Fare Forward: Letters from David Markson

Apr 8 ’04

Dear Symsy—

Spectacular!²⁹ You can even take the tour,³⁰ up the rickety stairway to the shabby flat where Raskolnikov did in the old pawnbroker lady and her sister with the ax — and even though there never was a Raskolnikov, or an old lady, or her sister (named Lizaveta), they will tell you, that’s the place!

Hey, seriously, I think it’s wonderful, a great break from the Amerikansky routine, an experience to feed off for years — even later, when you’ll think you’ve mostly forgotten it. Lotsa pomes³¹ too, betcha.

But in the meantime, I demand more and more work on your Markson paper, hear? Every minute, until!

Hey, all cheers, mazel tov, congrats, etc.

Thine—

David

29 His reaction to news that I’d be spending a month in St. Petersburg (Russia) as a participant in the Summer Literary Seminars.

30 The Crime & Punishment Tour.

31 This is not a typo; he explains the spelling in a later letter.