V. I. Lenin

Source: ru:PSS/v46; en:CW/CW36;es:MT
Translated: machine translation (DeepSeek) from the Russian; AI-translated.

27. XI. 01.

Dear L. I., Thank you for your book, 146 which V. Iv. showed me.

I am very, very sorry that I cannot get down to reading it: in the first place, I have been very busy of late with a pamphlet (against *Rabocheye Dyelo*),* and in the second place, I am again falling ill with an “indefinite” disease. Work is at a standstill, and I don’t know whether I shall soon be able to settle down to it again! And the work is urgent....

As for the recommendation to Popova, to my great regret I am quite unsuitable for this. I do not know Popova personally and never have known her. I have had dealings with her only through Struve (and you understand that it is useless to think of asking him to recommend your book. And he is the manager of the editorial department of Popova’s publications!!). My application to Popova, therefore, would rather have a negative effect.

But that is not all. I recently wrote (a month or a month and a half ago) to Popova, for the first time approaching her with a request to send me a copy of the second volume of the Webbs, translated under my editorship and only recently published. 147 To this day I have received neither a reply nor the book!

I once had a “courteous” correspondence, so to speak, with Vodovozova. But she did not reply at all to my last letter to her (written in the spring!), which was a business letter. So you see, I am quite unsuitable here too.

You will have either to look for someone with better connections in literary and publishing circles, or to apply directly to several publishers, enclosing your book. Perhaps Filippov could help you? After all, you have been published by him! I have broken off relations with him.

Berg will write to you or have a personal talk with you: he wants to leave soon.

I press your hand firmly. Yours, Frey.