From Ilona Duczyńska to Felix Schafer (15 February 1973): Difference between revisions

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{{Page |n°=80}} Meine teuer Wawi,
{{Page |n°=80}} My dear wawi,


Verzeihe mir, dass ich erst jetzt schreibe. Der “Endspurt" mit meinem Buch ist ein Grund. Der andere ist ein gewissen Kopfzerbrechen  über Dein Manuskript. Ich habe es bekommen und Kari wie ich haben es gelegen. Ich bin freilich nur für Form und Ausdrucksweise zuständig und da ist es mir schon klar, dass eine so ungemein “deutsche", d.h., systematisierend-formelle Behandlungsweise keine Chancen hat. Dalton schreibt, in solcher Kürze könne man auch Dinge die dem englischsprechenden Leser unbekannt sind, da sie nie auf Englisch, erschienen sind, nicht behandeln. Hier habe ich den Gewissensbiss, denn ich habe ja auf Kürze gedrängt. Freilich, was ich meine, ist in Kürze <u>das Wesen</u> wieder geben. In freier Formulierung, gewiss nicht an der Systematik hängend. (Wenn ich nicht so überzeugt wäre, dass das Schreiben eine verflixt schwere Profession ist und wenn ich nicht z.B. mein Erstes Kapitel von 50 Seiten viermal, und das Zweite nicht zweimal neu geschrieben hätte, dann täte ich mich nicht traun, mit diesen Weisheiten angedrückt zu kommen. Die grösste Seltenheit ist, dass etwas Geschrieben aufs Erste "Sitzt". In Karls nachgelassenen Schriften finden wir nicht selten 7, 8, 9, 12 Versionen… er hat das auch übertrieben. Dein Manuskript ist eine ausgedehnte Synopsis von etwas, das nicht "geschrieben" ist. Und das kann in der Tat niemand statt Dir tun, auch Kari nicht. Soweit also über “Form”; über “Inhalt” bin ich ha, als Nichtökonomin nicht zuständig, möchte aver sagen, dass hier die zwei Zuständigen weit auseinandergehen. Dalton meint, was hat es schon für ein Interesse, was Karl Polanyi in den Zwanzigerjahren in Wien gedacht hat? That is a very poor view to take on the history of ideas, seien sie ökonomischen oder nicht.
Forgive me for only writing now. The "final spurt" with my book is a reason The other is a certain headache over your manuscript. I got it and Kari and I were lying in it. Of course, I'm only responsible for form and expression, so it's already clear to me that such an incredibly "German", i.e., systematizing and formal method of treatment has no chance. Dalton writes that in such brevity one cannot treat things that are unknown to the English-speaking reader, since they have never been published in English. Here I have the remorse, because I was pushing for brevity. Of course, what I mean is to give back <u>the essence</u> shortly. In free formulation, certainly not hanging on the systematics. (If I were not so convinced that writing is a darned difficult profession and if I had not rewritten e.g. my first chapter of 50 pages four times and the second one twice, I would not dare to come pressed with these wisdoms. The greatest rarity is that something written is "sitting" at first. In Karl's posthumous writings we often find 7, 8, 9, 12 versions... he exaggerated that too. Your manuscript is a vast synopsis of something that isn't "written". In fact, no one can do that instead of you, not even Kari. So much for "form"; for "content" I am ha, as a non-economist I am not responsible, aver would like to say that here the two responsible persons are far apart. Dalton thinks, what interest is there in what Karl Polanyi thought in Vienna in the twenties? That is a very poor view to take on the history of ideas, be they economic or not.


{{Page |n°=81}} Ich versuche Dir wiederzugeben, was Kari gesagt hat. Ein grosser Mensch, wie K.P., habe auch nur eine ganz begrenzte Zahl von grundlegenden ideen. Sie wandeln sich ab, aber sie kommen doch aus ein un und derselben "matrix" (so würde es Karl gesagt haben); und ihre Abwandlungen zu erfolgen ist wesentlich und wird noch oft versucht werden. Viele werden darüber noch schreiben und jeder in seiner eigenen Art. Sie ist durchaus dafür, dass Du deine Arbeit wirklich schreibst und veröffentlichst. Ich bin voll und ganz ihrer Meinung.
{{Page |n°=81}} I'm trying to give you back what Kari said. A great person like K.P. has only a very limited number of basic ideas. They vary, but they come from one and the same "matrix" (as Karl would have said); and making variations on them is essential and will be tried many times. Many will write about them and each in his own way. She is all for really writing and publishing your work. I fully agree with her.


Eine kleine kritische Bemerkung meinerseits zum "Ton". Man merkt, dass Du dert, wo Karl sich auf Marx bezieht, oder wo seine tiefliegende sozialistischen Ueberzeugung zum Ausdruck kommen sollte, einen apologetischen Ton anschlägst. Warum? Wegen der Scheissamerikaner? Sowas wie ein Leisetreten wäre sicher kein glücklicher Beitrag zu Karls "image".
A small critical remark on my part about "sound". It is noticeable that where Karl refers to Marx, or where his deep-rooted socialist convictions should be expressed, you take an apologetic tone. Why? Because of the fucking Americans? Something like treading water would certainly not be a happy contribution to Karl's "image".


Aber jetzt noch zu etwas, was mir sehr wichtig scheint. Dalton war tief beindruckt von den letzten, persönlichen Seiten Deiner schrift. Er wusste nicht, dass Dein Memoir über Karl existiert -- jeder, ausnahmslos jeder der das gelesen hat, war davon entzückt. Ich schlage vor, dass es in gekürzer englischer Fassung (die ich gerne machen und Dir zur Ueberprüfung geben möchte) unter Deinem Namen als Teil der breiten Biographie erscheint, die ich mit noch Zuziehung von anderen Feunden (so Kenneth Muir in England über die zeit der Christian Left) produzieren soll. Dort sollen die verschiedenen Lebensstationen die ja auch gedanklich ihre eigene Prägung hatten -- Budapest mit dem Galilei Verein, Wien, mit D'Orsaygasse, Volkswirt, Vilksheim, Vorgartenstrasse, London mit der Christian Left, Pickering mit dem Lebensabend und seinen Bestebungen alle aufscheinen. Es ist für den Band "The Social Philosophy of Karl Polanyi, 1908-1964 gedacht, der dann die ausgewählten {{Page |n°=82}} teils unveröffentlichten, teils vergesenen, teils posthumen Schriften enthalten soll und eine Studie von Karl, die ja auch die Redaktion übernimmt. Die bekannten Schriften und die Zeit von Columbia University des Bildes zu dem sein, was sowiese vorhanden ist.
But now for something that seems very important to me. Dalton was deeply impressed with the last personal pages of your writing. He didn't know that your memoir about Karl existed -- everyone, without exception, everyone who read it was delighted with it. I propose that it be published in a shortened English version (which I would like to make and give to you for your review) under your name as part of the broad biography which I am to produce with the help of other friends (such as Kenneth Muir in England about the time of the Christian Left). There the different stages of life, which also had their own character in thought -- Budapest with the Galilei Association, Vienna, with D'Orsaygasse, Volkswirt, Vilksheim, Vorgartenstrasse, London with Christian Left, Pickering with the old age and his efforts all appear. It is meant for the volume "The Social Philosophy of Karl Polanyi, 1908-1964, which then is to contain the selected {{Page |n°=82}} partly unpublished, partly forgotten, partly posthumous writings, and a study by Karl, who takes over the editing. The known writings and the time of Columbia University of the picture to be what is available anyway.


Das Artikel - und anderes Material, Fragmente, Briefs etc. liegt schon lange beisammen. Braucht  aber Uebersetzung - und Redigierungsarbeit.
The article - and other material, fragments, letters etc. have been lying around for a long time. But it needs translation - and editing work.


Ich hoffe das Schutzbunduch in wenigen Monaten abgewimmelt zu haben und habe auch eine recht gute Kofnung für Veröffentlichung bei einem mir äusserst sympathischen Verlag. So dass Kari und ich schon im Spätfrühjahr oder Frühsommer an dieses schöne Werk heranzugehen hoffen. Wir können es ja nur zusammen machen, schon wegen der Dreisprachigkeit der Texte und weil es in erster Linie Karis "pigeon" ist.
I hope to have gotten rid of the protection bundle in a few months and I also have a quite good qualification for publication with a very nice publisher. So that Kari and I hope to approach this beautiful work already in late spring or early summer. We can only do it together, if only because of the trilingualism of the texts and because it is primarily Kari's "pigeon".


Pläne: Dieser Tage nach Pickering zurück. Einen Monat dort. Hoffe Ende Märze bis ende April einen Besuch in Europa zu machen, hauptsächlichen wegen Verlag. Dann wieder Pickering und Montreal für gut ein paar Monate. - Dein Manuskript ist bei Kari. Ihre Adresse für alle ist: Professor Kari Levitt, Department of Economics, McGill University, Montreal, Que. Canada.
Plans: Back to Pickering these days. A month there. Hope to visit Europe at the end of March until the end of April, mainly for publishing. Then again Pickering and Montreal for a good few months. - Your manuscript is with Kari. Her address for all is: Professor Kari Levitt, Department of Economics, McGill University, Montreal, Que. Canada.


Ich umarms Euch.
I hug you.
   
   
== Letter Informations ==
== Letter Informations ==

Revision as of 00:00, 29 April 2020

[80] My dear wawi,

Forgive me for only writing now. The "final spurt" with my book is a reason The other is a certain headache over your manuscript. I got it and Kari and I were lying in it. Of course, I'm only responsible for form and expression, so it's already clear to me that such an incredibly "German", i.e., systematizing and formal method of treatment has no chance. Dalton writes that in such brevity one cannot treat things that are unknown to the English-speaking reader, since they have never been published in English. Here I have the remorse, because I was pushing for brevity. Of course, what I mean is to give back the essence shortly. In free formulation, certainly not hanging on the systematics. (If I were not so convinced that writing is a darned difficult profession and if I had not rewritten e.g. my first chapter of 50 pages four times and the second one twice, I would not dare to come pressed with these wisdoms. The greatest rarity is that something written is "sitting" at first. In Karl's posthumous writings we often find 7, 8, 9, 12 versions... he exaggerated that too. Your manuscript is a vast synopsis of something that isn't "written". In fact, no one can do that instead of you, not even Kari. So much for "form"; for "content" I am ha, as a non-economist I am not responsible, aver would like to say that here the two responsible persons are far apart. Dalton thinks, what interest is there in what Karl Polanyi thought in Vienna in the twenties? That is a very poor view to take on the history of ideas, be they economic or not.

[81] I'm trying to give you back what Kari said. A great person like K.P. has only a very limited number of basic ideas. They vary, but they come from one and the same "matrix" (as Karl would have said); and making variations on them is essential and will be tried many times. Many will write about them and each in his own way. She is all for really writing and publishing your work. I fully agree with her.

A small critical remark on my part about "sound". It is noticeable that where Karl refers to Marx, or where his deep-rooted socialist convictions should be expressed, you take an apologetic tone. Why? Because of the fucking Americans? Something like treading water would certainly not be a happy contribution to Karl's "image".

But now for something that seems very important to me. Dalton was deeply impressed with the last personal pages of your writing. He didn't know that your memoir about Karl existed -- everyone, without exception, everyone who read it was delighted with it. I propose that it be published in a shortened English version (which I would like to make and give to you for your review) under your name as part of the broad biography which I am to produce with the help of other friends (such as Kenneth Muir in England about the time of the Christian Left). There the different stages of life, which also had their own character in thought -- Budapest with the Galilei Association, Vienna, with D'Orsaygasse, Volkswirt, Vilksheim, Vorgartenstrasse, London with Christian Left, Pickering with the old age and his efforts all appear. It is meant for the volume "The Social Philosophy of Karl Polanyi, 1908-1964, which then is to contain the selected [82] partly unpublished, partly forgotten, partly posthumous writings, and a study by Karl, who takes over the editing. The known writings and the time of Columbia University of the picture to be what is available anyway.

The article - and other material, fragments, letters etc. have been lying around for a long time. But it needs translation - and editing work.

I hope to have gotten rid of the protection bundle in a few months and I also have a quite good qualification for publication with a very nice publisher. So that Kari and I hope to approach this beautiful work already in late spring or early summer. We can only do it together, if only because of the trilingualism of the texts and because it is primarily Kari's "pigeon".

Plans: Back to Pickering these days. A month there. Hope to visit Europe at the end of March until the end of April, mainly for publishing. Then again Pickering and Montreal for a good few months. - Your manuscript is with Kari. Her address for all is: Professor Kari Levitt, Department of Economics, McGill University, Montreal, Que. Canada.

I hug you.

Letter Informations

Original Publication: Von Ilona Duczyńska bis Felix Schafer (15. Februar 1973)
KPA: 58/11, 80-82
Other Languages:

Lge Name
EN From Ilona Duczyńska to Felix Schafer (15 February 1973)
FR