Dr. Oliver Sacks - Pen Lover

[Barnett]

Famed neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks passed away this week. After reading his book "Uncle Tungsten" I wrote him to say how much I enjoyed it, and how the section where he talks about his memories of the pens his mother used resonated with me. He was kind enough to write back where he explains that he too is a pen lover, and still hand writes all his manuscripts with pen.

 

I thought you may enjoy reading his letter.

Bart

Edited August 31, 2015 by Barnett

[Charles Skinner]

Thanks for this great "post!" Too bad that this genius's penmanship did not match his scientific achievements! Smile!

 

C. S.

[e-beth]

How wonderful that he wrote you back! I love that he still wrote his books by hand, rather than on a computer. I find it strangely pleasing that he used blue ink because that's the color of ink I prefer as well and it seems like the professional world is a black ink only kind of place.

 

I just saw a seminar by Michael Sull at the SF Pen Show and he had a binder full of letters to and from famous penmen. It's inspired me to do something similar, and your post has inspired me to write to authors I admire and hope for a handwritten note I can put in my collection.

[Barnett]

e-beth,

It was wonderful, and very unexpected, that he wrote back. I try to write to authors whose books touch me in some way. I have received emails from a couple but Dr Sacks was the exception with his written note. However, I continue to offer my admiration in letter form.

Good luck with your letter writing.

Bart

[alexander_k]

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

[RMN]

Thank you for this unexpected tribute to an extraordinary man!

 

 

D.ick

[FeuBleu]

Wow, how personal and wonderful to receive a handwritten response! Thanks for sharing with us, it's a lovely thing.

[gordonhooker]

Thanks for sharing.

[Dschal]

Thank you very much for posting this! Even though we've known, from his New York Times pieces, that he had terminal cancer, it was still hard to have him pass away yesterday. This is a lovely example of his tremendous humanity.

[pen2paper]

Thank you for sharing this very special letter with us.

 

As a pen person (s) we certainly understand.

[goodpens]

Thank you for sharing this. Very cool. I am reading "Musicophilia" right now.

[benjitzu]

What an amazing post - thank you so much for sharing! A very talented writer and great to hear about him using his pens so much. There was a video of him discussing his desk and fountain pens - I saw it while roaming through the forms a while back...Let me see if I can find it...

 

Yes, here it is:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/205831-oliver-sachs-fountain-pen-rocks-and-metals/

 

Thanks again for sharing your letter!

Edited September 1, 2015 by benjitzu

[cleosmama]

Thank you for this post. I will miss his essays in the New York Times.

[Barnett]

It was my pleasure. His letter prompted me to use it as a object lesson yesterday for my latest post on www.papersleuth.com, as writers you may enjoy it.

 

Benjitzu thank you for the link, very much appreciated.

Bart

[pen2paper]

her's the video version of the audio linked. hope it's ok to post.

OS does share a view as well as comments on his favorite pen of many years.

https://www.facebook.com/scifri/videos/vb.10862798402/10153173856573403/?type=2&theater

[I.M.]

Now that's a nice link there pen2paper I'm surprised at his definition of clutter though, unless it was just a little British modesty. I've still not read any of his books, but I recently watched a few documentaries on youtube, and couldn't help thinking at the time what a genuinely nice guys he is. I think I also read an article in Vanity Fair about him.

 

Thanks Barnett for sharing the letter.

[PaperDarts]

Thanks for sharing the letter with us. He was a great man and a great writer and will be sorely missed.

[Cygne]

Thank you so truly for posting Oliver Sacks' beautiful letter, Barnett, and for posting his "Desktop Diaries" interview, pen2paper.

Of course, I thought, listening. It makes sense that a person as "tactile," by his own description, would use fountain pen to write his manuscripts!

Edited February 28, 2016 by Cygne

[meiers]

Wonderful.