work it out in a novel (for therein lies the whole crux — in the individual circumstances, in the analysis of the characters and psychology of the given types). But in a pamphlet?

You understood my thought very well regarding the unsuitable quotation from Key, when you said it would be "absurd" to appear in the role of "professors of love." Precisely. Well, but in the role of professors of fleeting [passion] and so forth?

Honestly, I have no desire for polemics at all. I would gladly discard this letter of mine and postpone the matter until we speak in person. But I want the pamphlet to be good, so that no one could tear out phrases from it that are unpleasant for you (sometimes a single phrase is enough to spoil the whole thing...), could not misrepresent you. I am convinced that you wrote this "against your will" as well, and I send this letter only because perhaps you will examine the plan more thoroughly in connection with the letters than on the basis of conversations, and after all a plan is a very important thing.

Do you have an acquaintance — a French socialist woman? Translate for her (supposedly from English) my points 1-10 and your remarks about "fleeting" [passion] and so forth and watch her, listen to her carefully: a small experiment, what will people say from the outside, what are their impressions, their expectations from the pamphlet?

I shake your hand and wish you fewer headaches and a speedy recovery.

V. U.

P. S. Regarding Bodhi 78 — I don't know... It's possible that my friend* promised too much... But what? I don't know. The matter is postponed, that is, the conflict is postponed, not eliminated. We shall have to fight and fight!! Will we manage to dissuade them? What is your opinion?

* — my friend. —Ed.

Written January 24, 1915

Sent from Bern

First published in 1939 in the journal "Bolshevik" no. 13

Printed from the manuscript