Memorable Days: The Selected Letters of James Salter and Robert Phelps

by James Salter, Robert Phelps, Michael Dirda (Foreword)

“[A] well-edited collection . . . More than friends and less than lovers, Salter and Phelps were literary soul mates.” ― Publishers Weekly It was James Salter’s third novel, A Sport and a Pastime ―together with his film Three and a script he had written for Downhill Racer ―that in 1969 prompted Robert Phelps to write a letter of admiration. Though the two writers didn’t know each other, their correspondence went on to span decades. The letters themselves are exceptionally alive, uninhibited, gossipy, touching, and brilliant. The successes of Salter and the struggles of Phelps are fully explored by the writers themselves in the kind of honest exchange only letters can divulge. With an insightful foreword by Michael Dirda, this book gives voice to a nearly forgotten figure and his friendship with a man he admired.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2010

About the author

James Salter (1925 - 2015) was a novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. Salter grew up in New York City and was a career officer and Air Force pilot until his mid-thirties, when the success of his first novel (The Hunters, 1957) led to a fulltime writing career. Salter’s potent, lyrical prose earned him acclaim from critics, readers, and fellow novelists. His novel A Sport and a Pastime (1967) was hailed by the New York Times as “nearly perfect as any American fiction.”

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure pleasure. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a writer's letters so much. What is it about these in particular? They are intensely affectionate, gossipy without being cruel, passionate and idealistic about the calling of writing yet simultaneously earthbound and vulnerable. Salter's letters resonate with the same voice that is found in his fiction and memoir. So if there's not enough Salter out there for you (and there never is), you can drink another drought in this book.

[iohokie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me begin by disclosing that am a self admitted Salter fanatic and have read almost his entire oeuvre. Ever since I randomly came across his fist novel at a library book sale, I've been borderline obsessed with his work. There is perhaps no other contemporary writer save Cormac McCarthy whose whose pure prose I enjoy reading more.

As with pretty much anything I've read by Salter, I devoured this over the course of a few days. I was familiar with Phelps after reading Salter's memoir and remember looking him up after reading Burning the Days, but I'd never actually read any of his work before this. The exchange between the Salter and Phelps in these letters should be savored end by anyone with a interest in the literary life. Both are fascinating men whose casual letters are far more interesting and well written than most of what passes for literature in the modern context.

These letters provide some of the most intimate glimpses into his essence as a writer as he lays bare many of his insecurities and frustrations with the publishing industry. I was a bit skeptical initially as to whether I'd really enjoy these letters as much as his novels and short stories, but even in his letters the guy can't help but write jaw droopingly beautiful sentences (Phelps is no slouch either, and it really is shame he didn't write more of his own original work).

While Salter has gained more attention in the later part of his career, it's a travesty in my mind that more people still know about self-aggrandizing, machismo writers (Hemingway, Mailer) than they they do of Salter's gorgeous prose. In one exchange between the two, Salter refers to he and Phelps as living "Samizdat lives", which he defines as "manuscripts passed around hand to hand in Russia.... They are underground literature, unheralded literature, secret but most valuable." The same could certainly be said of these letters and much of Salters work (I can't really same the same for Phelps since I haven't read anything else from him). I found myself jealous of not only the lliterary-centric lives led by each man, but also of the deep friendship they had. It's so rare to find someone else you truly connect with in life, and it's clear in their letters that both men recognized that. Their descriptions of life's pleasures, both large and small, seemed to heighten my own awareness. Of course there's much more to it than that with these letters, but I'll refrain from any further clumsily worded observations at this point other than to say that their exchanges had a profound effect on me and I'm sure I'll be revisiting them many times in the future.

[Sophfronia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally blew me away and I just devoured it. I discovered it via an excerpt published online at Narrative. I loved the letters right away because the affection these two writers had for each other was immediately apparent. I also liked how they spoke so frankly about their work, and about the business of writing. They share their frustrations, especially concerning a lack of money, and receiving bad reviews of their work. And the letters are just beautifully written.

Here’s Salter to Phelps: “Here it is thunderously hot, even the flies are stunned and the trees as if drugged.”

And this from Phelps consoling Salter for a poor review in the New York Times: “But I don’t give a damn about Broyard’s why or wherefore. I’m ashamed for him. As for you, I wish I could clasp your hand, or hold you in my arms for a minute, and somehow make you feel the love and tenderness and empathy I have for you, both as a writer I envy and revere above any other contemporary, and as a man and a friend and a confrere. Bless you.”

I found it all heartwarming and marvelous. They were so kind to each other that it felt hopeful to me somehow.

During the correspondence Salter embarks on the novel that would eventually become his book Light Years. I found something comforting about the way he plugged away at it, reporting his page count to Phelps at various intervals. I don’t know why, but this really helped me as I worked through the last few weeks of a novel revision of my own. I just felt a kind of camaraderie, like I was doing what so many other writers like Salter have done for centuries—piling up one page after another, hoping to make a book, hoping to make it a good one.

I highly recommend this book to writers and to anyone who needs a reminder there is good in the world, and people who are kind and gentle with each other.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I passed on an opportunity to buy this book three or four years ago. It always bothered me slightly but once I had read more Salter I really wanted to read it. (You know you’re hooked on an author when you start collecting the ephemera) Anyway this is a terrific collection of letters. Robert Phelps was a NYC based critic and writer. In 1969 he wrote Salter a fan letter. At this time Salter had published three books, The Hunters, Arm of Flesh and A Sport and a Pastime. Phelps was particularly taken with A Sport and a Pastime.

The correspondence begun in 1969 lasted for two decades and provides a window into the competitive, bitchy and gossipy world of writing and publishing. There are exchanges discussing reviews and the difficulties many publishers threw in the way.. They are perhaps the stuff of universal annoyance that creative types endure. For the Salter fan particularly the letters document the problems he experienced as he moves closer to becoming a literary superstar, we see also the opportunities lost, talents unrecognized that meant he never quite made it to those rarified heights. I am approaching the completion of reading all of Salter’s fiction, I have before me one novel, one collection of stories, one book of “recollections,” and the book of meals he wrote with his second wife. For fans of extraordinarily good writing I note that Salter’s work is worth your attention.

[sab]

Doria says, "Okay, I admit that I can't be completely impartial in recommending this book, since Robert was my grandfather. But it does contain some of the finest examples of letter-writing you are likely to find in the English language. Anyone nostalgic for that lovely lost art - or anyone who loves reading specimens of purely perfect prose - will relish "Memorable Days"."

[Liina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong 3.5

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I could live such a good life next time. It's so unfortunate there won't be any."

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me love James Salter. As a writer, as a person. Robert Phelps, too, although I've never read anything of his than these letters. More than just a collection of transcribed letters, this book is a timeline of an enormous friendship. In his introduction, Michael Dirda says "it gradually becomes clear that these are love letters."
This is true, and resonated behind every word.
I don't mean to hyperbolize, and since this is supposed to be a review, I'll try to keep my enamored ramblings to a minimum.
If you are a fan of Salter's or Phelps's, you will get something out of this book. If you've never read or heard of either man, maybe you won't. I can't say, because I knew of Salter before reading this.
But whether you have or not, I would recommend this book. I think books of selected letters are tough reads, as the reader must do a lot of reading between lines, and picking out the beautiful words from within mundane or abstruse references to things and places and people not mentioned anywhere else. Not so this.
Every letter is a beautifully crafted wonder to read. There are people, events, places mentioned about which I know nothing, but John McIntyre includes brief explanations of who's who and some short rundowns of what events were transpiring or had transpired.

Okay, to sum up: It's really great. Read it.

[Richard Cytowic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning and highly personal amaracord of the literary days from 1960-1990, Salter, it seems, knew everyone from his good fried Robert Redford to George Plimpton and many editors and writers on the planet. For readers like me "of a certain age" it is a delight; for younger folk, a taste of nostalgia.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moments here and there but if you want to get to know Salter read Burning the Days - interesting, yes, but not quite what I was hoping for - insight I suppose - so worth the read but not essential reading

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was just about to buy this book when a copy showed up in the mail gratis from the publisher. So I guess it does pay--though not very much and not very often-- to have written a few book reviews.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is the correspondence of two very fine writers, if you love books and gossip, you will love this book

[Ami Boughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oh, there are marvelous things I am eager to get to, but one must not hurry, one must pay for the coming moment."