Paul Bowles letters to Anthony Weller

Six pieces of correspondence, all written to Anthony Wellner, author of Days and Nights on the Grand Trunk Road, and himself a novelist, journalist, musician, and world traveler (an unusual combination of talents that he shared with Bowles). The correspondence spans the years 1986-1990 (with two pieces undated).

The sequence begins with a typed and signed letter from March 1986, in which Bowles explains his daily routine and his address and his nonfunctioning elevator, all in preparation for a visit at his home in Tangier from Weller. The second typed and signed letter, from that same June, is written from Tangier and sent to Amsterdam, and in which Bowles thanks Weller for some stories he sent and goes on to express chagrin at a piece of music that Bowles had written for a dancer that had then appeared on the program of a Rotterdam concert, and was never intended for that kind of venue.

In 1989, Bowles sends Weller an autograph and signed postcard thanking him for a casette tape of music by Revueltas, the great Mexican composer, "most of which I've never heard." In 1990, an autograph and signed letter thanks Weller for Chavez's tapes (another great Mexican composer, although Bowles says he prefers Revueltas to Chavez), complains a bit about sciatica, and then expresses appreciation for Weller's remarks "on the homogeneity of my writing and music. I've never agreed with those who lock the two into seperate, hermetic enclosures, claiming that one is white and the other is black. I suppose someone wrote it once, and the rest followed suit. Thats the way meaningless remarks are transformed into legends, or 'truth.'"

The final two autographed and signed notes (undated), each relate to a personal visit, one saying a given date is not possible; the other suggesting a date. With the exception of the postcard, which is signed "Paul B.," all items are signed in full.

A very nice run of correspondence between Bowles and a writer/musician who shared his talents and interests as very few others are likely to have. The six items are accompanied by four envelopes; three types, one hand-addressed; two addressed for mailing, two for hand delivery.