V. I.

Lenin

165

To:   HIS MOTHER

June 20, 1908

Mother dearest, It seems quite a while since I last wrote to you. I think
the last time was a postcard from
London. [2] I arrived back from there with a bout of abdominal catarrh. I am better
now and have begun to eat properly, and after the diet feel
hungry all the time. I have begun work again.

Life here goes on as usual. The weather is extremely changeable—one day it is hot, oppressive and stormy and then,
like today, it is rainy and cold. Summer has not yet come
into its own.

How are you getting on in the country? I hope that
Manyasha has completely recovered. We are expecting her here.
Best regards to Mitya.

I embrace you fondly, my dear.

Yours,

V. Ulyanov

P.S. It is a pity that the Moscow publisher-philosopher [1] has refused to publish my book. I should like you, if you
can, to write to some of your Moscow literary acquaintances
and ask them whether they can find a publisher. I now have
no contacts in this field.

I have been told that Anyuta read the proofs of the last
part of my agrarian book. I have still not received a single
copy! It is extremely important , for many reasons, for me to obtain two or three copies, even if they are not
stitched. [3]
I realise, of course, that to ask for them direct would
be careless, inconvenient, etc., from all points of view. If
there is the slightest opportunity of doing so privately, or
if Anyuta has even one copy, I ask you to send it to me, at
least for a time. I stand very much in need of it at this
very moment.

Regards from all of us!

Yours,

V. Ulyanov

---
Notes:
[1]
This refers to P. G. Dauge.— Ed .

[2]
Lenin worked on his Materialism and Empirio-criticism in the
British Museum (London) in May 1908.

[3]
This refers to Lenin’s The Agrarian Programme of Social-Democracy in the First Russian Revolution, 1905–1907 . It is possible
that Lenin wished to show it to those attending the Plenary
Meeting of the C.C., R.S.D.L.P., which was to be held in Geneva in

August 1908. It is not known whether Lenin’s request was
fulfilled.