Lot 290

Description

Evelyn Waugh, famous author, letter dated 5th July 1963 with red printed heading, 'Combe Florey House, Combe Florey, Nr. Taunton', handwritten by him in ink it reads, 'Dear Count Bompiani, Thank you for your letter of 26th June & for the copy of Resa Incondizionata [translation - Unconditional Surrender]. The translator must have had a very difficult task. I am not, as you know, fluent in Italian but I can read it a little. I studied Sr Ceserani's version to find how he had dealt with passages which seemed to me almost untranslatable, and was greatly impressed with his ingenuity. Will you please convey to him my congratulations and thanks. My agent tells me you have succeeded in making Resa Incondizionata a book-club choice. My thanks and congratulations to you. You will sadly miss Cardinel Montini in Milan. What you have lost, the world has gained. Yours sincerely, Evelyn Waugh'. Two punched holes at side for filing and pin-mark at top left corner, otherwise very fine and very scarce.

Valentino Bompiani was an Italian publisher, writer and playwright. Resa Incondizionata (Unconditional Surrender) was the third novel in Waugh's Sword of Honour Series.