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Sinclair continues to discuss current events in Russia. Also, Sinclair follows up on the package Kress has sent to test Arthur Ford's psychic abilities. Sinclair reports that Ford just endured a painful surgical operation and was unable to perform the psychic reading of Kress's material.

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Further discussion of Russia after the German invasion, with Sinclair writing, "the world has certainly changed in the last few days. . . ." I hope it turns out that I was wrong and you were right about the strength of the Red army. I do not doubt their courage, but I fear for their leadership and transportation." The letter also contains further discussion of the plot of Dragon's Teeth.

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Sinclair discloses that the war in Europe has hurt his finances and delayed publication of Dragon's Teeth. "Europe has been pretty well wiped out for me and my income thereby cut about in half." Also, Sinclair notes he is "getting ready to start on Volume Four [Wide is the Gate]. "It is going to be such a sad story that I will have a hard time getting it so that people will read it."

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Sinclair proposes a "ghost-writing job" to Kress, explaining his literary agent in London has requested an article about Socialism, and that he will furnish Kress with fifty percent of the proceeds should he agree to help.

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Sinclair, unable to use "anything" Kress has sent him, goes on to complain, what "I had in mind and tried to explain to you was that I wanted a factual and not a theoretical article."

Scope and Contents Sinclair chides Kress for corresponding with [William] Woodward regarding Sinclair's relationship with [Sergei] Eisenstein. He writes, "I hope you will not think me uncordial if I ask you not to write to my friends about these matters without first consulting me, because otherwise you cannot possibly know what toes you may be treading on—either theirs or mine!!" Eisenstein was a Russian film producer and the director of Qué Viva México!, a 1930s film financed with money from Sinclair. The...

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Sinclair, in a second letter on the topic of Eisenstein, describes at some length his relationship with Eisenstein, writing he is an "unprincipled scoundrel. . .who bled me white and very nearly cost me my life."

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In a short half page letter Sinclair discusses an "oversight" in the plot of Wide is the Gate.

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Sinclair writes of his move to a new steel and concrete house. Also, Sinclair reports that his publisher, Benjamin Huebsch, is pleased with the last chapters of Wide is the Gate, relaying "there are occasions when a happy ending is the only right ending. . . ."

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Sinclair reports he is in the middle of moving his office and is thus unable to write.

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Sinclair reports he is still occupied with his move, but is making progress on Volume Five and has "hit on what I think is a good title. . .Broad Is The Way." The title would later be changed to Presidential Agent.

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Sinclair describes at length his experience with ghosts, this after Kress expressed "objection regarding the number of 'ghosts' in the narrative [of Volume 5]." Sinclair replies, "I'm afraid you are going to have to reconcile yourself to the company of these 'ghosts' because they will be all through the story."

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Sinclair writes of minor changes to the manuscript following Kress's suggestions.

Scope and Contents Sinclair suggests Kress's ill daughter would benefit from the use of vitamins. He says he will send "a big bottle of them" from his friend "Professor Borsook of Cal. Tech." Henry Borsook, Professor of Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology from 1929 to 1968, was the author of Vitamins: What They Are and What They Will Do for You, published in 1940. During World War II he served on the Food and Nutrition Board, and helped draw up the dietary table of Recommended Daily...

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Sinclair gives Kress publishing advice and reports he has not yet seen Arthur Ford.

Scope and Contents Sinclair further discusses Kress's daughter's ill health. He suggests "it must be a case for psychiatry. . . ." He does not recommend psychoanalysis, but goes on at length to describe how "Mrs. [Mary Barker] Eddy was one of the great psychologists. . .an average-minded woman [who] saved my life." Mary Barker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, a religious group that eschewed medical treatment in favor of spiritual healing, believed that human beings created by God are fundamentally...

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Sinclair reports his publisher does not like Presidential Errand as the title of Volume Six. He has completed two chapters and resists Kress's "objection" that he did not introduce his characters well enough.

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Sinclair suggests Kress should "try a change of scene" and travel to New York. Due to "bad news," he writes, "I have been through all that and so I can sympathize." Sinclair offers to provide the fare and and the "cost of a couple of weeks in the city," and includes the names and addresses of several publishers who Kress might look to for help.

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Sinclair discusses telepathy and recounts a "strange coincidence."

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Sinclair offers publishing advice to Kress about the biography Kress hopes to write about him. "I advise you to go on trying some of the regular publishers—that is, those who pay royalties." Kress has contacted Dorrance [Publishing Company], a provider of self-publishing services for authors.

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Sinclair reports on smog in Los Angeles and notes he is "working hard on Volume XI." He will send Kress some sections of the manuscript as "soon as the different foreign persons have read it."

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Sinclair writes of the difficulty in answering his mail "while at the same time keeping Lanny Budd and all his details in my mind." Sinclair reports he is working on the later chapters of One Clear Call.

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Sinclair reveals he "intends to remain a 'Socialist,'" explaining he was never a "'revolutionary' in a Communist sense. . . ." Discussion of a possible war with Russia follows.

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Sinclair proposes another business arrangement. Sinclair has revised Letters to Judd, his widely distributed pamphlet outlining his views on American capitalism, and asks Kress to promote it to "labor groups all over the country." Sinclair will pay "the cost of the operation plus a reasonable fee for his time." Haldeman Julius, Sinclair's friend and publisher of the "Little Blue Books series, will supply the pamphlets.

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Sinclair describes his sentiments toward the Soviet Union. "I hoped for the best; but I did not see it. As the years have passed I have been forced to see that their whole policy has lying as its base." "Everytime I said a good word for the Commies I saw that I had been made a fool of; and in the end I dropped them completely. . . ." Writing of Kress's biography he notes, "I'm afraid you won't get far. . .I can't get my own stuff published."