LESSING DORIS: (1919-2013) Lot n° 1420

LESSING DORIS: (1919-2013) British novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 2007. An interesting T.L.S., Doris Lessing, one page, 4to, Gondar Gardens, London, 6th April 1987, to Frau Carola von Gaestern (i.e. Winfried Bornemann). Lessing states that it was a wonderful surprise to have received her correspondent´s letter, for which she sends thanks, although continues to make two points, ´One is that it is more than possible I shall be going to live in the United States. I have been living here for a long time now, since 1949, and I feel it is time I moved on, to new experiences. You say that you are fond of this country, and you may not be happy about my leaving it. The other thing is that I am not short of money. I was indeed poor when I began writing, and this state of affairs went on for some years. But for some time now I have had more than enough. Of course this situation may not last! Writers´ lives are always precarious. But I give away a proportion of what I earn, and if my situation does not worsen, I shall continue to do so. You may decide that you prefer to give away your own money, rather than letting me do it!´ and concludes by remarking ´I hope you do not think this is an unkind response to your really marvellous generosity to a stranger. But you must know what the situation is. I look forward to hearing from you, whatever you decide´. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Lessing. Together with a T.L.S. from the solicitors Rubinstein Callingham, one page, 4to, Gray´s Inn, London, 22nd July 1987, to Winfried Bornemann. The solicitors write under instruction from Lessing in regards to a reproduction of her letter in response to Carola von Gaestern´s own letter and state, in part, ´It now transpires from the Mail on Sunday issues of 5th and 12th July 1987 that such letters were sent out in fact by you as a hoax with the intention of publishing replies, such as that written by Mrs. Lessing, in a book. In reproducing Mrs. Lessing´s letter with others in the Mail on Sunday......the heading reads "Hoaxer fools the Stars" and "What a giveaway - more letters the famous may wish they had never sent". As we have informed the proprietors of the Mail on Sunday.....our client takes the gravest offence at the publication of her copyright letter.......not only without her express permission but contrary to her wishes since in no circumstances would she have given permission for any publication if asked. Our client is accordingly claiming damages for infringement of her copyright. The publication.....also constitutes a libel on her, holding her up to ridicule, and may also have been published as a result of a conspiracy to defraud and in breach of confidence´. Accompanied by the original envelope. An extraordinary pair of letters. VG, 2 Winfried Bornemann (1944- ) German writer, known for his books with letters to celebrities, companies and authorities, featuring their letters of reply, including Bornemann´s Laughing Heirs, compiled from letters he wrote to celebrities using the pseudonym Carola von Gaestern promising them the inheritance of the fictitious widow of a rich entrepreneur.