Mrs. Lardner tells her sister she is keeping busy with Jim being away. She went into New York to watch a big fight and afterwards, spent the evening at the Stork Club. She says that she finds it hard to sit still because she is so anxious, knowing...
Mrs. Lardner writes to her sister about staying busy so she won't think about Jim in Spain. She describes her influx of house guests. Near the end of the letter, she writes about Jim; he is a combination of "ruthless logic and romantic idealism." ...
War casualties; Missing in action; Wounds & injuries; Military hospitals;
Murra tells Ellis Lardner about Jim's joining the brigade and how he was welcomed by the soldiers after proving he belonged. He writes about he and Jim being wounded during the Ebro Offensive and seeing Jim in early September. He tells Mrs....
James writes to his mother that contrary to the advice of Vincent "Jimmy" Sheean, he has decided to enlist to fight. He also asked Ernest Hemingway for advice; he thought it was a noble idea, but a personal one. James includes on page two his...
James writes that he is about to go into battle but is not at all nervous. He is now a corporal and in charge of four men. He talks about the long march to his current location and going into a nearby town where he had an omlette and wine. Censor...
James relates the story of his tooth abscess. He concerned about the dental bill and is prepared to put up a fight if he is overcharged; he will visit the dentist for his twentieth follow-up. He discusses having a bout of eczema, which has cleared...
James writes to his mother explaining his new appearance: tan skin, shorter hair, slimmer. He will be sending this letter through Joe North of the Daily Worker who will send it air mail from Barcelona to Paris.
James is currently away from fighting and tells his mother it is a miracle he wasn't hit. Promises to wire a note assuring her he is safe once he is far enough away from the artillery. He is glad to have gotten his mother's letter which caught him...
Convalescent hospitals; Military hospitals; Military tactics;
Postcard caption reads: Un aspecto del Parque. Jim writes to his mother while healing from a leg injury. He tells her he is improving slower than he expected. He has been in the hospital for 22 days. He says that all of his best friends survived...
Jim writes to his mother about his time away from the front, in Barcelona. He was able to enjoy all the indulgences city life has to offer: a bath, a clean bed, good food. He assures her that it will be a long time before he sees any action. He...
Trench warfare; Military life; Military tactics; Fascists; Artillery (Weaponry); Bombardment;
Tells his mother that there has not been much action except for digging trenches and "personal refuges" from artillery shells. He recounts one night digging for seven hours on a stony hill, surrounded by the fascist lines. By day break, the...
Military hospitals; Convalescent hospitals; Wounds & injuries;
Jim reports on the progress of his injuries. He has walked into town without a limp and has been enjoying the easy life at his hospital. He believes there is still a piece of shrapnel in his leg. He compares his hospital to "an old people's...
Newspapers; Wounds & injuries; Military hospitals; Bombardment; Bombers; Air warfare; Convalescent hospitals;
James recounts his being wounded during the Ebro Offensive. He describes his wounds and the bombardment. He is currently in a hospital with nothing to read. He intends to write a newspaper piece about his ordeal and have Walter Kerr of the Herald...
Military life; Military maneuvers; Military training; Censorship; Fascists;
Jim describes his daily routine and training to his mother. Mentions that he has seen Jimmy Sheean, Joe North, and Leigh White and they have brought him two letters, one of which is from Mrs. Lardner. He asks his mother to stop asking him to come...
Jim tells his mother he will be going to Spain for his vacation, but promises to stay out of harm's way. He hopes that his research in Spain will lead to his writing a book. He has started taking Spainish lessons in preparation of his trip and...
Postal service; Postal service employees; Correspondence; War; Sunburns; Machine guns; Cannons; Military life;
Jim describes to his mother the excitement of receiving mail and, as he writes the letter, the postman is standing on a barrel calling out recipients' names. Jim says that he just stepped outside and he can hear the cannon fire and see flashed on...
Military life; Consulates; Military training; Military camps;
Jim writes to his mother that he spent four days in Barcelona and can see that there is no chance of him getting into an artillery unit. He says the International Brigade is very disorganized, as they have just moved north, from Albacete. He...
Communism; Politics & government; Political parties; Fourth of July celebrations; Fruit; Olive trees;
Jim writes to his mother about her feelings on communism. He tells her about the communist ideology and that communists are not violent, unless the government has been forcibly overthrown. He thinks she has not given Soviet Russia the credit it...
Jim writes to his mother before he leaves for Spain. He will be traveling with Ernest Hemingway and will be the accredited correspondent for the Copenhagen "Politiken," the International News Service, and the Herald Tribune. He thinks that if...
Military life; Postal service; Newspapers; Champagne (Wine); Parties; Military training; Military education;
Jim writes to his mother that mail is slow and it is better for him to read the Daily Worker newspaper to get news about the International Brigade. Jim has written an article in the Volunteer for Liberty about what families in the United States can...
