To Archibald Ogden [Letter 205]

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March 28, 1946

Archie darling:

I am enclosing a little love letter to you (see p. 7).[*] Bobbs-Merrill asked me to write this piece for the purpose of answering the questions of readers about me. They get a lot of questions. I wish you were there to answer them.

Thanks a lot for your letter. I was delighted to hear from you. If you still think of me across an ocean, I guess you’ll always think of me. So I won’t feel it’s too one-sided, because I’ll always think of you.

I’m glad you’re watching THE FOUNTAINHEAD on the best-seller lists. Yes, it’s still going strong. You may be proud to know how many countries have decided to follow the example set by you and publish THE FOUNTAINHEAD: nine of them, including the U.S.A. Here’s the list of foreign rights sold: England, Brazil, Argentina, Sweden, Switzerland-France, Switzerland-Germany, Holland, Denmark. There are more coming, other countries are negotiating for it. You had to risk your job to make one country publish it. Doesn’t this make you feel global?

I have just obtained six extra months of freedom from my studio—for the purpose of working on my new novel, and I’m working on it now. Of course I will send you a copy of the manuscript for your personal opinion and advice. Nobody’s literary opinion will ever mean as much to me as yours.

Yes, I knew about the offer of Appleton-Century—Denver Lindley has officially made the offer to Alan Collins, and Alan wrote to me about it. I am very much impressed by it, and I think I could work well with Denver Lindley—I liked him in person and I liked the things he said about THE FOUNTAINHEAD. But it’s much too early for me to make a

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decision on this. Besides, I intend to play fair with Bobbs-Merrill and see whether they keep their promise to me.

By the time you receive this letter, you will probably have met John Mock, Wallis’ story editor, who is on his way to London with Hal Wallis. John wanted to meet you—he’s heard a lot about you from Dick Mealand and me.

I was glad to hear that you’re enjoying your job—and I’m not at all surprised that you’re successful with it. I was afraid you would be. But do you mind if I remain a little skeptical about your account of England as “a very pleasant spot?” However, I hope it remains pleasant—for you.

You say you hope that “I will still consider you a brand worth snatching from the flames.” Darling, I always will—and you’re the only brand of this kind whom I give a damn about. But I’m growing older and wiser. I’m beginning to see that I cannot snatch you from it, and nobody can, except yourself. And I think you will do it some day.

Best regards to you from Frank—and all my love,

*AR’s “To the Readers of ‘The Fountainhead’”