DL/A-Z//SHAH I/1 - [Correspondence with Idries Shah re: Kara Kush]

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/1

Sub-file

[Correspondence with Idries Shah re: Kara Kush]

1983-1984

16 Letters (typescript)

Shah, Idries
Lessing, Doris May, 1919-2013

16 items, some highlighted.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/001 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 05/07/1983]

Letter, 4 leaves, typed.
Gives Shah advice on characterisation, physical descriptions, sentences and the shape of Shah's novel, Kara Kush. Mentions talking to Tom Maschler about the book. Writes that the novel has "the makings of a best-seller". Includes two pages of a proposed rewrite of a section of the book.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/002 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 30/09/1983]

Letter, 6 leaves, typed.
Discusses construction of the novel. Suggests adding chapter headings. Gives a highly detailed breakdown of specific pages and character's, and gives suggestions for improvements. Gives various suggestions for an alternative ending.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/004 [from Idries Shah to Doris Lessing, 02/10/1983]

Letter, 2 leaves, typed.
Thanks Lessing for her suggestions. Agrees with most of them. Wants to discuss Lessing's suggested endings in person. Includes a document of extracts, taken from books and guerrilla papers, asking whether any of them would be suitable as chapter-heads.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/005 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 17/10/1983]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Discusses the sequence of chapters. Writes of the "universality" of Shah's thought on how every repeats it, and how she feels that older people will understand this, but that "younger people will not". Says that the current ending is "emotionally shocking", and this is a "technical problem".

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/007 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 08/03/1984]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Writes that she will be taking the manuscript to New York, and will discuss it with Bob Gottlieb. Gives her itinerary for her visit to the US.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/008 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 29/04/1984]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Updates Shah on the current situation with the novel and promising publishers: Tom Maschler has read a part of it, and wants a co-publication with an American publisher, Knopf and Putman's have turned it down, and Jonathan Clowes is reading it.

DL/A-Z//SHAH I/010 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 15/05/1984]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Updates Shah on the publisher's thoughts, that "the book is too long and needs reworking".

DL/A-Z//SHAH 1/015 [from Doris Lessing to Idries Shah, 08/08/1984]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Asks whether Shah would like for her to be the ghost writer of Kara Kush, that "no one need ever know". Lessing handwrites "no!" on her own letter, suggesting that Shah gave his answer.