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I wonder if life will ever again make sense. Being sober and comparatively ascetic should do it but it hasn’t. I am still unhappy and worried – the very worst condition for writing – and can understand how Europeans felt after the years of war that left them accidentally alive”. The letter was written in April 1937 during Fitzgerald’s convalescence at the Oak Hall Hotel in Tryon, North Carolina. He had spent the summer of 1936 in Grove Park Inn in Asheville, approximately 40 miles from Tryon. It was here that Brownell was hired to care for him, and where their friendship began. Fitzgerald moved to Tyron after a brief stay in Baltimore in early 1937, as its proximity to Asheville meant that he could make monthly visits to Zelda at Asheville’s Highland Hospital, which he mentions in his letter. Fitzgerald hopes that Brownell is happier: “God I hope so – it was sad to see anyone so young and with so much stuff in such a state of depression. I wish I could have helped you as you tried to help me”. Brownell (b. 1907) was an illegitimate child, and despite being raised by her grandparents as their daughter, she “suffered great shame and sadness throughout her life due to the circumstances of her birth” (DeVinney, p. 191). While this is one of only two autograph letters by Fitzgerald to Brownell known to
exist, he also inscribed eight books to her and her husband, and sent them two telegrams: one of which, a Christmas 1936 telegram that reads “Thinking of you both tonight and tomorrow. Scott”, is included here. One of Brownell’s tasks as nurse, according to her daughter, was to keep Fitzgerald away from drink: an arduous task at the best of times. Despite the difficulties of caring for an unstable Fitzgerald, a friendship was forged, and Brownell and her husband took the author on trips around North Carolina, and hosted him at their home on at least one occasion. One sheet autograph letter signed by Fitzgerald (216 × 333 mm) addressed “Oak Hall, Tryon, NC” top right, with stamped and franked envelope (April 1937) addressed to “Mrs George Brownell, 10 Appallachian Hall, Ashville, N.C.”. With a telegram dated 24 December 1936 (167 × 215 mm), with envelope. Letter: creased from folding, three tiny holes, not affecting text. Telegram creased, one line of text lifting slightly. Envelopes with a few marks and a little loss where opened. Overall in excellent condition. ¶ Matthew Bruccoli & Judith Baughman, eds., F. Scott Fitzgerald in the Marketplace, the Auction and Dealer Catalogues, 1935–2006 , 2009; Helen DeVinney, “Evidence of a Previously Unknown Fitzgerald Nurse: Correspondence from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pauline Brownell”, The F. Scott Fitzgerald Review , Vol. 4, 2005. £12,500 [146744]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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