdens'?] and 'Committees' - after years of faithful service - I'm thrilled - Miss you! Here's a present Love M.' She adds a postscript: 'The poppies are out in the garden.'.