Cormick McCarthy's New Novels
The Beauty of the Lettera 32
And the legend who still uses it
There are a few points in history where form meets function so deliberately that a work of art is born in the union.
The Lettera 22 was designed by Marcello Nizzoli in 1950, and was an immediate sensation. It was awarded the Compasso d'oro prize in 1954. In 1959 the Illinois Institute of Technology chose the Lettera 22 as the best design product of the last 100 years. A specimen can be found in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Marcello Nizzoli followed up the wildly successful Lettera 22 design with the Lettera 32 thirteen years later. Though things got a little more square and less organic, something beautiful happened; one of history’s iconic typewriters was born. It’s been the machine chosen by countless writers throughout the century, including some of the most iconic creators of our times; Thomas Pynchon, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen.
McCarthy’s Machine
“Cormac McCarthy used an Olivetti Lettera 32 to write nearly all of his fiction, screenplays, and correspondence, totaling by his estimate more than 5 million words. The Lettera 32 that he purchased in 1963 was auctioned at Christie's on December 4, 2009, to an unidentified American collector for $254,500, more than 10 times its high estimate of $20,000.”
I love the wear to his machine at the edges.
Cormack McCarthy’s New Novels
After an unbearable 16 years of agonizing anticipation from the fans of Cormack McCarthy, 2 new novels were finally released merely months apart. The famous classic writer released the novel The Passengers on October 25th, 2022 with it’s interconnected counterpart Stella Maris being published on December 6th. Even though back in 2009, McCarthy sold his original Lettera typewriter at auction, immediately after hepurchased an exact replica of the antique to continue his wriing on.
The two novels are set eight years apart and tell the story of siblings bobby and Alicia Western. The Pulitzer Prize–winning author focuses on intimate portrait of grief and longing, as a young woman in a psychiatric facility seeks to understand her own existence. Shockingly especially in 2022, both of these novels were composed on a classic Lettera typewriter.
The Lettera 22 and 32 Typewriter
You can really fly on these machines if they're well adjusted. There is something delicate, almost magical in the touch. Very little effort is required to move the hammers. Perhaps this why this is a favorite model of my 11-year old daughter.
I list the 22 and the 32 together, because they really are so similar. While the 32 is a better machine, in my opinion, some consider the 22 to be more beautiful.
Either way, you're getting a writing tool that will outlive every masterpiece you pen, as long as you treat it right.
I have a Lettera 32 on my desk now, which I include in some of the pictures on this site.
One of history’s most beautiful writing machines. The height of practicality; poised for speed, and relatively lightweight for a portable from this era, while still maintaining the typical ‘bulletproof’ casing. Even the most expensive and dependable laptop couldn’t take a bullet and keep on working. Not to mention typewriters are the epitomy of a distraction free envrionment. No internet or even electricity required to pen your deepest most inner thoughts.
The Lettera 32 typewriter comes in a pleasant, timeless blue (in contrast so some of the dated greens and beiges of the era. These were made in a few countries. The ones from Italy generally have a smooth finish, and the ones from Spain or Canada have a slightly textured finish.
Features:
Precision cast aluminum carriage return lever folds for travel
2 color function while using duo-tone ribbons
Auto Tab Features (set and release tabs with the push of a button)
Auto-Ribbon Reverse when it reaches the end of the ribbon.
Durable metal shell and construction
Touch-sensitive key mechanisms
Locking ribbon spools
Quiet bell to signify the end of the line
Carriage lock for travel