WCP3392

[1]

Private

Broadstone, Wimborne

January 11th. 1905

Mess[e]rs. Macmillan & Co.¹

Dear Sirs,

Had I myself originated the idea of writing my Autobiography² I should certainly have offered you the option of publishing it.

As you have written on the matter I will explain the circumstances.

Mr. Curtis Brown³, who is agent for several American periodicals, and for whom I wrote my first article on "Man's Place in the Universe"⁴, before that article appeared, suggested my writing a book upon the same subject and said he could obtain for me very liberal terms both in America and England. He did [2] so, and also arranged for some translations, & saved me much trouble & correspondence. As soon as that book was out, he suggested that I should write an autobiography, & on my agreeing to do so, he made arrangements, with Mess^rs. Chapman & Hall⁵, and with Dodd Mead & Co.⁶ for English & American editions, which were quite satisfactory to me.

I had promised to write a short account of my early life for my own family, but as the first suggestion that such a [3] book would be acceptable both in England & America came from him, I determined to write a more careful and fuller work which I am now doing, and to leave the matter in his hands.

Believe me | Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. I am in hopes that this book, if I live to finish it, will lead to an increased sale of some of my other works published by you.

A.R.W. [signature]