Genghis Cohen letter

[Henry Musikar]

Thanks for reminding me of this letter. On considering the peevish 
tone of Toms letter (not that I blame him), he'd fit right in on the 
list.

On 21 Mar 97 at 1:02, Orlowsky at aol.com <Orlowsky at aol.com> wrote:

> >From the NY Times Book Review, July 17, 1966, pp. 22 & 24:
> 
> To the Editor:
> 
> In a recent letter to the editor, Romain Gary asserts that I took
> the name "Genghis Cohn" from a novel of his to use in a novel of
> mine, The Crying of Lot 49. Mr. Gary is totally in error. I have
> never read, skimmed, or otherwise seen any of his novels. I took the
> name Genghis Cohen from the name of Genghis Khan (1167-1227), the
> well-known Mongol warrior and statesman. If Mr. Gary really believes
> himself to be the only writer at present able to arrive at a play on
> words this trivial, that is another problem entirely, perhaps more
> psychiatric than literary, and I certainly hope he works it out.
> 
> Thomas Pynchon
> New York City
> 
> 

AsB4,
Henry Musikar

Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner