A Sandburg Stumper

[Rob Wick]

You got it Roger. Good job! (And I'll give Bill partial credit for agreeing).

Masters was always jealous of Sandburg and felt that when Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years came out, Sandburg had "stolen his thunder" even though Masters' book wouldn't come out for another five years.

In 1943, Randall visited Sandburg's home in Harbert. The two walked along the beach in front of Sandburg's home. Randall recorded their conversation in his diary.

S. Talked [to] me [of] E. Lee Masters and his hates. S. does not keep his hates. To hell with them. Said he gave M. a severe … denunciation to his face re: “Lincoln the Man”.. Called it hitting below the belt. I said I liked the Sangamon and S. agreed.

Masters's best biographer, Herbert K. Russell, told me he didn't think it likely Sandburg gave Masters "a severe...denunciation" to his face, but agreed that it wouldn't have been out of character given the relationship between the two men.

You and Bill win the right to have yourselves memorialized when Masters updates his Spoon River Anthology.

Best
Rob