A Friendship

Mutual admiration was the foundation of a valued friendship between MacDonald (author of the Travis McGee series et al.) and comedian-writer Rowan. In addition to visits, the men kept in touch by mail from 1967 through 1974, when they had a falling out. Assembled here are selections from their witty, amusing and sobering correspondence: exchanges of advice on professional and personal matters, etc. The letters shed light on wheeler-dealers grabbing credit for the TV show Laugh-In, co-created by Rowan and Dick Martin; there are accounts of dismaying film treatments of MacDonald's bestselling novels. The correspondents also reminisce about shared pleasures. Before the letters stop abruptly, they reveal the career strains that caused Rowan's divorce and MacDonald's severe criticism of him as spoiled by fame. Lately, they tell the reader, they have mended the break in the relationship although, as both note, ""It's not the same.'' (October 10)