The Letters of Gertrude Stein and Carl Van Vechten Volume I and II

This monumental two-volume set, edited by Edward Burns, presents the complete correspondence between two titans of American modernism: writer Gertrude Stein and critic, novelist, and photographer Carl Van Vechten. Spanning 1913 to 1946, these letters document the longest continuous correspondence of Stein's life and offer unprecedented insight into her creative process, her artistic milieu in Paris, and her complex relationship with Van Vechten, who worked tirelessly to promote her work in America.

What makes this collection especially valuable is its completeness—both sides of the correspondence are presented, allowing readers to follow the full arc of their friendship and professional collaboration. The letters capture "daily everyday living": the immediate concerns, objects, people, and places that were the raw material for Stein's groundbreaking experimental writing. They also document Van Vechten's crucial role in championing the Harlem Renaissance and his multifaceted career as writer, critic, and cultural impresario.

Edward Burns's exhaustive annotations include detailed cross-referencing to source materials, historical context, and biographical information that illuminates the text. The letters reveal not just famous names and anecdotes but the texture of artistic life in the early-to-mid twentieth century, from Paris in the 1920s to New York during World War II.
About Columbia University Press: Founded in 1893, Columbia University Press is one of America's most distinguished scholarly publishers, known for rigorous editing and authoritative editions of important literary correspondence.