From a June 8, 1972, letter by William Styron to Frederick Exley, the author of A Fan’s Notes, who was a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa that year. Styron, the author of such novels as The Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie’s Choice, died in 2006. Selected Letters of William Styron, edited by Rose Styron and R. Blakeslee Gilpin, will be published by Random House next month.

Dear Frederick:

The state of Iowa is filled with rich farmers who make pots of money selling hogs in places like Dubuque and Sioux City, which we poor suckers…