BRACERS Record Detail for 115507
To access the original letter, email the Russell Archives.
"I was very glad to get your letter of March".
Extracts from the letter is on pp. 285-6 of a ts. carbon titled "Letters from Bertrand Russell", sent to Russell by Colette with a covering letter on p. 289 (same document number, record 98441). The ribbon copy was sent to her then publisher, Jonathan Cape.
The original of this letter is not extant. Part of this letter was published in In the North, pp. 140-1, beginning "I hope this letter will reach you." By that time Colette had reworked the text of her book, and thus this letter does not appear in the grouping with two other letters as it does here.
BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 25 JULY 1940
BRACERS 115507. TS(CAR)
Proofread by K. Blackwell
<Fallen Leaf Lake, Ca.>1
I was very glad to get your letter of March and to know what was happening to you. I hope this letter will reach you, though it is doubtful whether it will. We feel instinctively ashamed of being out of everything at this time, but it is obviously better, with three children. It is difficult to think of anything but the war, and doing nothing is maddening. For my part, I have just finished the book2 I wrote to you about before, and have incidentally settled, to my satisfaction, my ancient puzzle about egocentric particulars.3 The book will be out in America at Christmas. I wish I could send it to you, and see your book.4 about Finland. But in these days both are difficult. We are having a holiday in heavenly country5 — lakes, mountains, and forests of glorious giant pines. We should be very happy but for the war — I think a great deal about you and how you helped me to live through the last war. But this one is much worse. Goodbye with much love.
B.
