Letters : a novel
Barth, John
Letters : a novel - New York G. P. Putnam's Sons 1979 - xv,772p.
Contents
1: L
A: Lady Amherst to the Author. Inviting him to accept an honorary
Doctorate of Letters from Marshyhope State University. An
account of the history of that institution. 3
B: Todd Andrews to his father. The death and funeral of Harrison
Mack,jr. 12
C: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His life since The End of the
Road. The remarkable reappearance, at the Remobilization
Farm, of Joseph Morgan, with an ultimatum. 18
D: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The origins of the Castines,
Cookes,.and Burlingames. 20
E: Jerome Bray to Todd Andrews. Requesting counsel in an action
of plagiarism against the Author. His bibliography and
biography. Enclosures to the Author, to George III, and to Todd
Andrews. 27
F: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly (and Lady Amherst). A de-clara-
ti-on and an ex-hor-ta-ti-on. With several postscripts. 38
G: The Author to the Reader. LETTERS is "now" begun. 42
1: The Author to Whom It May Concern. Three concentric dreams of
waking. 46
N: The Author to Lady Amherst. Politely declining her invitation. 50
E: The Author to Lady Amherst. A counterinvitation. 51
2: E
N: Lady Amherst to the Author. Rejecting his counterinvitatitm. 57
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. Reconsidering. 57
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Confessing her latest love affair and
the excesses of its current stage. 59
D: Lady Amherst to the Author. Trouble at Marshyhope. Her early
relations with several celebrated novelists. Her affair with Andre
Castine, and its issue. Her marriage to Lord jeffrey Amherst. Her
widowing and reduction to academic life. 69
Y: Todd Andrews to the Author. Acknowledging the latter's
invitation and reviewing his life since their last communication.
The Tragic View of things, including the Tragic View. 80
T: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner.• Progress and Advice. 97
R: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The history of A. B. Cooke
III: Pontiac's conspiracy. 110
0: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The history of H. C.
Burlingame IV: the first American Revolution. 126
R: Jerome Bray to Todd Andrews. Reviewing Year 0 and
anticipating LILYVAC If's first trial printout of the
Revolutionary Novel NOTES. With an enclosure to the Author. 145
W: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly and Lady Amherst. THE
AMATEUR, or, A Cure for Cancer, by Arthur Morton King. 149
S: The Author to Todd Andrews. Soliciting the latter's cooperation as
a character in a new work of fiction. 189
H: The Author to Todd Andrews. Accepting the latter's demurrer. 190
1: The Author to Lady Amherst. Accepting her rejection of his
counterinvitation. , 193
M: The Author to Lady Amherst. Crossed in the mails. Gratefully
accepting her change of mind. 193
3: T
T: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Third Stage of her affair with
Ambrose Mensch. Her latter-day relations with Andre Castine. 197
1: Lady Amherst to the Author. More trouble at Marshyhope. Her
relations with the late Harrison Mack, Jr., or "George III." 206
M: Lady Amherst to the Author. Three miracles in three days.
Ambrose's adventures with the film company. The Fourth Stage of
their affair begins. 226
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her introduction to the Menschhaus. 239
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Not pregnant. The "prenatal" letters
of A. B. Cook IV. 251
S: Todd Andrews to his father. His life's recycling. Jane Mack's visit
and confession. 10 R. 255
1: Jacob Horner to the Author. Declining to rewalk to the end of the
road. 278
L: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. His own history to the present
writing: the French Revolution, Joel Barlow in Algiers,
"Consuela del Consulado," Burr's Conspiracy, Tecumseh's Indian
confederacy. The Pattern. 279
S: Jerome Bray to Drew Mack. LILYVAC's LEAFY ANAGRAM. 324
H: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. A reflection upon History. His
defeat by the Director at Ocean City: an Unwritable Sequence.
Magda celebrates a certain anniversary. 332
S :The Author to Jacob Horner. The story of a story called What I
Did Until the Doctor Came. 338
4: T
P: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage of her affair. She
calls on A. B. Cook VI in Chautaugua. Ambrose's Perseus
project, and a proposition. 345
I: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage continues.
cooperation as Filmmaking at Niagara Falls and Old Fort Erie. Dismaying
encounters at the Remobilization Farm. 353
S: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her conversation with "Monsieur of his Casteene." A fiasco on Chautauqua Lake. A Visit to Lily Dale,
N.Y., Spiritualist Capital of America. 361
T: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Marshyhope Commencement
debacle, and its consequences. 376
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage concludes; the
Fifth begins. Magda's confession. The Gadfly fiasco reenacted:
Sequence. 379
E: Todd Andrews to his father. Further evidence that his life is
recycling: 11 R . 394
T: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. Der Wiedertraum under way. 401
L: A. B. Cook VI to the Author. Eagerly accepting the Author's
invitation. The Cook/Burlingame lineage between Andrew Cook
IV and himself The Wetland Canal Plot. 405
E: Jerome Bray to his parents and foster parents. His betrayal by
Merope Bernstein. His revenge and despair. 424
1: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. Anniversary of the bees' descent.
Encounters with jacob Horner and Marsha Blank. He identifies
his condition with Perseus's, and despairs. 427
E: The Author to A. B. Cook VI. A request for information and an
he end of the invitation to participate in the work in progress. 430
5: E
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Despair at Ambrose's irifidelity. Their
Fifth Stage. 435
A: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Dorchester County Tercentenary
and Mating-Season Sequences. Ambrose's concussion, and its
cause. 437
R: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Battle of Niagara. Surgery for
Magda. Lady Amherst desperate. 444
Y: Lady Amherst to the Author. Odd business in Buffalo. 449
V: Todd Andrews to his father. His Second Dark Night of the Soul.
13 R . 457
I: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His discovery that he is in love. 473
S: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The first of A. B. Cook IV's
''posthumous" letters summarized: the deaths of Joel Barlow and
Tecumseh. 478
&: A. B. Cook VI to his son. A. B. Cook IV's second posthumous
letter: Washington burned, Baltimore threatened. 494
A: Jerome Bray to the Author. The Gadfly Illuminations. 525
C: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. A lull on Bloodsworth Island. 528
L: The Author to Jerome Bray. Admonition and invitation. 530
F: The Author to Jacob Horner. Accepting the latter's declining of
his invitation of May 11 and thanking him for several
contributions to the current project. 532
A: The Author to A. B. Cook VI. Expressing dismay at the latter's
presumption and withdrawing the invitation of june 15. 532
C: The Author to Jerome Bray. Some afterthoughts on: numbers,
letters, and the myth of Bellerophon and the Chimera. 534
6: R
N: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Sixth Stage of her affair. The
Scajaquada Scuffle. 539
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Sixth Stage continues. The Fort
Erie Magazine Explosion and Second Conception scenes. 546
V: Lady Amherst to the Author. Distress at Mensch's Castle. 557
E: Todd Andrews to his father. 13 R, a visit from Polly Lake, a call
fromjeannine. 561
N: Todd Andrews to the Author. A series of 21's and an intention to
bequeath. 566
0: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His rescue of Marsha Blank from
Comalot Farm, and present anxiety in her behalf. 569
U: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His last Progress and Advice
session before "Saint Joseph's" deadline. 579
D: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The third posthumous letter of A. B.
Cook IV: the Battle of New Orleans and Napoleon's surrender to
Bellerophon. 582
R: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The fourth posthumous letter of A. B.
Cook IV: plans for the rescue of Napoleon from St. Helena. 607
E: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The fifth and final posthumous letter of
A. B. Cook IV: Napoleon "rescued." 617
C: Jerome Bray to Bea Golden. Inviting her to star in the first epic of
Numerature. 637
H: Jerome Bray to his parents. An ultimatum. 639
H: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. His final such letter: the plan
of his abandoned Perseus story, conformed to the plan of his own
life. 646
I : Ambrose Mensch to the Author. A left-handed letter following up
a telephone call. Alphabetical instructions from one writer to
another. 651
T: The Author to Ambrose Mensch. Soliciting his advice and
assistance in the LETTERS project. 653
U: The Author to Ambrose Mensch. Replying to the latter's telephone
call of the previous night. 655
7: S
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Explaining her fortnight's silence.
The Burning of Washington. Two more deaths and a memorial
service. Preparations for the Bombardment of Fort McHenry and
for her wedding. 659
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her wedding day and night. The
Dawn's Early Light sequence and the Baratarian disasters. Her vision
of the Seventh Stage. 677
F: Todd Andrews to his father. His last cruise on the skipjack
Osborn Jones. 692
I : Draft codicil to the last will and testament of Todd Andrews. 733
S: Jacob Horner to Todd Andrews. The end of Der Wiedertraum. 738
scenes. 546 A: A. B. Cook VI to his son. A summons to Fort McHenry and to the Second 7-Year Plan. 745
M: A. B. Cook VI to his son and/or prospective grandchild. With
a postscript to the Author from H. C. Burlingame VII. Each
explaining A. B. Cook VI's absence from the yacht Baratarian. 750
0: Jerome Bray to his grandmother. His business finished, he
rsha Blank from prepares to ascend to her. 755
M: Ambrose Mensch to Arthur Morton King (and Lady Amherst).
and Advice Proposing marriage to Lady Amherst. She accepts. 758
A: Ambrose Mensch to Whom It May Concern (in particular the
ter of A. B. Author). Water message #2 received. His reply. A postscript to
n's surrender to the Author. 765
A: The Author to Germaine Pitt and Ambrose Mensch. An
alphabetical wedding toast. 769
L: The Author to the Reader. LETTERS is "now" ended. Envoi. 770
813.54 / BAR
Letters : a novel - New York G. P. Putnam's Sons 1979 - xv,772p.
Contents
1: L
A: Lady Amherst to the Author. Inviting him to accept an honorary
Doctorate of Letters from Marshyhope State University. An
account of the history of that institution. 3
B: Todd Andrews to his father. The death and funeral of Harrison
Mack,jr. 12
C: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His life since The End of the
Road. The remarkable reappearance, at the Remobilization
Farm, of Joseph Morgan, with an ultimatum. 18
D: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The origins of the Castines,
Cookes,.and Burlingames. 20
E: Jerome Bray to Todd Andrews. Requesting counsel in an action
of plagiarism against the Author. His bibliography and
biography. Enclosures to the Author, to George III, and to Todd
Andrews. 27
F: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly (and Lady Amherst). A de-clara-
ti-on and an ex-hor-ta-ti-on. With several postscripts. 38
G: The Author to the Reader. LETTERS is "now" begun. 42
1: The Author to Whom It May Concern. Three concentric dreams of
waking. 46
N: The Author to Lady Amherst. Politely declining her invitation. 50
E: The Author to Lady Amherst. A counterinvitation. 51
2: E
N: Lady Amherst to the Author. Rejecting his counterinvitatitm. 57
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. Reconsidering. 57
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Confessing her latest love affair and
the excesses of its current stage. 59
D: Lady Amherst to the Author. Trouble at Marshyhope. Her early
relations with several celebrated novelists. Her affair with Andre
Castine, and its issue. Her marriage to Lord jeffrey Amherst. Her
widowing and reduction to academic life. 69
Y: Todd Andrews to the Author. Acknowledging the latter's
invitation and reviewing his life since their last communication.
The Tragic View of things, including the Tragic View. 80
T: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner.• Progress and Advice. 97
R: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The history of A. B. Cooke
III: Pontiac's conspiracy. 110
0: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. The history of H. C.
Burlingame IV: the first American Revolution. 126
R: Jerome Bray to Todd Andrews. Reviewing Year 0 and
anticipating LILYVAC If's first trial printout of the
Revolutionary Novel NOTES. With an enclosure to the Author. 145
W: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly and Lady Amherst. THE
AMATEUR, or, A Cure for Cancer, by Arthur Morton King. 149
S: The Author to Todd Andrews. Soliciting the latter's cooperation as
a character in a new work of fiction. 189
H: The Author to Todd Andrews. Accepting the latter's demurrer. 190
1: The Author to Lady Amherst. Accepting her rejection of his
counterinvitation. , 193
M: The Author to Lady Amherst. Crossed in the mails. Gratefully
accepting her change of mind. 193
3: T
T: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Third Stage of her affair with
Ambrose Mensch. Her latter-day relations with Andre Castine. 197
1: Lady Amherst to the Author. More trouble at Marshyhope. Her
relations with the late Harrison Mack, Jr., or "George III." 206
M: Lady Amherst to the Author. Three miracles in three days.
Ambrose's adventures with the film company. The Fourth Stage of
their affair begins. 226
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her introduction to the Menschhaus. 239
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Not pregnant. The "prenatal" letters
of A. B. Cook IV. 251
S: Todd Andrews to his father. His life's recycling. Jane Mack's visit
and confession. 10 R. 255
1: Jacob Horner to the Author. Declining to rewalk to the end of the
road. 278
L: A. B. Cook IV to his unborn child. His own history to the present
writing: the French Revolution, Joel Barlow in Algiers,
"Consuela del Consulado," Burr's Conspiracy, Tecumseh's Indian
confederacy. The Pattern. 279
S: Jerome Bray to Drew Mack. LILYVAC's LEAFY ANAGRAM. 324
H: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. A reflection upon History. His
defeat by the Director at Ocean City: an Unwritable Sequence.
Magda celebrates a certain anniversary. 332
S :The Author to Jacob Horner. The story of a story called What I
Did Until the Doctor Came. 338
4: T
P: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage of her affair. She
calls on A. B. Cook VI in Chautaugua. Ambrose's Perseus
project, and a proposition. 345
I: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage continues.
cooperation as Filmmaking at Niagara Falls and Old Fort Erie. Dismaying
encounters at the Remobilization Farm. 353
S: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her conversation with "Monsieur of his Casteene." A fiasco on Chautauqua Lake. A Visit to Lily Dale,
N.Y., Spiritualist Capital of America. 361
T: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Marshyhope Commencement
debacle, and its consequences. 376
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Fourth Stage concludes; the
Fifth begins. Magda's confession. The Gadfly fiasco reenacted:
Sequence. 379
E: Todd Andrews to his father. Further evidence that his life is
recycling: 11 R . 394
T: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. Der Wiedertraum under way. 401
L: A. B. Cook VI to the Author. Eagerly accepting the Author's
invitation. The Cook/Burlingame lineage between Andrew Cook
IV and himself The Wetland Canal Plot. 405
E: Jerome Bray to his parents and foster parents. His betrayal by
Merope Bernstein. His revenge and despair. 424
1: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. Anniversary of the bees' descent.
Encounters with jacob Horner and Marsha Blank. He identifies
his condition with Perseus's, and despairs. 427
E: The Author to A. B. Cook VI. A request for information and an
he end of the invitation to participate in the work in progress. 430
5: E
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Despair at Ambrose's irifidelity. Their
Fifth Stage. 435
A: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Dorchester County Tercentenary
and Mating-Season Sequences. Ambrose's concussion, and its
cause. 437
R: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Battle of Niagara. Surgery for
Magda. Lady Amherst desperate. 444
Y: Lady Amherst to the Author. Odd business in Buffalo. 449
V: Todd Andrews to his father. His Second Dark Night of the Soul.
13 R . 457
I: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His discovery that he is in love. 473
S: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The first of A. B. Cook IV's
''posthumous" letters summarized: the deaths of Joel Barlow and
Tecumseh. 478
&: A. B. Cook VI to his son. A. B. Cook IV's second posthumous
letter: Washington burned, Baltimore threatened. 494
A: Jerome Bray to the Author. The Gadfly Illuminations. 525
C: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. A lull on Bloodsworth Island. 528
L: The Author to Jerome Bray. Admonition and invitation. 530
F: The Author to Jacob Horner. Accepting the latter's declining of
his invitation of May 11 and thanking him for several
contributions to the current project. 532
A: The Author to A. B. Cook VI. Expressing dismay at the latter's
presumption and withdrawing the invitation of june 15. 532
C: The Author to Jerome Bray. Some afterthoughts on: numbers,
letters, and the myth of Bellerophon and the Chimera. 534
6: R
N: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Sixth Stage of her affair. The
Scajaquada Scuffle. 539
0: Lady Amherst to the Author. The Sixth Stage continues. The Fort
Erie Magazine Explosion and Second Conception scenes. 546
V: Lady Amherst to the Author. Distress at Mensch's Castle. 557
E: Todd Andrews to his father. 13 R, a visit from Polly Lake, a call
fromjeannine. 561
N: Todd Andrews to the Author. A series of 21's and an intention to
bequeath. 566
0: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His rescue of Marsha Blank from
Comalot Farm, and present anxiety in her behalf. 569
U: Jacob Horner to Jacob Horner. His last Progress and Advice
session before "Saint Joseph's" deadline. 579
D: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The third posthumous letter of A. B.
Cook IV: the Battle of New Orleans and Napoleon's surrender to
Bellerophon. 582
R: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The fourth posthumous letter of A. B.
Cook IV: plans for the rescue of Napoleon from St. Helena. 607
E: A. B. Cook VI to his son. The fifth and final posthumous letter of
A. B. Cook IV: Napoleon "rescued." 617
C: Jerome Bray to Bea Golden. Inviting her to star in the first epic of
Numerature. 637
H: Jerome Bray to his parents. An ultimatum. 639
H: Ambrose Mensch to Yours Truly. His final such letter: the plan
of his abandoned Perseus story, conformed to the plan of his own
life. 646
I : Ambrose Mensch to the Author. A left-handed letter following up
a telephone call. Alphabetical instructions from one writer to
another. 651
T: The Author to Ambrose Mensch. Soliciting his advice and
assistance in the LETTERS project. 653
U: The Author to Ambrose Mensch. Replying to the latter's telephone
call of the previous night. 655
7: S
E: Lady Amherst to the Author. Explaining her fortnight's silence.
The Burning of Washington. Two more deaths and a memorial
service. Preparations for the Bombardment of Fort McHenry and
for her wedding. 659
L: Lady Amherst to the Author. Her wedding day and night. The
Dawn's Early Light sequence and the Baratarian disasters. Her vision
of the Seventh Stage. 677
F: Todd Andrews to his father. His last cruise on the skipjack
Osborn Jones. 692
I : Draft codicil to the last will and testament of Todd Andrews. 733
S: Jacob Horner to Todd Andrews. The end of Der Wiedertraum. 738
scenes. 546 A: A. B. Cook VI to his son. A summons to Fort McHenry and to the Second 7-Year Plan. 745
M: A. B. Cook VI to his son and/or prospective grandchild. With
a postscript to the Author from H. C. Burlingame VII. Each
explaining A. B. Cook VI's absence from the yacht Baratarian. 750
0: Jerome Bray to his grandmother. His business finished, he
rsha Blank from prepares to ascend to her. 755
M: Ambrose Mensch to Arthur Morton King (and Lady Amherst).
and Advice Proposing marriage to Lady Amherst. She accepts. 758
A: Ambrose Mensch to Whom It May Concern (in particular the
ter of A. B. Author). Water message #2 received. His reply. A postscript to
n's surrender to the Author. 765
A: The Author to Germaine Pitt and Ambrose Mensch. An
alphabetical wedding toast. 769
L: The Author to the Reader. LETTERS is "now" ended. Envoi. 770
813.54 / BAR