BRACERS Record Detail for 52420

To access the original letter, email the Russell Archives.

Collection code
RA3
Recent acquisition no.
71G
Source if not BR
Bodleian Library
Recipient(s)
Murray, Gilbert
Sender(s)
BR
Date
1949/08/21
Form of letter
ALS(X)
Pieces
2
BR's address code (if sender)
FFE
Notes and topics

BR is having some of his letters to Murray typed and then will return them. On BR's pacifism in WWI but not against Hitler. On Murray's "Myself When Young" (a recent broadcast).

A Bodleian transcription of the original is at record 79425.

BR has queried the year, typed as "45".

On the First vs. the Second World War. People would say BR is "rash and impetuous". Selecting material (for BR's Autobiography) is "terribly difficult".

Transcription

BR TO GILBERT MURRAY, 21 AUG. 1949
BRACERS 52420. ALS. Murray papers, Bodleian
Edited by W. Bruneau. Proofread by K. Blackwell


<letterhead>
Penralltgoch
Llan Ffestiniog
Merioneth.
21.8.49a

Dear Gilbert,

Thank you for your very kind letter. Unkind people would express the same thing about me by saying I am rash and impetuous.

I am having some of the letters you sent me typed. When I get them I will return the whole batch.

Selection of material is terribly difficult. I have for instance letters from all sorts of people written in August 1914, which are interesting as exhibiting various ways of reacting. I never got clear myself as to why I was a pacifist in that war. In retrospect, I should say that the effects of war were likely to be worse than the effects of allowing the Germans a free hand. I still think this was true of that war, but not of the second, because Hitler was so much worse than the Kaiser. But all this is hopelessly speculative.

I found your “Myself when young” very interesting. I had not realized you were brought up a Catholic.

Yours ever
BR

Textual Notes

  • a

    21.8.49 Russell wrote “wrong date?” on a typed copy of this letter at RA 710.053651. The year had been typed as “45”.

Permission
Everyone
Transcription Public Access
Yes
Record no.
52420
Record created
Jun 14, 2004
Record last modified
Nov 05, 2024
Created/last modified by
duncana