Letter from J.D. Salinger, Cornish, New Hampshire, to Gus Lobrano, [New York or Chappaqua, New York], [1955] October 24 : typescript signed

Lamenting the fact that not living in New York means he cannot regularly have lunch and take walks with Lobrano; telling Lobrano that he and Claire both think of him often; admitting that neither of them will be able to make it to the city soon; describing an eye injury he suffered while cutting kindling; complaining about the workmen who are currently replacing their roof and adding a room; describing a story he is working on-- "another Glass story"-- and his choices for the narration style; acknowledging Claire's role in his writing; saying he received a copy of "Bill's" [William Maxwell's] talk at Smith College ("The Writer as Illusionist"), and reflecting on his own "stingy and egomaniacal" feelings toward his time and work; telling Lobrano that his and Claire's baby is due December 1; relating news from Bill about the publication date for "the Roof-beam story," and his own thoughts on what he'd like to work on next; asking Lobrano to pass on word to Joe Liebling that Claire liked his story "Mollie"; describing the ice-fishing community in New Hampshire and suggesting he and Lobrano try it when Lobrano visits; writing by hand under his signature, "Claire is fat and joyful, and I hope Ducky is, too"; adding in a typed post-script that Sandy and Ducky [probably Lobrano's son Alexander and his wife Barbara] have had their baby, and that "the fat bonus payment on Roof-beam came."