BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 5 MAR. 1929
BRACERS 46973. TLS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by A. Duncan

<letterhead>
Beacon Hill School,
Harting,
Petersfield,1
5th March, 1929.

Dear Norton,

Your letter of February 16 arrived this morning. I am sorry about Mosher’s representatives.

I am still more sorry that I do not see how to say “yes” to your proposal for a book on Einstein’s new theory. My objections are several, each perhaps separately not fatal, but collectively difficult to overcome. In the first place, I do not understand Einstein’s new theory; in the second, I do not believe it is important, or different in any way that the lay public could understand from Weyl’s theory, which is vieux jeu; in the third place, I am under contract to deliver a manuscript to Liveright in July, and I do not expect to finish writing it until that month. This means that there will be very little time to do the book you want. I am afraid therefore that it will be impossible for me to do a book for you to bring out during my time in America. I am sorry about this, but my connection with Liveright began before my connection with you, and I cannot free myself from it very quickly, the more so as he has always treated me well.

I shall, however, be glad to see Aannestad in March and still more glad to see you and Mrs. Norton in July, if you are prepared to travel down to Cornwall. You need not brave the icy waters of the Atlantic again if you do not feel so disposed. I hope you are all three flourishing.

Yours sincerely,
Bertrand Russell.

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