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...
Commendation card awarded posthumously to James Lardner. David Gordon (Lardner24) had a card made for Lardner before the International Brigade left Spain. Gordon was detained at a French concentration camp in February 1939 and in 1948,...
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...
Gordon writes to Ring in order to pass along Jim's posthumous commendation for fighting fascism in Spain. Gordon apologizes for the long wait. He writes that when he was detained and searched at the French concentration camp of St. Cyprien in...
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...
Convalescent hospitals; Military hospitals; Reading;
Caption on postcard: Departamento de hidroterapia. James writes to his brother about being injured by shrapnel and is currently reading Marxist literature in the hospital.
Convalescent hospitals; War correspondents; Military hospitals; Military medicine; Wounds & injuries;
Sheean writes to Jim's mother that he has been wounded during the Ebro Offensive. He was hit by shrapnel in his thigh and lower back. Sheean assures Mrs. Lardner that Jim's hospital stay is keeping him away from the front lines where the fighting...
Jim discusses reading material with his brother. Gives Ring an update on the current politics of Spain. Discusses the Communists and the Radical Socialists, who are anti-fascist but seem not to be pro-Popular Front. He discusses the government of...
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...
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 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 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.
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...
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...
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." ...
Sheean tells Jim's mother that she heard news of him last night. He has been transfered near Mora de Ebro, a quiet area with the American battalion; there is not much fighting.
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...
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...
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...
Sheean writes to Mrs. Lardner that he has seen Jim and that he is well. He tells her that there is a good chance Jim will not see any action as the fascists have been pushed in the opposite direction of Jim's location. He thinks that if the...
