BR TO KATHARINE TAIT, 12 OCT. 1947
BRACERS 52537. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
27 Dorset House
Gloucester Place
N.W.1.
Oct. 12, 1947

Dear Kate

Thank you for your letter of a month ago with the story about Eckhart. I imagine you didn’t know that that gentleman was responsible for my first marriage. I met my first wife1 first in 1889, when she was at Bryn Mawr (she was in its first class). She had been told there to read a book about Eckhart by a man called Scheffer (I think), which I happened to have finished that morning. This discovery on both sides stimulated mutual interest.

I am sorry you stopped the story — I don’t see why you should mind its developing into tragedy. It is interesting so far as you have gone.

John and Susan brought me a picture of you as a present from you. Thank you very much for it — though I don’t think it very good.

<much of photocopied page excised>

I have finished my big book on Human Knowledge. It won’t be a best seller, as parts of it are difficult. American philosophers will hate it. Now I have no further book in view except an autobiography.

Please give Harriet kind messages from me. I am interested in all you tell me about yourself; when I don’t write about it, it is because I have no comment to make. Much love.

Your aff
Diddy

• 1

  my first wife Alys Pearsall Smith (1867–1951). Russell tells the story in his Autobiography, 1: 76, adding “I fell in love with her at first sight.”