"All education and experience is important to a writer ... "

Typed Letter Signed ("Arthur C. Clarke") to Westley S. Hartley, in response to the latter's question regarding the value of his education to him as a writer.

Colombo, Ceylon: 24 Sept 1959.

Price: $600.00


About the item

One page, on letterhead of his company "Clarke-Wilson Associates". 1 vols. 4to. "All education and experience is important to a writer ... " Small tear at fold, else fine. With accompanying envelope and with a one-page, 4to, Typed carbon copy of Clarke's bio/bibiliobraphy.

Item #23555

Written in response to Hartley's TLS asking: "How important ... was [your] high school education, and is college experience necessary for creative writing?" Hartley had cited the biographical sketch in MODERN SF, and Clarke responds in his reply:

"The statement in MODERN SF is very much out of date; at current count I have 25 books published or about to appear. Incidentally my degree was in physics and maths, not chemistry.

"ALL education and experience is important to a writer; he can't have too much of either. I did not go to college until I was almost 30; my first short stories and novels were done while I was still in the RAF. You will find more of my biography in the Ballantine edition of EARTHLIGHT, and Clifton Fadiman's comments in my new anthology ACROSS THE SEA OF STARS may be helpful.

"My education was essential for works such as INTERPLANETARY FLIGHT and THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE, but much less so for my novels. And much of my current writing (e.g., THE REEFS OF TAPROBANE, THE DEEP RANGE) is based on my present underwater activities, which don't even require a high school education ... The enclosed data sheet may also be useful to you ... Sincerely, Arthur C. Clarke."