1980-1982. A large file of material related to the publication of Ford's second book, titled The Ultimate Good Luck (after, according to these pages, three previous title candidates). The lot begins with a 10-page handwritten author questionnaire. Ford skips a lot of the questions, but does answer how the idea for the book originated and whether he needed special research. He also supplies a very impressive list of authors (Jim Harrison, Peter Matthiessen, E.L. Doctorow, Raymond Carver, Tim O'Brien, Thomas McGuane, Richard Price, Joy Williams, Eudora Welty, Norman McLean, Geoffrey Wolff, Ward Just, Jayne Anne Phillips, Joyce Carol Oates, etc.) who may be interested in receiving advance copies. There is a typed note signed from Ford transmitting author photos (three are included here); and an autograph note signed stating his intention to read Kinsella's Shoeless Joe. There are about 20 pages of excisions from The Ultimate Good Luck that have all been re-typed elsewhere (i.e. the revised pages are not included), but many of Ford's changes are in evidence and these are apparently initialed by him (p. 138). From the above roster of authors, included here is a typed note signed from Tim O'Brien with praise for the book, as well as a photocopy of a longer letter from O'Brien to Ford, and a photocopy of an apparently unpublished 3-page review of the book by Raymond Carver, in which he compares the book to Malcolm Lowry's Under the Volcano and Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory. Additionally, there are approximately a dozen internal memos and retained letters; along with publicity plans; the invitation and guest list for the publication party; a list of recipients for complimentary copies; Ford's bio; a proof dust jacket; and a small collection of published reviews. The Ultimate Good Luck didn't bring Ford or the publisher the success that they had hoped for, and even seem to have expected. His next book was published as a paperback in a newly established Random House line, and was the precursor to the 1996 book, Independence Day, which won the Pulitzer Prize. From that point forward, Richard Ford was universally considered a major American author. The lot is near fine. [#036696] $4,500