Auden’s Letters

To the Editors:

In a letter of May 9, 1972, in which W.H. Auden confirmed Edward Mendelson’s agreement to serve as Literary Executor of his estate, Mr. Auden asked that a notice “appear in the American and British Press requesting any friends who have letters from me to burn them when they’ve done with them, and on no account show them to anybody else.” This wish is also expressed in his last will and testament. We should be grateful if you would publish Mr. Auden’s request at this time.

William Meredith

Monroe K. Spears

New London, Connecticut