© 2018, Text by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo

      All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher: Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415.

      (800) 520-6455

       milkweed.org

      Published 2018 by Milkweed Editions

      Printed in Canada

      Cover design by Mary Austin Speaker

      Cover illustration by Mary Austin Speaker

      18 19 20 21 22 5 4 3 2 1

       First Edition

      Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from the Jerome Foundation; the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation; the McKnight Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Target Foundation; and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Also, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from Wells Fargo. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit milkweed.org.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

       Names: Ritvo, Max, 1990-2016, author. | Ritvo, Max, 1990-2016, Correspondence. Selections. | Ruhl, Sarah, 1974- Correspondence. Selections.

       Title: Letters from Max : a book of friendship / Mark Rivko and Sarah Ruhl.

       Description: Minneapolis, Minnesota : Milkweed Editions, 2018.

       Identifiers: LCCN 2018007328 (print) | LCCN 2018016012 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571319760 (ebook) | ISBN 9781571313690 (hardcover : alk. paper)

       Subjects: LCSH: Ritvo, Max, 1990-2016,--Correspondence. | Ruhl, Sarah, 1974---Correspondence. | Poets, American--20th century--Correspondence. | Cancer--Patients--Correspondence. | Women dramatists, American--20th century--Correspondence. | Drama teachers--Correspondence.

       Classification: LCC PS3618.I8 (ebook) | LCC PS3618.I8 Z48 2018 (print) | DDC 811/.6--dc23

       LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018007328

      Milkweed Editions is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book production practices with this principle, and to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment. We are a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources. Letters from Max was printed on acid-free 100% postconsumer-waste paper by Friesens Corporation.

      CONTENTS

        Title Page

        Copyright

        Introduction

       Part One:

       New Haven, 2012–13