Letter from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, 1969 October 3 : autograph manuscript signed.

Arguing passionately against having a designer handle Jennifer's clothes for the film, and citing Michael York's costumes for "The Guru", designed by Gordon Deighton, as an example of what they do not want; arguing for Jennifer handling her own costumes, even though Jennifer herself is against the idea; volunteering both Ivory and especially Merchant to help Jennifer, asserting that Merchant would be especially helpful, both in understanding the character and in the fact that "he knows so many more women like that than you do. All those Dorothy's & God knows what other semi-bohemian, semi-fashionable, rather raffish, self-made, baked & hardened ladies of New York"; continuing to argue against Ivory's suggestion of asking Pierre Cardin to handle the character's clothes; arguing for having the costumes made in India, though they might need to shop for accessories abroad; discussing just how many outfits they will need for [the character] Lucia; complaining that she has now "cooled off a bit" and finds the script "a mess" which only she can read, so she is the one typing it; describing a terribly bad" Joseph Losey film with Elizabeth Taylor ["Secret Ceremony"] that she went to see for the clothes alone, as she reckons Jennifer is the same age and general figure, and it confirmed her ideas about what Lucia's wardrobe should be; elaborating on her previous request for a corduroy jacket and a sweater for Jhab, and adding a bottle of Eau Arpège cologne for herself and some "disgusting bubblegum" for the girls; begging for some liquor "off the plane"; adding "Do please get your MIP lawyers to see to my income" and enumerating what she is owed and all the tax she needs to pay to various countries; reminding him that her agent Darmiud Russell has also pointed this out to Merchant.