PATRICIA RUSSELL TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 26 MAR. 1940
BRACERS 47306. TLS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by K. Blackwell and A. Duncan

212 Loring Avenue
Los Angeles.1
March 26 1940

Dear Warder,

Bertie is now up and about, but very much behind with his work, so he has asked me to reply to your letter of March 22 and to thank you for what you say about the different books in prospect.

As for the article Harpers ask for: he is quite anxious to write an article on what he really does believe, but not until it is quite clear that the controversy is really over. To discuss his opinions now would be to admit their relevance, while his supporters are basing their whole case on their irrelevance. Moreover, the least modification would look like attempt at conciliation. It occurred to us that Harpers might like to take two articles, one now on the function of a teacher, with which they could print a note saying that when the controversy is over Bertie will write for them an article on what he really does believe. Will you suggest this to them?

Meanwhile he will find time this week for the objective article, and will send it, to save time, direct to Harpers.

I am sorry this is so vilely typed. My doctor is trying to make me spend all my mornings in bed, and by way of compromise I am dealing with Bertie’s mail on a very wobbly bed-table. I don’t intend to be made an invalid of permanently, but “the Russell case” and three of my family in bed with ’flu, all happening when I was just out of hospital, have left me rather a wreck, with only enough energy left to wish I had enough energy to write you a detective story “The Murder of Bertrand Russell”. There would be so many suspects.

Yours sincerely,
Patricia Russella

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  [document] Proofread against a microfilm printout of the original.

Textual Notes

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  Patricia Russell Bertrand is deleted below her name.