1900-03-07a to Thomas Fisher Unwin

Autograph letter signed, New York Public Library, 289 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

92 VICTORIA STREET. S.W.

[Wednesday] March 7th 1900

Dear Fisher Unwin,

Because I appointed you my agent to negotiate the publication in America of Evelyn Innes, it does not follow that I shall appoint you my agent to negotiate the publication in America of Sister Teresa. That is my view of the case and if you cannot bring yourself to accept it I shall put the book on one side and indefinitely postpone finishing it. I am not prepared to undergo the worry of litigation.

But whatever may happen, the Appletons shall never publish a book of mine again, and to secure myself against them I cannot consent to your acting as my agent in the case of Sister Teresa. If you want to publish the book you will have to content yourself with the English edition and hold yourself divorced from all management of any other. Above all, do not think I am trying to "bluff” you, I am in deadly earnest.

If you write me a letter withdrawing your claim to negotiate for the American publication, a claim which, in my opinion, rests on no foundation, you shall have Sister Teresa sooner than you expect, possibly before the end of the year; if you don’t I don’t think the book will ever be written.

I am perfectly willing to cancel the agreement, if you prefer that course; I shall be sorry for our relations have been satisfactory and agreeable up to this point.

Please let me know tomorrow what you intend to do for I shall make my arrangements accordingly.

Truly yours

George Moore