Gertrude Stein: A Great Rejection Letter And A Study Of The Back Of Her Head

PA-9947545

ON April 19, 1912, Gertrude STrine received this letter from Arthur C Fifield, Publisher.

On a bright note, it shows that he read her stuff, mocking her manuscript’s tricky cadence. He never did buy Three Lives:

“Being only one, having only one pair of eyes, having only one time, having only one life, I cannot read your MS three or four times. Not even one time. Only one look, only one look is enough. Hardly one copy would sell here. Hardly one. Hardly one.”

 

gertrude stein rejection

 

Photo 1: This is an unusual study of the back of Gertrude Stein’s head, Sept. 16, 1941.

PA-9947547

Sculpture of Gertrude Stein by Jo Davidson, at the Whiney Museum in New York City, Nov. 16, 1966.

 

PA-8695043

American writer Gertrude Stein works at her desk in Paris, France, on Nov. 22, 1938

 

PA-9947543

AP: Gertrude Stein, who has a perplexing way of putting one little word after another, gives an autograph to an admirer just before sailing on the Champlain from New York, May 4, 1935 for her country home in France. With her grey hair mannishly cropped and dressed in the same outfit she wore arriving last October, Miss Stein said her reception here, “was perfectly marvellous. It was extraordinary and so completely natural because it was so completely natural.” 

PA-9947546

Gertrude Stein left Baltimore 32 years ago after four years of unsuccessful effort to get a medical degree at Johns Hopkins University. She returned, famous as a writer of intricate prose. She is at a desk in the home of her cousin, Julian Stein, at Pikesville, at Baltimore suburb, Dec. 28, 1934. On the floor is the son of her host

PA-3346758

 

Literary figure Gertrude Stein, left, famous for her unusual interpretation of the English language, arrives in New York aboard the S.S. Champlain Oct. 24, 1934 with her secretary and companion Alice B. Toklas. Headlines and enthusiastic crowds greeted Stein as she returned to her homeland for the first time in more than 30 years

Would you like to support Flashbak?

Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.