Beschreibung:

Title: Autograph letter from Jack London to Charmian Kittredge, October 21, 1903 Author: London, Jack Place: [Oakland] Publisher: Date: Oct. 21/1903 Description: 74 lines, in ink, on rectos of 3 sheets of unlined paper, pinned together. 11x8½. Passionate love letter from Jack London to Charmian Kittredge, written a little more than four months after they first got together, their love still considered illicit in view of Jack’s marriage to Bessie – the letter is thus unsigned, so as not to incriminate. Jack has just received a letter from Charmian, “…When it came this morning, and I reads it, I was mad – mad with sheer joy and desire. The bonds tightened, my love; we grow closer & closer… Love? I though I was capable of a great love, as one will think, you know. But I never dreamed so great a love as this. I have stood on my own feet all the years of my life, was independent, self-sufficient. Men & women were pleasant, of course, but they were not necessary. I could get along without them. I could not conceive a time when I could not get along without them. But the time has come. Without you, & without hope of having you, I should surely die. Oh, woman, woman, how I do love you!...” Charmian has made a pencil note at the top of the letter, “Great Love Letter.” Lot Amendments Condition: Creased horizontally and vertically, small paperclip mark at center of first page, else near fine. Item number: 179134