TLS: Friday, January 09, 1925

DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS opened at the Greenwich Village Theatre on November 11, 1924, and for the most part, the reviews were unenthusiastic. O'Neill wrote to George Jean Nathan, "What I think everyone missed in DESIRE is the quality in it I set most store by -- the attempt to give an epic tinge to New England's inhibited life..."

Norman Hapgood was a well known drama critic and the brother of Hutchins Hapgood, one of the founders of the Provincetown Players.

Campsea,
South Shore, Paget W.
Bermuda.
Jan. 9, 1925.

My dear Hapgood:

Much, much gratitude for your fine letter of appreciation of my "Desire Under the Elms" -- (which was held up in Provincetown for lack of a forwarding address and never reached me until a few days ago, by the way). It certainly hit me in the right spot, for so many people have misunderstood the latter part of the play that it gratifies me immensely to have a real New Englander "get me right". Also, one does get discouraged every once in a while and then one can turn back to letters like yours and begin to grin with assurance again.

I hope Neith and Hutch will see it and like it as much as you did.

With all grateful regards,

Eugene O'Neill