“Laugh? I Thought I’d Die!!”: Richard Yates’s Unpublished Letters

Richard Yates, known for his bleak novels, had a lighter side, as evidenced by his unpublished letters. One letter, dated January 12, 1939, reveals his humorous side when he recounts a bizarre incident at his new school due to his sister's perceived deceit. In another letter from May 5, 1953, Yates humorously shares his and his wife's marital struggles and the couple's separation, while also requesting alimony in a cleverly crafted sentence.