The Letters of Robert Giroux and Thomas Merton ed. by Patrick Samway, S.J. (review)

The books and journals of Thomas Merton are wonderful, but his letters, particularly with friends, are a genre all their own. Joining the set of letters between Merton and editor Jay Laughlin, who published substantial Merton material with New Directions Publishing, is Patrick Samway’s edition of the letters between editor-publisher Robert Giroux and Merton.

This book, however, is special, as Giroux was Merton’s editor for many of his major works, most notably Giroux and Merton’s most successful collaboration: The Seven Storey Mountain(New York, 1948). Giroux also was Merton’s editor for five other major subsequent works published by Harcourt Brace and twenty published by Farrar, Strauss and Cudahy/Giroux.

The book contains not only the letters but also a foreword by Jonathan Montaldo and an introduction that helps the reader place both men in context. Although most know Merton’s history, Giroux’s is not as familiar. Giroux came from solid New Jersey Catholic stock, unlike the more traveled and urbane Merton, who converted to Catholicism while at Columbia. The two met at Columbia and shared friends and teachers, most notably Mark Van Doren, although neither realized when they were students what their relationship would become over time. The book also contains a chronological list of the Merton books for which Giroux served as general editor and an epilogue about Giroux, clearly Samway’s friend.

The most interesting material in the book shows how Giroux served as a “working” editor for Merton’s writing. One of the best illustrations of this phenomenon is his naming of several of Merton’s books when Merton struggled for a title. The Ascent to Truth(New York, 1951) and The Sign of Jonas(New York, 1953) are two such illustrations in the book. It is also interesting to watch the interplay of letters reflecting efforts to make a book as coherent and well written as possible. Giroux’s suggestions in letters as he and Merton develop a book demonstrate a gentle but thoughtful guidance in the development of many of Merton’s finest works. Giroux’s masterful efforts at forming a series of Merton’s essays into a coherent whole is also a beautiful illustration of the fine work of a master editor. Giroux did Merton a tremendous service in helping him reach his potential as a writer. Giroux’s guidance and suggestions invariably improved Merton’s literary efforts and helped form him as a writer through the iterations of his material, from his early focus on monastic issues to the peace and social justice issues that occupied his later work.

The letters also give the reader an insight into some of the problems experienced by Merton in understanding commercial publication. It was apparent that he was a writer, not a businessman. A few examples that enliven the book include his trouble with censors, his approach to foreign rights for his books, his dependence on Naomi Burton Stone for the business side of his work, and his lack of understanding of the financial and legal side of the publishing industry. The last, along with a lost letter, almost destroyed Merton’s relationship with Giroux. Luckily, the lost letter did arrive, and the two men did not lose their friendship over the matter of the rights to publish Merton’s next book.

To those familiar with Merton’s work, this book provides a valuable insight into the commercial publication of his writing, which will be interesting to confirmed Merton scholars and a good addition to their library.