15 Central Park West

New York, New York

January 28, 1939

Mr. Stephen Spender

11 Queen’s Mansion

Brook Gardens

London, W. 6

My dear Stephen:

I have been waiting for some time to hear from you, sending you messages and not getting a reply. On the other hand I have been so completely tied up with that action for Spain that I have simply had no private existence at all. It was necessary to get the interest and sympathy of hundreds of newspapers and people, to obtain interviews, to get in touch with official functionaries of the different governments, and so on.

As you know, the result was a very good one; but with the things that are happening now in Spain, one feels that all this ought to have been done ever so much earlier, that all of us have somehow failed.

The play, which has already been set up in print was sent back by several producers. So I asked a couple of my friends, whose judgment I trust, to read it. Their feeling about it was that we both had been a little in error; myself in writing the play for the German stage, and you in keeping so faithfully to my version. I myself feel that because of your respect for my version, you kept in the English version a more or less German form which reads well but is perhaps a little lacking in stage effect for the actor.

I have not wanted to have anything at all done to the play, for fear of touching and hurting your language as well as my own. But several days ago I spent a whole night discussing with a friend who knows and appreciates both your work as a poet and my work. And I have now agreed to have the play edited for the stage by Hugh Hunt, a director of the Abbey Theatre. Hunt will be able to add the necessary stage directions, working very closely with me and to make sucht slight alterations as may be advisable. All this will be done in the closest cooperation with me. Because of the distance, and the short space of time, I am taking it for granted that you approve.

I had hoped to be in London but I could not leave here for several reasons. I had planned to travel to South- and Central America to complete the Spanish action. But with things the way they are now it seems unlikely.

And now I can’t make up my mind; how can anyone nowadays?

Please give my love to your wife. To both of you – quand meme – the Spanish salute.

Yours,

P. S. I am sending you the new last scene, which I felt was necessary. There was no need for Pastor Hall’s death. The scene, as it stands now, is rooted. It will, I hope, strengthen the play.

ET:ws