BR TO IRINA STICKLAND, 23 JAN. 1947
BRACERS 57202. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
TRINITY COLLEGE,
CAMBRIDGE.
23 Jan. 1947

My dear Irina

Thank you for your nice letter which I got today. I am glad to know what sort of place you are in; it all sounds much as I should expect. It ought to be very good for the twins, but I doubt your finding it bearable long.

As for my news: John’s wife was threatened with a miscarriage so he stayed in America; they now have daughter, and will come to England as soon as may be. Conrad flourishes at Dartington and has not got over his passion for mountains. I am incredibly busy, as the B.B.C. has developed a passion for me.1 I talk to all the countries of Europe and S. America; I am to talk on the atom bomb, on Socialism and Liberty,2 etc. etc. And of course my work here takes up a good deal of time. So at the moment my big book3 is progressing slowly, but I still hope to finish it in September.

I am glad you are more anti-Russian than ever; so am I. You interest me by what you say of the man who taught you sculpture. What you say about Bach and mathematics is just what I feel; I have never succeeded in getting any emotion from sculpture, alas.

My daily life has settled down; there are no more storms. I feel I am approaching middle age!

I saw Derek4 a few days ago, and he was fairly reassuring about work. But he has let his hair grow so long that one can’t see his face. He says he is happy with a new lady about whom I know nothing.

This letter is dull, but nothing very interesting has happened to me, and I have been too busy to think or feel.

Love to the twins and to yourself.

B.R.

• 1

  B.B.C. has developed a passion for me See also record 56420, the previous day.

• 2

  talk on the atom bomb, on Socialism and Liberty No such title is known among Russell’s broadcasts. Probably “The Taming of Power” (a.k.a. “Dangers of State Power”) is meant (see record 57548). “The Outlook for Mankind” was to be broadcast during the BBC’s “Atomic Week”. See record 56421.

• 3

  big bookHuman Knowledge.

• 4

  Derek Derek Wragge-Morley, Irina’s estranged husband.