2. One thing that's striking is Wilson's modus operandi of writing letters that mix eye-poking insults with effusive personal warmth.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
3. Typical letters in this mode: a) start off with in-you-face abuse b) end with a suggestion that correspondent have dinner with Wilson.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
4. Example: in 1950 Allen Tate, decades-old friend, converts to Catholicism. Wilson sends letter mocking Christianity.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
5. Wilson to Tate: "swallowing the New Testament as factual & moral truth seems to me an awful price to pay" for peace of mind.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
6. After mocking Tate's deepest beliefs for a two paragraphs, Wilson ends "do let us know when you are in town...Love to Caroline"
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Replying to @HeerJeet
7. Wilson to Dos Passos: "I never expected to see you develop into such a hot-air artist." Hundred words of political abuse & warm regards
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8. Wilson to FW Dupee: long paragraph on terrible job FWD doing as editor of Partisan review, then hope "we'll see you up here this summer"
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Replying to @HeerJeet
9. Interesting thing here is that Wilson's friends all put up with his abusive letters -- all except Nabokov, who answered in kind.
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Replying to @HeerJeet
10. With Nabokov, Wilson finally had a friend who was as as self-assured & bull-headed as Wilson himself. So a clash was inevitable.
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@chesed_gevurah It was a good friendship till Wilson reviewed Nabokov's Pushkin translation & then it blew up big time.
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