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Abbott, Jack and Lionel Abel.

[Letter and typescript archive of murderer and author Jack Henry Abbott.]

1984–1986. 13 autograph letters, signed by Abbott, 114 pp. on rectos and versos of blue-lined sheets (11” x 8.5”), in blue and black ballpoint pen (of these, 8 letters and 103 pp. are addressed to Lionel Abel); 9 letters by Abel to Abbott, of which 4 are typed, annotated, and signed, and 5 are photocopies, 17 pp., plus a few duplicate pp.; typed copies (and photocopies of copies) of 12 letters by Abbott; several typescript drafts for Abbott’s second book, My Return, 11” x 8.5”, totaling 256 original typed and photocopied pp., rectos only, plus 21 pp. stage diagrams, with frequent ink annotations and corrections in Abbott’s hand; vol. 1, no. 4 (October 13–18, 1987) issue of Manhattan Lawyer with an article about Abbott by Mary Ann Giordano; Abbott, Jack Henry with Naomi Zack. My Return. 4to (9.25” x 6.25”), coated black paper over boards, gilt title at spine, original dj. [1], blank p., [xvi], 196, [2 leaves printed on rectos], several blank leaves. CONDITION: Archive contents very good, occasional light wear or small chips to edges, never affecting text; My Return very good, foot of spine bumped; dj very good, light wear at extremities, small chip at foot of spine.

A collection of letters and annotated typescript drafts by convicted murderer Jack Henry Abbott, bestselling author of In the Belly of the Beast, literary protégé of Norman Mailer, and darling of New York “glitterati” like Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon.

This archive includes thirteen letters—over 100 pages—by Jack Henry Abbott, most of which are addressed to eminent Jewish playwright Lionel Abel (1910–2001), and nine typewritten letters from Abel in response, some of which are copies. Most of Abbott’s letters are lengthy and have been transcribed. Written on both sides of ruled 8.5” x 11” sheets, Abbott’s letters to Abel are dated between October 1st, 1984 and September 11th, 1985 and offer a profound look into his feelings about his crimes; his relationship with Mailer and Abel; his study of philosophies, political systems, and religions; his perspective on race; and his analyses and intense feelings about Judaism, Zionism, and anti-Semitism. Abbott and Abel communicated for several years and developed a warm relationship, with Abel telling Abbott on November 15th, 1984, “Because of my book’s publication, I’ve had to write letters to lots of people. But you are the only person I enjoy writing to” and encouraging his writing: “All your projects are interesting. You can be the solution to the problem facing many people who want to read a good book and cannot find one. Write something splendid as I know you can and I’ll help get it published.”

The archive also includes correspondence between Abbott, his publisher Donna Sheinberg, and Naomi Zack, who became interested in his case while doing research for a film on the victims of crime and of the criminal justice system, and who helped Abbott publish his second book, My Return (1987); typed copies of drafts of My Return, heavily annotated in Abbott’s hand; and a copy of the published book, which appeared after Abbott’s final return to prison.

Jack Henry Abbott (1944–2002) was a notorious serial criminal who, at the age of twenty-one, stabbed two fellow inmates while serving a sentence for forgery in Utah, but whose life improved, albeit temporarily, after he began writing to author Norman Mailer. Abbott offered to collaborate with Mailer on what would become Mailer’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Executioner’s Song, a fictionalized account of executed murderer Gary Gilmore. Mailer recognized Abbott’s writing talent and successfully advocated for his release from prison. Abbott soon became the favorite cause of the New York intelligentsia, including Susan Sarandon, Christopher Walken, and Jerzy Kosi ski. He attended parties in Manhattan celebrating his release, but six weeks after gaining parole—in July of 1981—he stabbed a young waiter, Richard Adan, to death; fled; and was finally recognized and apprehended in Louisiana. In 1982, Mailer wrote the introduction to Abbott’s first book, In the Belly of the Beast, a narrative of his personal experience as a prisoner and all the violence he saw and experienced. Abbott appeared on Good Morning, America and 60 Minutes, as well as in Rolling Stone and The New Republic. He would ultimately commit suicide in prison using a sheet and a shoelace, and leaving a note that officials have never released.

REPRESENTATIVE PASSAGES:

Abbott to Abel, 25 December, 1984: “I just finished your book the Worlds of Collision. I have a confession to make: I knew nothing about you. I never even knew that you reviewed my book…I know very little about the American intelligentsia…I ignored American intellectuals because I felt they ignored American reality and I felt they were counter-revolutionary. I only lived to prepare for the armed struggle.

…

There are no Jews in prison. I only met two I knew were Jews. At the time, I thought it was a religious denomination. I was a hospital orderly in Leavenworth when I met my first Jew. He had a heart condition…was in a 12-bed ward…He was an old man, with wire-framed glasses and he was almost bald. He was very cynical about everyone…I was about 27 years old…I was warned when I came to work on that ward that he was grouchy; I watched him. He never discriminated: He was short with everyone. My impression was that his eyes were always narrowed pessimistically and he was beyond being sarcastic. I love old men like that. It shows spirit…He had a medal on a chain around his neck…diamond studded—in Leavenworth it could have gotten him killed. It was valuable. I asked him what it was…He looked at me as if I were joking…It was ‘a star of David’. What does it mean? He replied: ‘A religious symbol.’ He rolled over in bed. He must have thought I was an idiot.”

Abbott to Abel, 23 March, 1985: “In almost every department of the arts and humanities (this includes psychology; etc.) the Professors have taken my book (and me as a person) apart, piece-by-piece: Attacking my learning; my ideas; my perception; my style; my sanity; my morals; etc. This is true at Columbia University there in New York. Van den Haag has even said it is a mistake I was left alive. —But not just Columbia. To a lesser extent, my book (and my existence) i[s] ‘taught’ in every University today. The Professors see me as a challenge. Not me personally but the trend I could represent. One Professor (at Rutger’s) commented that prisons are becoming a challenge to the institutions of ‘learning,’ to the colleges. And it is true, so far as the education of Black and other ethnic minorities go. They could dismiss the minority educations that occur in prisons today—but they could not so easily dismiss me. That was his thesis.

…

There are some very hard cases running around among the white gentiles, putting anti-Semitic ideas into action. And you may not believe this, but its none the less true that Zionists are helping them—at the same time they are creating an atmosphere in which a real intellectual is discredited if he is unafraid of action. They are promoting effete behavior and emasculating real writers and thinkers in the media, and the Universities. What they are doing is criminal—a crime against humanity. All this horse-pucky about ‘violence’ is deeply effete. For example, the way they took Bernard Goetz [who shot four African American youths he thought were mugging him in a New York subway] apart, sitting there with their legs crossed…The idea that person should surrender his money to a theif [sic] or blind himself to retreat before the threat of assault, is perverse. It has not a thing to do with justice and (in fact) is an insidious attack on justice and humanity. These people in the media who attacked him are Zionists, here to emasculate the Jewish male. Keeping him down to a ‘Nice Jewish Boy.’ I tell you all this, Lionel, because I’m convinced you know I’m sincere and honest. Some like Mailer would pee his pants and run and burn the letter.”

Abbott to Abel, 11 September, 1985: In response to Abel: “No, Lionel: In the play, he (Adan) would not talk to me except to tell me (order me) to keep moving and advanced on me threateningly when I tried to return to the café. My friends were in the café. That is what happened. I saw him pick up a knife but never actually saw the knife except for an instant, the last time he tried to stop me from returning. By that time, I was off 2nd Avenue. They never got my knife either and Susan Roxas [a friend who was in the café with him] testified I threw it at the site of the stabbing before I started running. His knife was ‘lost’ also. — At any rate, I’ve changed the play more in line with the real trial. Do you want to read my script?”

Abel to Abbott, 24 October 1985: calling Abbott’s letters, “interesting and provocative...I must thank you for your kind words about my piece in The New Republic.” Responding to a statement made in Abbott’s letter, Abel writes, “Are Jews less likely to resort to violence than non-Jews? I do not think so. They are more likely in some situations to try to achieve their ends by persuasion...On the other hand, in the Mideast, the Jews have shown a zest for fighting equal to that of any of the more martial states known to us.

…

Your letters...indicate that you have a capacity for reflection. Perhaps you would prefer to write a novel about prison life. This indeed might be the right medium for the expression of your thoughts. Choose a form which would require you to work regularly and consistently. I feel you should have a big project, not a small one, and that if you find yourself working on the same project every week you will also find the days of each week more closely connected to one another. Jack Abbott, you have nothing to lose by being bold. I urge you to be ambitious and think big. We may all profit from your efforts.

…

P.S. It bothers me that you say you were ‘lynched.’ You were attacked but who hasn’t been? Writers are attacked every day, and often without having offended. Don’t forget, in the minds of those who tried to help you—I am thinking of Norman Mailer—what you did, however unluckily motivated – has weakened the cause for clemency...”

Abel to Abbott, 5 February 1985: “I am not offended with you, I am not angry with you, I look forward to hearing from you, I worry about you, I think about you, I speculate about your future, I wonder about when I will be able to see you, and I find your letters absolutely fascinating. Whatever gave you the idea that I was sore at you...? The only thing I could tax myself with is the failure to answer your last letter more promptly. Yes, maybe I have neglected you. But I had many excuses all of them excellent. I have had a great deal of correspondence since the publication of my book; my health [is] not good and I have been trying to put the finishing touches on a play about Rosa Luxemburg about which I would love to have your opinion. I shall send you a draft...No more complaints, Jack. As far as I am concerned, you are my Jack, and shall always be that.”

Abel to Abbott, 5 September 1984: “I have heard that the play based on your book – I am assuming the script is not by you – has already won five awards. Now that means something. Evidently you are not too pleased with this treatment of your life. What you say against it may be quite in order...You should realize that in the theatre the author of a play never has the last word...First, the director takes over his script, and then the actors determine what it will mean to audiences...Don’t be too hard on the people who put the play on. They did have to tailor it to the public’s taste. Otherwise, why do it?”

Abel to Abbott, 9 April 1986: Abel writes, “It is a long time since I have written you, and of course, as was to be expected, a number of things happened in the interval: an offer to publish your play. That’s the important thing. And then, you decided, without consulting me, to edit your letters to me, also my letters to you. In addition, you want to dedicate the whole book, containing my preface, our correspondence and your play – to Norman Mailer, ‘Uncle Norman.’…On that last matter, I must register disapproval. It is not that I am against Norman. I’ll remind you that I defended him in one of my letters to you against charges of insensitivity and lack of understanding made by you. But whatever Norman is to you, he is not a personal friend of mine.”

A substantive archive telling the story of Jack Henry Abbott, who, for a time, stole the hearts of the New York intelligentsia.

Item #8480

Price: $4,500.00

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