10000 Tampa Avenue
Chatsworth, California
September 24, 1944
Edward Spencer Cowles, M. D.
591 Park Avenue
New York City
Dear Dr. Cowles:
Thank you for your letter and your kind invitation. I am sorry that I am not able to accept it, because, as you see, I am in California where I have been working on the screen version of “The Fountainhead.”
Would you write to me and let me know what matters you wished to disscuss with me? Perhaps we can discuss them by mail. I do not know when I will be back in New York, but when I return I shall be glad to meet you in person, if you will give me a rain check until then.
I have not read Miss Cowles’ “Looking for Trouble”, but I have ordered a copy and am looking forward to reading it.
I was frankly and pleasantly stunned to hear of Maurice Maeterlinck’s compliment to my work. Would you thank him for me and give him my most respectful regards? It was strange that your letter reached me just when I was trying to interest a studio here in making a new screen version of “Monna Vanna” which I consider one of the greatest plays in all world literature.
Sincerely yours,
Ayn Rand
Monna Vanna by Maurice Maeterlinck, was first performed in 1902, and an English translation was first published in 1903.