Shai Agnon – Large Collection of Letters – Letters to Benjamin Tammuz, Shin Shalom, and Others – Jerusalem ...

Shai Agnon – Large Collection of Letters – Letters to Benjamin Tammuz, Shin Shalom, and Others – Jerusalem, 1930s-1960s – "In the World of Rectification all is eventually rectified. But with regard to several errors that occurred in my article… I request that you correct them immediately, for they are of the [types of] errors that cannot be corrected in the World of Rectification if they are not first corrected in the World of Error"

Some 45 letters written by Shai (Shmuel Yosef) Agnon, all but one handwritten by him; most of them personally signed. 1930s to 1960s. Hebrew and some English.
Intriguing collection of letters written by one of the greatest of Hebrew authors of the Modern Era, Shai (Shmuel Yosef) Agnon, all written in his inimitable, singularly distinctive style, laced with sharpness, wit, and his characteristic humor. The majority of letters are addressed to the author, poet, sculptor, and editor of the daily newspaper "Haaretz, " Benjamin Tammuz. Several other letters are addressed to the author and poet Shin Shalom, editor of the journal "Carmelit." And in one other letter, addressed to Israel Meir Lask, who translated Agnon's novel "Hakhnassat Kalah" ("The Bridal Canopy") into English, Agnon congratulates the translator on the occasion of the publication of the English edition of the book. The great majority of the letters deal with various literary subjects, such as the publication of stories and articles by Agnon, assorted requests from editors pertaining to his writings, and other such matters.
Agnon was known for his insistence on having his works meticulously copy-edited, and this insistence reappears pervasively in the present letters. For instance, in one particular letter to "Haaretz" editor Benjamin Tammuz, he writes as follows: "Most honored editor, you know all too well that I would never think of troubling you to correct misprints in my writings; and even if, at the proofreader's, one city was exchanged for another, for instance Hamburg for Homburg, I remained silent; in the World of Rectification all is eventually rectified. But with regard to several errors that occurred in my article on Buber, I request that you correct them immediately, for they are of the [types of] errors that cannot be corrected in the World of Rectification if they are not first corrected in the World of Error."
In some of the letters, Agnon complains about unwanted guests and various annoyances that disrupt his work; he also gripes about the irritations of his advanced age. In one letter he writes as follows: "Had I had a little more time on my hands, I would have written [something] to protest the custom of sending flowers. Personally, they irritate me and interfere with my breathing. May I just make it through those days without a runny nose." And in another letter: "I now have two equal 'Carmeliyot' [i.e. identical copies of the same issue of the journal "Carmelit"]. I would gladly return one of them to you, but the difficult task of mailing [an item] and standing in line at the post office, and so forth, and [having to deal with] the clerks – most of whom are not expert in the laws of mail – is just too burdensome for me in my old age."
On more than one occasion, Agnon lets loose with his biting sarcasm. In one (incomplete) letter, he writes as follows: "Perchance you are familiar with Avirum, general secretary of ACUM [the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers in Israel]. Please explain to him that, if it isn't too much trouble, he should not treat me like some administrative clerk. I would have answered him, but he is unable to read my handwriting...".
In one particular letter, Agnon relates to the subject of the Eichmann Trial, which rattled the entire country in the early 1960s: "Thank Boaz Evron on my behalf for his article ‘The Great Circus.' If only his words be heeded, such that no Jew will go see that pathetic comedy that renders the blood of the Jewish people cheap" (Evron's [Hebrew] article "HaKirkas HaGadol" ["The Great Circus"] was published in the daily newspaper "Haaretz" on March 15, 1961).

Size and condition vary. Overall good condition. Several letters incomplete. Blemishes to some letters: stains, closed and open tears, ink smears, minor creases; some affecting text.

Enclosed:
• Eight letters sent to Israel Meir Lask (1905-1974), translator of Agnon's novel "Hakhnassat Kalah" ("The Bridal Canopy") into English, plus one additional letter sent by Lask himself. These letters mostly deal with the translation of Agnon's letters. Among the senders are Dr. Moritz Spitzer, who represented the Schocken Publishing House in Germany; Regina Klapper, who represented Schocken in New York; Rabbi Eugene Cohen; and others.
• "Request Form regarding an Aliyah Permit for an Overseas Relative, " signed by Agnon, thus making him a guarantor for his relative, Shemarya Appelberg, and his family, enabling their immigration to Israel.
• Handwritten draft of an article by Shin (Shemu'el) Bas on the occasion of Agnon's sixtieth birthday.