Wheatley (Dennis, 1897-1977). Collection of signed letters to Eileen Cond, 1933-71. 31 in total, of which 19 autograph, the rest typed, all signed ‘Dennis’ or ‘Dennis Wheatley’, all on his personalised stationery, various extents (1-4 pp.), a handful of letters with rust-marks from paperclips, overall in very good condition (qty: 31)

A group of warm and candid letters to eccentric autograph collector and hotelier Eileen Cond (1911-1984), dating back to the very beginning of Wheatley’s career. He provides detailed updates on the progress, publication and sales of his books and novels, and freely imparts his opinions on their relative merits: ‘I am glad to say that “Such Power is Dangerous” has already gone into it’s [sic] 3rd impression and generally speaking the reviews have been most kind. Personally I do not like it as much “The Forbidden Territory” but there is plenty of excitement in it and some people seem to like it better' (June 1933); ‘I am particularly attached to “Old Rowley” because it is a book that I have wanted to write all my life, but “Black August” is by far the most ambitious thing which I have attempted yet’ (January 1934). Of particular interest is a splenetic four-page critique of the screen version of The Forbidden Territory, which Wheatley believed to have been bowdlerised to avoid upsetting Russia, newly acceded to the League of Nations (December 1934). A great bibliophile himself, Wheatley also muses on book collecting and the future value of his own works: ‘[The Forbidden Factory] may possibly be of some interest by the time you are an old lady of eighty – just because it is a first edition of a first book – and in this particular instance […] half the number were issued without the map and the bulk of the remainder went to the libraries where they will be battered out of recognition. If it does therefore ever become of any interest copies in mint state will be very rare indeed’ (April 1933).