Correspondence with Edith Maryon 1912–1924

GA 263 — 31 July 1919

Letter from Edith Maryon

Edith Maryon to Rudolf Steiner

Atelier Villa Rosenau
Arlesheim, [probably July 1919]

Sunday.

Dear Teacher,

I have now received the news that Messrs. Routledge would prefer not to accept the book because they do not agree with such questions. If they were to publish it, it would be entirely at our risk and the costs would be £100-1000 per 1000 copies, after that £12-13 per 1000. Mr. Courtney went to the National Labour Press and from there he was sent to a very well-known Labour man who is involved with a publishing house; he speaks very favorably about the book and will give us an answer within a week. They work with Messrs. Allen and Unwin and publish all the Fabian literature. It seems we have not lost any time after all, because now is the holiday season and it is very unfavourable for books; almost all those that are published now fail. The book could be published in October and the best time is from 1 October to Christmas, they say.

A small committee has now been formed in England to work on the social question, and Mr. Kaufmann has given four lectures on the book to members and friends. He seems to have spoken very well, and his audience was very enthusiastic and showed great interest in the ideas. He thought it would be good to write an article for a magazine as a harbinger of the book. What do you think?

Please address letters to the studio; after August 1, I will no longer be at [Villa] Rosenau – they rented my room to someone else for a much higher price. I have the room of Miss Maquet until October 1, and then no further arrangements have been made.

I have many questions – and I hope that you will be able to come back soon, it has been a very long time since you left. On Thursday, we celebrated the topping out ceremony for the group; the last block was placed at the top and we had ourselves photographed at the summit, that is, some of the workers and carvers – as a collaborator, you were also in the picture, just in the picture, unfortunately! I don't yet know how it will turn out, because Mrs. v. Heydebrand had to hover almost in the air with her apparatus!

Today there is a concert in the church in Arlesheim in favor of the holiday children of Munich, Mr. Schuurman is playing, so I think many of us will go, despite the fact that the money is much more important than our presence. I hope to receive a reply to my last letter!

With warmest regards

L. Edith C. Maryon

I would like to give the book to a German to read so that all the errors of meaning can be spotted, but who? If you come back soon, perhaps Mrs. Dr.?