I am thankful for your lovely letter. It seriously has cheered me up to know that you are glad about what I have taught you. I still do make my students summarize a story into a single sentence. They say it is hard and difficult, but I tell them that John Steinbeck had to do this exercise and look what he is doing now. After I say that then they all start working hard on summarizing that story.
Yes, I remember that advice I gave you about traveling to Europe instead of all around the world. Well, I can't believe I am saying this, but I am glad that you didn't take my advice because now look at where you are in your life. Receiving a Nobel Prize and writing amazing short stories.
Which reminds me, congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize. I read your accepting speech and it made me almost cry. It was very well said. I love your simile when you said, "to roar out like a lion out of pride in my profession." That part of your speech made me become proud of what I taught you and what you have done for our community. I like how you told what the true job is for a writer. To inform and expose our many grievous faults and failures to the world. It is also the writer's job to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit. I am glad for what you have written for the world. You have given hope to the world during the most hardest times of the century. I am glad that I was able to teach you the secrets of writing and I am even more glad that you have applied my secrets to your writing.
Yours Sincerely,
Edith Mirrielees
1 comment:
What a great letter! Great responses to the details of his own letter, and I can totally hear the voice of a teacher in this. I like the part where Edith tells him that she's glad he didn't follow her advice about travel. :) Entertaining and well-written.
Post a Comment