Lost Laysen: Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell died in 1949 and her dying wish was that her personal papers, letters and other writings be destroyed. Yet half a century later, the impossible happened: a book she had written when she was sixteen came to light in the deceased estate of her lifelong friend and one-time youthful suitor, Henry Angel. The manuscript, in two lined notebooks, was found hidden in a cache of his papers. His family had not been aware that he had known the Margaret Mitchell of Gone With The Wind fame, never mind that he had been in possession of a manuscript. The story is of one of honour, adventure and unrequited love, set in the South Pacific and in many ways, set the stage for her characters of Rhett, Ashley and Scarlett; two central male characters, one a gentleman and the other more rough-hewn, vie for the attention of a feisty, independent-minded woman, and who will go to any lengths to defend her honor. The ending is terrible, cataclysmic and unforgettable. This edition includes letters and photos of Henry and Margaret.