Letter from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, to James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, West Berlin, West Germany, [1965] June 4 : autograph manuscript signed.

Musing on Berlin-- how she feels sorry for them being stuck there, how it is her friend Ratna's favorite city, how she herself has only been there once, as a 5-year-old-- and how she imagines it will liven up for them once the distributors come calling; asking about the selection process for the festival, and if any other Indian films have been selected; saying Madhur has heard she is to be "a state guest" in Germany, and expressing a bit of skepticism regarding this; pointing out "you simply mustn't leave Madhur out now. After all, you haven't even paid her, nor shown her the film," and she has her hopes pinned on the festival, although she has just had an audition offer in Bombay for a play; warning them that they should stay away from the Commonwealth Arts Festival; describing the scene in Kasauli [where part of "Shakespeare Wallah" was shot] the previous weekend, the inhabitants still talking about Merchant and Ivory and the film; chastising Ivory for not apologizing to Jim Tytler-- "so we had to do it"; breaking news of Gardner Stanbridge's surprise wedding; giving an update on Poji's condition; mentioning Faie Joyce's meeting them in Afghanistan; entreating Merchant not to be impatient with Ivory-- "let him eat & drink his fill. If you don't he'll carry that greedy look around with him wherever you go-- better let him work it off in Germany where hearty eaters are appreciated"; signing off "much love from all-- even Jhab misses you."