Correspondence, Leonard Cohen

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599 Belmont Avenue, Westmount, Quebec, June 14, 1956,Dear Ralph,I'm delighted that you like the book and that you might include me in the Penguin.The book has been going we'll: most of the first small edition (450) already sold and a second in consideration. Excited to hear this morning that Critically Speaking will review it. July 1st at 4:30 pm, if you have the time and a powerful radio.I am leaving Montreal next week for a children’s camp outside of Ottawa, and returning for the month of September. Then I’ll be in New York for the next year or two doing an English M.A. at Columbia. I hope we can meet.Had a hamburger last night with Hank Nevard who is working very hard on forthcoming Bar exams and he sends his regards.How Is the novel? I’d very much like to talk to you about the differences between poetic and prose disciplines. Anxious to read your work.Thanks for the note and encouragement.Cordially,P.S. I’ll find out about your order to Contact Press. But if you want another book I’d be happy to send you one.
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2 West 67th Street New York 23, N.Y.February 26, 1957Dear Leonard,I would like to include "Ballad” end "When This American Woman" from Let Us Compare Mythologies In my new Penguin anthology of Canadian poetry— to be published sometime this year. Would you give me the necessary permissions — I take It that the copyrights are held by you?would you also send me for my BiographicalNotes: the year of your birth, the place, education,and what now doing.In “Ballad"— I assume line 12 should be apostrophe"flower's"; and line 20 should be without the apostrophe?You are probably in N.Y.C.— at Columbia? Anynow poena? If you are in town., call me sometime end wo can discuss poetic doings.All the best,Sincerely,
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2 West 67th Street New York 23, N.Y.March 26, 1957Dear Leonard,I had sent a letter to 599 Belmont Avenue, but T guess it never reached you. Meanwhile I have had your address from Louis DudekI'm finishing an anthology of Canadian poetry to be published later this year by Penguin Books Ltd, and would like to Include your BALLAD) ("He pulled aflower") and WHEN THIS AMERICAN WOMAN. $5.00 a poem A weary sum, but I hope I can have your Permissions?If the above is agreeable, would you send me a few lines for my Biographical Note- the year and place of your birth, education, present doing, and pubIications?In BALLAD- I assume line 12 should be apostrophe "flower's"; and line 20 should be without apostrophe).When you have a chance, hope you Trill phone and we car get together.All the best,Sincerely,International House 500 Riverside Drive New York, N.Y.
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International House 500 Riverside Drive New York 27, N. Y.April 10, 1957Dear Ralph,Born Montreal September 21, 1934.Education: Westmount School System, McGill University, B.A. 1955; 1 year McGill Law School,1956; graduate studies in English at Columbia, 1957. Awarded Chester McNaughton Prize for Writing at McGill, 1955.At present I am writing full-time, prose and poetry, and have just completed a second volume of verse, entitled, I think, SPICE BOX OF EARTH.Except for poems in little mags, my only publication is LET IIS COMPARE MYTHOLOGIES, Contact Press, Toronto, 1956. (1st Vol. McGill Poetry Series)Is there any possibility that you could use a poem other than WHEN THIS AMERICAN WOMAN? I don't think it's any good.Thank you for including me. I'd like very much to see you.Sincerely,
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RALPH GUSTAFSON ELISABETH GUSTAFSONPay to the ORDERChase Manhattan Bank New York N.Y.
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2 West 67th Street New York 23, N.Y.April 15 195?Dear Leonard,I had forgotten it was Passoverwhen I phoned today and left a message--could you come around for a visit today.You are perhaps in Montreal#Would it possible that you alight a end me the MS of your second volume of verse— I'd very much like to see it before a final choice is made of your poetry for my anthology? I would only keep it a day or two— and mail it back to you safely.Or you could pick it up when we arrange to got together. Perhaps you’d come here for a drink one afternoon soon?All best wishes for the Holiday.Sincerely,
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515 West 168th Street New York 32, N.Y.February 20, 1959Dear Leonard,I enclose my check for $10 In payment; for the reprintingof your poems in THE PENGUIN BOOK OF CANADIAN VERSE- with many thanks for letting me have them, I hope this reaches you safely It's the last address of yours I have— except one Ron Everson told we c/o Friedman which has slipped my mind. I was sorry to have missed seeing you when I was in Montreal; but more than sorry to hear that the 4penny Gallery had burned down.Hone you did not sustain too great a loss. Let me have your news when you have a moment.Yours,
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