Beschreibung:

JAMES, HENRY. Autograph letter signed ("Henry James") to Madame Helena Modjeska, 34 Vere Gardens, London, 17 November 1891. EIGHTEEN PAGES, 8vo, on James's pale gray stationery. JAMES DESCRIBES HIS DRAMATIC WORK TO AN AMERICAN ACTRESS "My friend Mr. [William Dean] Howells has been so good as to transmit to me a message from you...in regard to the part of Mme de Cintre in my play of The American --after [your] meeting him, in Boston, at luncheon at Mrs. Field's...I am so pleased at this mark of your interest that I doubly regret to have to say that if you were to see the part in question you would quickly recognize that it does not present sufficient material for your purpose. Your supposition that it does , is founded on a natural mistake--since Mme de C. is, technically, the heroine of the play. In spite of this position, or in spite of the fact that the part is--as I think--a very pretty & touching one, the place occupied by the character is limited & overshadowed. It is a short & rather effaced part...it is overhung & dominated by the character of the hero--Christopher Newman--which is the absorbing part of the play, & though I say it who shouldn't, a magnificent one for a strong & finished actor! I wish you were a possible Newman, dear Mme Modjeska!--in that case we should win great victories! "The play has reached its 52nd night here...I think it possible that you would take an interest in a very different matter...I allude to the part of Mrs. Vibert in a three-act play [his play later entitled The Tenants ]...which I finished some months ago...it is in the hands of Mr. John Hare, the proprietor of Garrick Theatre. This is a character in which...you would find a very interesting opportunity. The drama is, essentially, the story of a mother & son--a mother of 46 or 47--a son of 20. The action takes place...in the same apartment...There are 7 persons...Of the two subsidiary women one is a young girl, the other a youngish dame de compagnie --a comedy character....The young son...presents the greatest difficulty: it would be far from an easy part to cast, & on its being charmingly played the effect on the piece--& of the mother's part would immensely depend..." The difficulties of casting the part of the son are expounded upon: "Where are you to find such a phoenix? On our finding him here the date of production...wholly depends...Miss Genevieve Ward will probably play Mrs. Vibert..." He offers to send her the play, but notes that he will "in the light of some later experience that I have had--subject it to a minute revision." He cautions that "the whole question would apply only to the production of the piece in America ...At any rate I should be delighted to hear from you that you would give Mrs. Vibert your attention..." Sold with a signed cabinet photograph of Modjeska dated 1890 and two unidentified pencil sketches, possibly of the tragedienne. The lengthy letter is apparently unpublished, not in Letters , ed. Edel. Provenance : James Gilvarry (sale, Christie's New York, 7 February 1986, lot 152). (4)