SOURCE: “Letter to a Young Critic,” in The Massachusetts Review, Vol. VI, No. 1, Autumn-Winter, 1964-65, pp. 93-100.

In the following letter, originally published in 1957, Morris talks of his own work, and of other writers.

David Madden was in 1957 a graduate student at San Francisco State College contemplating a master's thesis on the novels of Wright Morris. In December of that year he sent Morris a list of questions relating to the novels. This letter is Morris's reply to most of those questions. It has been edited slightly by Morris and Mr. Madden, whose questions and comments are noted within brackets.

Wayne, Pennsylvania

December 7, 1957

Dear David Madden:

On the assumption, gratefully assumed, that you have made your way both in and out of Darkest Morris, I greet you at the edge of the clearing with a bottle of cherry phosphate and some fatherly advice. I take it you have...