Fitzgerald, F. Scott. TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED (ALS) BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD. 1936. Two hand-written letters and a telegram from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Pauline Brownell, a registered nurse who took care of him when he hurt his shoulder in a diving accident in July 1936. We were unable to locate mention of Pauline Brownell in Fitzgerald biographies. Apparently she was unknown to Fitzgerald experts and, in our opinion, this makes the letters more interesting and valuable. During the time she nursed him, it is obvious they formed a fairly close and warm relationship--in book inscriptions to Pauline from the same collection, Fitzgerald mentioned a number of outings around Asheville with Pauline and her husband. The first letter is undated, 202 words, on one side of a legal-size sheet, written and signed in pencil. It reads in part: "Pauline: I wrote you a month ago but it seemed a silly letter. I’ve had a strange two months trying to pull together the fragments of a lost year and I wonder if life will ever again make much sense . . . I wonder if you are happier--somehow you seemed so when I saw you, even to my alcoholic eye. God, I hope so--it was sad to see anyone so young and with so much stuff in such a state of depression. I wish I could have helped you as you tried to help me. Anyhow I want to see you . . . and talk to you and hear your adventures. Best to George [Pauline's husband] Always afftly Scott." The second letter is undated, 277 words, on both sides of a legal-size sheet, written and signed in pencil. It reads in part: "Pauline: Last night, tossing into the wastebasket the tattered shreds of a sweater once brought back to life by you--remember?--It occurred to me that you took with you some shirts & things you said ought to be mended . . . will you stick it in a box & give it to the bus driver? . . . I still come to Ashville [sic] once a month but simply pick up Zelda & take her out . . .She is much better . . . Even tho you don’t answer letters I think of you and wonder about you . . . .We did have a lot of good times mixed in with the bad. Write me if only to tell me where you are. Scott F . . ." In addition there is a telegram dated December 24, 1936 to Mr. And Mrs. Brownell, "Thinking of you both tonight and tomorrow. Scott." Complete provenance available.
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