5
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
Dear Constance, *
[ 1936-1939 ]
October 4, 1937I am coming to Oslo probably about the New Year. Ask R. if
he can find time to give me a few talks at of course paying rate. Elsat
asks me to be her guest but I am telling her I want to be entirely on my
own, with no feeling of duty or responsibility to anyone except myself.
I'll be able to have a fortnight in Oslo and will bring my ski boots in
case there is a chance of a few falls. R. 's latest book is fascinating, but
so difficult for me to read that I want to get it in English from him.
Mrs Linst is also fascinated with R. 's book; she wanted to come too
but I said I must get away alone to get some perspective. She has gone
stale also, and we carry on with too much effort. Both get so dis
couraged by setbacks. Uphill work pioneering.
P.S. Arrange with R. I'm not writing him because he has as little time
for letters as I have.
- I •
Oslo, Norway
November 9, 1937
My dear Neill,
Constance gave me your letter which you wrote to her. I
shall reserve one hour§ for you after Christmas. Of course it cannot
be guaranteed that I shall accomplish much in this short time. Neither
is it sure that my permission [to remain] in Norway will be prolonged.
But I hope we shall find the opportunity to discuss through a few of
your difficulties entirely. I believe I know where they are rooted : in the
contradiction between the tremendous pioneer needs and the complete
* Constance Tracey.
t Elsa (also Else) Lindenberg. Although never legally, she was effectively
Reich's second wife. They had met in Berlin, where she was a dancer with the
Berlin State Opera. When he moved to Copenhagen in 19 33, she joined him; they
lived together until Reich left Norway in the summer of 1939.
* Neill's first wife, an Australian, born Lilly Lindesay-whence the nickname
"Mrs. Lins," by which she was generally known.
§ That is, one hour each day. During his two-week stay in Oslo, Neill probably
had ten or twelve psychiatric sessions with Reich.