Details
WILSON, Woodrow. Typed letter signed ("Woodrow Wilson"), as President, to Frank D. Beattys, Cornish, N.H., 11 August 1915. 1 page, 4to, White House stationery.
"MY BOOK WRITING DAYS ARE PAST..." WILSON TURNS DOWN AN OFFER TO WRITE ABOUT "THIS WORLD STRUGGLE"
A fine Presidential TLS written by Wilson from his summer home in New Hampshire on the first anniversary of the start of the World War. "Alas," he tells Beatty, a New York publisher, "the thing you suggest is literally impossible. If I ever write another book, it will be in an entirely different field; I would not for the world review in a book the events and questions of this world struggle, and, indeed, I should feel too near to it to believe that I could be sure of looking at it at arm's length and with entirely dispassionate judgment. I think it very likely that my book writing days are past..." Wilson enjoyed a successful career as a professor and popular author between 1885 and 1910, when he entered the political arena. He published well-regarded scholarly books like Congressional Government (1885) and Division and Reunion (1893), as well as popular histories like George Washington (1897) and a five-volume History of the American People (1902). His book writing days were indeed past, yet here in 1915 he has no idea just how close to the world war he would become in two years time, when the U. S. entered the conflict. Then President Wilson's words as well as actions were crucial in shaping the final stages of the conflict and the tragic epilogue at Versailles in 1919.
"MY BOOK WRITING DAYS ARE PAST..." WILSON TURNS DOWN AN OFFER TO WRITE ABOUT "THIS WORLD STRUGGLE"
A fine Presidential TLS written by Wilson from his summer home in New Hampshire on the first anniversary of the start of the World War. "Alas," he tells Beatty, a New York publisher, "the thing you suggest is literally impossible. If I ever write another book, it will be in an entirely different field; I would not for the world review in a book the events and questions of this world struggle, and, indeed, I should feel too near to it to believe that I could be sure of looking at it at arm's length and with entirely dispassionate judgment. I think it very likely that my book writing days are past..." Wilson enjoyed a successful career as a professor and popular author between 1885 and 1910, when he entered the political arena. He published well-regarded scholarly books like Congressional Government (1885) and Division and Reunion (1893), as well as popular histories like George Washington (1897) and a five-volume History of the American People (1902). His book writing days were indeed past, yet here in 1915 he has no idea just how close to the world war he would become in two years time, when the U. S. entered the conflict. Then President Wilson's words as well as actions were crucial in shaping the final stages of the conflict and the tragic epilogue at Versailles in 1919.