From Philosophy Lecturer to Advanced Student 189in November 1933, asking him to put in a good word with Dent. Since
Berg knew Dent well, he was happy to do what he could for his former
pupil. During the same month he wrote a lengthy letter mentioning
Adorno’s talents both as a scholar of music and as a composer. Dent’s
reaction was, to put it mildly, hostile and tainted with anti-Semitism.
After this ‘unspeakable letter’, Adorno made no further attempt to
approach Dent.^9
Aside from that, Adorno was sufficiently self-confident to believe
that, if he obtained a qualification that was recognized in Britain, he
would soon find an academic position that was the equivalent of his
Privatdozentur in Frankfurt. How realistic was this expectation? Cassirer,
whom the AAC had asked for his opinion, had his doubts about the
academic prospects of his young colleague from Frankfurt. He wrote to
the general secretary of the AAC: ‘if you regard this hope [of obtaining
a post] as premature – as I do, at any rate for Oxford, as a result of
the enquiries I have made till now – it would perhaps be good for the
Academic Assistance Council once again to give him [i.e., Adorno] a
clear picture of the situation so that expectations are not deceived.’^10
Adorno’s optimism about being able to make at least a modest academic
career in Britain was based on a completely mistaken understanding
of the university system. An academic career began by working as a
tutor to undergraduates until a regular lectureship fell vacant. After the
AAC had consulted Professor John Macmurray of University College,
Oxford, it was finally suggested to Adorno in a letter that he should
acquire a degree at a reputable college in order gradually to position
himself in the British academic world.^11 Towards the end of 1934, the
general secretary of the AAC, Walter Adams, wrote to Macmurray that
Adorno had been recommended to register in Oxford and establish
contact with Professor Harold H. Joachim, who would help him to choose
a suitable college.^12 Adorno followed the instructions of the AAC to
the letter.
Since he now had at least a vague idea of how to proceed, he went to
London in April 1934, staying at first with his uncle’s family. After a
little more than a week he moved to Albermarle Court Hotel in Leinster
Gardens, Bayswater, close to Hyde Park. From now on he would always
stay there on his frequent visits to Britain. Needless to say, Adorno
made a number of visits to the offices of the AAC. The approach
favoured by the AAC was to collect data on applicants by making them
fill in questionnaires. In his questionnaire Adorno added names to the
list of referees that he had given earlier on, and now included Max
Horkheimer and Paul Tillich. In response to questions about his financial
position, he mentioned, presumably for tactical reasons, only the RM
1200 that he had earned from student fees up to the beginning of 1933.
Over and above that, he declared, his costs were covered by his parents
in Frankfurt, where he was a resident and registered with the police.
Asked about his knowledge of English, he said: ‘I am able to read also