Typed Letter Signed / Unsigned Photograph

This Italian-American writer penned novels and translated Italian classics, but is mostly remembered for romanticized biographies of 19th century literary figures such as "Poor Splendid Wings: The Rossettis and Their Circle" (1933), "Oscar Wilde and the Yellow Nineties" (1940), "George Sand and Her Times" (1947), "The Immortal Lovers: Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning" (1951) and others. TLS, 1p (lettersheet), 5½" X 8½", New York, NY, 15 May 1946. Addressed to noted Lincoln/Civil War scholar Arnold F. Gates (1914-93). Near fine. Winwar thanks Gates for birthday greetings, then answers a question about Walt Whitman no doubt occasioned by her 1941 biography "American Giant: Walt Whitman and His Times" -- in Part: "Until recently there was a large Whitman collection in New York -- the collection of Mrs. Frank Julian Sprague. However, two years ago she turned it over to one of the out-of-town colleges (I forget which) therefore it is less accessible to those of us who live here. The New York Public Library, however, is very rich in Whitman material...." She also chats about the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" newspaper files. Boldly signed in blue ink. Accompanied by a fine glossy 4" X 6" 1953 publicity portrait of Winwar.