“. . . As for ‘Eclipse,’ I hope you will not be angry if you find characters whom you recognize in it. I am convinced that all novels are based in fact, and distorted for fiction purposes to suit the author’s particular talent. I do not pretend that any of the portraits in “Eclipse” are real, yet you will, I am sure, see at least some characteristics of their counterparts in real life. I have no apologies although I do confess to some qualms. But the job is done, and it took a long time in the doing, and since I understand that one or two copies have already hit Grand Junction, there is no use trying to keep the book a secret. . . .”
— From a letter Dalton Trumbo sent to Walter Walker, his former boss at The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Trumbo included an inscribed copy of the recently published Eclipse.
“My dear Dalton:
. . . It goes without saying that ‘Eclipse’ has caused a great deal of local comment. While in your letter you say you do not pretend that any of the portraits in ‘Eclipse’ are real, nevertheless people in a town that is used as the locale for a story or a novel are prone to accept as real any characters which they think they recognize.
Naturally, I have no feeling of anger toward you concerning the book. After all, it was your privilege to utilize your old home town in demonstrating your talents as a writer if you wanted to do so. Furthermore, I might say, in looking at it from a selfish standpoint, that I have no cause to complain because you treat me very decently in the book. Frankly, however, with the personal regard and affection I have for you and the admiration I hold for your talent, I do regret that you saw fit to release this story at this time. The only personality involved in the book that actuates me in saying this is that of W. J. Moyer. Had not misfortunes piled up on him quite so heavily and so frequently, and if he were not alive, this regret of mine would be considerably reduced in volume. . .”
— Walter Walker’s reply a month later.
