Dear Mr. Dormandi:

I am terrybly sorry for not having written to you in such a long time. Lippincott’s kept your novel PLUS HEUREUX QUE L’ENFANCE for a very long time, and I was waiting to hear from them in the hope to have some good news to report. Unfortunately, as you can see from the enclosed letter, they turned it down. I do not believe in their criticism, and still believe that the book will sell. I will keep on trying.

I also had no luck so far with L’OMBRE DU CAPITAINE. This novel came very close to selling, and I still think that some publisher will take it. The last publisher, Simon & Schuster decided against it, but it is now with Bobbs Merrill, and I hope it fares better with them.

Kindest regards:

Maximilian Becker