Dolly And Zane Grey: Letters From A Marriage (Western Literature Series)

Much has been written about Zane Grey but little is known about his wife, Dolly, or their marriage. With three children, houses, yachts, fabulous wealth, and a long lasting marriage, they appear to be a conventional couple, but the reality of their personal life is startlingly different from the public façade. Zane Grey became the name for a huge enterprise based on his writing, which included books, magazine serials, film and stage versions, children’s books and even comic strips, but he did not create this enterprise alone: Dolly guided, directed and managed his career. After editing his hand written manuscripts, she handled the business of publishing, meeting and negotiating with publishers, overseeing contracts, directing arrangements with movie studios, managing the finances, keeping her eye on the book market, determining how many and which manuscripts should be published, and perhaps most importantly, maintaining the facade of a conventional married life. His numerous affairs with other women might have threatened his reputation. Most of these relationships lasted many years. Dolly knew all about them, and both Dolly and Zane took great pains to hide his affairs. Much of their married life was spent apart and their marriage was sustained by a constant correspondence. It is in these letters that the nature of the marriage is revealed. It is also in these letters that we can see the extent of Dolly’s participation in his business life as well as her own remarkable personality. From The Publisher: Much Has Been Written About Zane Grey But Little Is Known About His Wife, Dolly, Or Their Marriage. With Three Children, Houses, Yachts, Fabulous Wealth, And A Long Lasting Marriage, They Appear To Be A Conventional Couple, But The Reality Of Their Personal Life Is Startlingly Different From The Public Facade. Zane Grey Became The Name For A Huge Enterprise Based On His Writing, Which Included Books, Magazine Serials, Film And Stage Versions, Children's Books And Even Comic Strips, But He Did Not Create This Enterprise Alone: Dolly Guided, Directed And Managed His Career. After Editing His Hand Written Manuscripts, She Handled The Business Of Publishing, Meeting And Negotiating With Publishers, Overseeing Contracts, Directing Arrangements With Movie Studios, Managing The Finances, Keeping Her Eye On The Book Market, Determining How Many And Which Manuscripts Should Be Published, And Perhaps Most Importantly, Maintaining The Facade Of A Conventional Married Life. His Numerous Affairs With Other Women Might Have Threatened His Reputation. Most Of These Relationships Lasted Many Years. Dolly Knew All About Them, And Both Dolly And Zane Took Great Pains To Hide His Affairs. Much Of Their Married Life Was Spent Apart And Their Marriage Was Sustained By A Constant Correspondence. It Is In These Letters That The Nature Of The Marriage Is Revealed. It Is Also In These Letters That We Can See The Extent Of Dolly's Participation In His Business Life As Well As Her Own Remarkable Personality. List Of Illustrations -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part 1: 1900-1912: Lackawaxen -- 1: 1900-1904: Brown-eyed Rose And The Black-eyed Devil -- 2: 1905-1906: Eternal Feminine -- 3: 1907-1910: Hermits Of Cottage Point -- 4: 1910-1912: Marriage Is For Children -- Part 2: 1913-1918: Middletown -- 5: 1913-1915: Great Bitterness -- 6: 1916: Tempests And Storms -- 7: 1917: Hyena Lying In Ambush -- 8: 1918: Your Only, Wife -- Part 3: 1919-1925: California -- 9: 1919-1920: Penelope Has Taken A Wandering Streak -- 10: 1921-1923: Froth Of Enthusiasm -- 11: 1924-1925: Female Of The Species -- Part 4: 1926-1939: South Seas -- 12: 1926-1927: To Know All Is To Forgive All -- 13: 1928-1929: Dear Old Comrade Of The Years -- 14: 1930-1932: I Love You Till It Chokes Me -- 15: 1932-1935: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, O Paramount! -- 16: 1935-1937: You, Who Make Home -- 17: 1937-1939: I Never Before Loved You So Well -- Epilogue: 1939-1957 -- Notes -- Further Reading -- Sources -- Index. Edited And With Commentary By Candace C. Kant. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 421-425) And Index. Popular western writer Zane Grey was a literary celebrity during his lifetime and the center of a huge enterprise based on his writing, which included books, magazine serials, film and stage versions of his stories, even comic strips. His wife, Dolly, closely guided Grey's career almost from its beginning, editing and sometimes revising his work, negotiating with publishers and movie studios, and skillfully managing the considerable fortune derived from these activities. Dolly maintained the facade of a conventional married life that was essential to Grey's public image and the traditional middle-class values his work reflected. This facade was constantly threatened by Grey's numerous affairs with other women. The stress of hiding these dalliances placed a huge strain on their relationship, and much of Zane and Dolly's union was sustained largely by correspondence. Their letters--thousands of them--reveal the true nature of this complex partnership. As edited by Candace Kant, the letters offer an engrossing portrait of an extremely unorthodox marriage and its times. Cover Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part One: Lackawaxen -- 1. 1900-1904: The Brown-Eyed Rose and the Black-Eyed Devil -- 2. 1905-1906: The Eternal Feminine -- 3. 1907-1910: The Hermits of Cottage Point -- 4. 1910-1912: Marriage Is for Children -- Part Two: Middletown -- 5. 1913-1915: The Great Bitterness -- 6. 1916: Tempests and Storms -- 7. 1917: A Hyena Lying in Ambush -- 8. 1918: Your Only, Wife -- Part Three: California -- 9. 1919-1920: Penelope Has Taken a Wandering Streak -- 10. 1921-1923: The Froth of Enthusiasm -- 11. 1924-1925: The Female of the Species -- Gallery 1 -- Part Four: South Seas -- 12. 1926-1927: To Know All Is to Forgive All -- 13. 1928-1929: Dear Old Comrade of the Years -- 14. 1930-1932: I Love You Till It Chokes Me -- 15. 1932-1935: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread, O Paramount! -- 16. 1935-1937: You, Who Make Home -- 17. 1937-1939: I Never Before Loved You So Well -- 1939-1957: Epilogue -- Notes -- Further Reading -- Sources -- Index Popular western writer Zane Grey was a literary celebrity during his lifetime. But he did not create this enterprise alone. His wife, Dolly, guided and managed Grey's career. Their letters reveal the true nature of an unorthodox couple and the complex partnership between a hugely successful writer and the woman who managed his career.