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r April 3, 1941

Mr. Kenneth Roberts Kennebunkport Maine

Pear Mr. Roberts: Residents of the state may understand why the presence of a legislature in the State House would delay departmental activities -- especially corresDondence -- but we are uositive that posterity would never forgive the non-inclusion of that nowfamous Royslist and his tale in the Maine Author Coll Pct ion. We refer, of course, to your most repent ma.sterpiece, OLIVER WISWELL, to enjoy which readers are stil1 waiting in lihe. Our staff ever sine~ its oublice.tion has been divided lnto two camps: the haves and the have-nots! We can now boas~ a majority of haves, with the have-nots becoming more impatient for their turn each wePk. You ha.ve been so extremely kind in the nast about the Maine exhibit that we de.re to hone for clemency if we extend congratulations at so late a date. We think, however, that it can never really be too late to offer congratulations uuon such an outstanding, powerful, honest novel as OLIVER WISWELL; and we do sincerely hone that en inscribed cony may arrive to honor the Maine Author Collection. Very truly yours MAINE STATE LIBRARY BY hmj

SECRETARY

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