University of Virginia Library

I sought Herman Melville's daughter, Elizabeth, who was living in the old Florence amid her father's books and pictures. She talked of him with constraint, but was interested in my quest, giving me the two privately printed pamphlets of poems, which completed my first editions, and letting me read casually from that japanned tin cakebox which contained Melville's letters and unpublished manuscripts. Thus I took a few notes from the diaries of travels, sampled "Billy Budd," and the last poems. Miss Melville generously promised me the use of all the papers except Melville's letters to his wife. In high hopes I wrote to the American publishers whose list is heaviest with our classics, and proposed a modest biography in one volume. The answer was friendly but decisive: Herman Melville was a hopelessly bad risk and one that no prudent publisher could undertake even to the extent of a few hundred dollars.[1]

November 20, 1906
Dear Mr. Mather,

I turned your letter of November 16th over to the proper authorities in Houghton, Mifflin and Company. I am sorry to have to report to you that after having given it the most serious and sympathetic consideration they report that they do not feel very sanguine over the possibility of making a publishing success of the life of Melville, interesting as is his personality and admirable as is his work.

It chances that they have lately been considering a similar proposal from another writer and after a thorough survey of the field have been compelled to decide in both instances that the interest of the American reading public in Melville is scarcely sufficient to warrant them in undertaking a biography.

They are of the opinion that interest in Melville is more widely spread in England than in this country, and that very likely an English publisher would be glad to understake the publication of your proposed book. In that case they would be glad to make arrangements, if possible, to import a moderate edition of the work in sheets for sale in this country.

Speaking for the Atlantic, I should say that we might be able to use to advantage one good critical and appreciative paper on Melville, or possibly two papers based upon fresh manuscript material, provided it should prove to have sufficient zest.

Speaking for the Department of Limited Editions, I am not very sure that an anthology of the unpublished verse of a not very popular author would be very successfull, but it would be a pleasure to have the opportunity of considering it.

I am particularly sorry that the reply has to be so lukewarm on nearly all points of your letter. I beg you to believe that the decision as to the business aspect of the case has been made with very great reluctance in view of our recognition of the admirable character of the book you would undoubtedly do.

Believe me, with best wishes,

Sincerely yours,
Ferris Greenslet
Frank Jewett Mather, Esq.[2]