New Releases by Mary McCarthy

The correspondence begins with Fisher''s first letter to Pleydell-Bouverie and concludes shortly before her death. The letters are long and affectionate, discussing the construction of "Last House" (built for Fisher on Pleydell-Bouverie''s estate, "The Ranch") and life there; mutual friends; dinner parties and conversation; books, music, film, and art; cooking philosophy and recipes; gardening; cats. Letter 196, dated May 1990, is the last letter typed by Fisher herself, who by this time suffered from Parkinson''s disease. Later letters are typed by a secretary and initialed by Fisher. With mention of many people, including Maya Angelou (35, 37, and others); James Beard (42); Herb Caen (throughout); Truman Capote (178, 219); Julia and Paul Child (throughout); Helen Frankenthaler (163, 172); Arnold Gingrich (14); Vladimir Horowitz (151); Barbara Hutton (175); David Levine (210); Mary McCarthy (195); Léo Marchutz (74); Dillwyn Parrish (throughout); Man Ray (6, 107, 179); Stella Reichman (222); Stephen de Staebler (224); Tom Wolfe (103). Items in the collection are described in individual records; see MA 4786.1-225 for more information.

The author and her three brothers, left orphans at an early age, were raised together by guardians.