BR TO W.W. NORTON & COMPANY, INC. / WARDER NORTON, 2 JUNE 1940
BRACERS 47334. ALS. Norton papers, Columbia U.
Proofread by K. Blackwell and A. Duncan

212 Loring Avenue
Los Angeles.1
June 2, 1940.

Dear Warder

Thank you for your letter of May 23. I am glad to think that a Briton can be capable of frightfulness — we have all been too mild since the death of Nelson. I am done with pacifism, both private and public.

With regard to your contract, one or two small points have occurred to me:

Clause I (b). Translation rights I have hitherto always given to Allen and Unwin, but in present circumstances it seems very doubtful whether they will be able to do anything about the book. May I, in spite of assigning them to you, let Allen and Unwin deal with translations if and when they are again in a position to do business?

III (a). I cannot guarantee that the work is not obscene. You should obtain Justice McGeeham’s opinion as to this. I propose to state in the Preface that it is lascivious, lecherous, lewd, filthy, and obscene.

IV. I will do my best to let you have the MS by Sp. 1, but I should be glad if, you could allow me till Sp. 20. It will be a much better book if you can.

VI (h). I should be quite willing to let you have the whole of the motion picture rights!

VIII. For a book of this character, I think two years is too short a period. I should prefer four or five.

XI. We have, I think, already an agreement about the History of Philosophy, which I propose to embark on as soon as this book is out of the way. I presume that your clause XI is not intended to suspend that agreement.

I think it only reasonable that there should be no advance on royalties in the case of such a book. I accept gratefully your offer to pay me at the end of January accumulated royalties up to that date.

The letter which you compare to a Stuka was drafted by Peter. Whenever she writes anything for me, people say my inimitable style is unmistakable!

Your catalogue announcement2 seems to me excellent.

I should like to address the Progressive Education Assn. in the autumn, but am the slave of Coulston Leigh. He must be persuaded.

Yours sincerely
Bertrand Russell

• 1

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

• 2

  catalogue announcement Not found.