Record of a Friendship

(^31) [ 19 36 -1 939 ]
probably be away shortly before Easter, but only for a day or two, if
I have the money.
With warm greetings.
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
Dear Reich,

• I •

March 17, 1939

I shall arrive in Oslo by boat on the 6th April if Hitler hasn't

taken Norway by that date. I am glad your eyes are better. Your latest

bulletin is of great interest. I have stopped trying to interest anyone

here, for it is so sickening always being rebuffed by the narrow fools.

Let me know if you will be back in Oslo by the 6th, for there is no

good my coming if you are still away in the country.

• I •

[Neill made his last trip from England to Norway and spent a few

weeks working with Reich in Oslo. Then, in the late summer of

1939, Reich left Norway for the United States. On September 3,

war was declared.]

Summerhill School

Leiston, Suffolk

My dear Reich,

• I •

September 19, 1939

It was good to get your letter saying you had arrived. * You got

away from Oslo just in time. You ask if we have evacuated the school.

No, we are going to stay here. Our children are not afraid. I was glad

to note that I have had no sign of any neurotic attitude to the opera­

tiont or the war. But it isn't easy to concentrate on psychology at a

* Neither that letter nor any other from Reich to Neill between March 1939

and April 1940 survives.

t Neill had recently undergone minor surgery.