23 - Tucholsky, Kurt (Berlin 1890 - 1935 Gothenburg). Autograph letter with signature to (Herbert) Steinthal. 'Zurich; poste restante / 30-7-34' (di Hindäs near Gothenburg). 2 pages on 1 sheet.

Tucholsky, Kurt (Berlin 1890 - 1935 Gothenburg). Autograph letter with signature to (Herbert) Steinthal. 'Zurich; poste restante / 30-7-34' (di Hindäs near Gothenburg). 2 pages on 1 sheet. Tucholsky answers a letter (typographical transcript enclosed) from Herbert Steinthal, who wants to publish some sketches from the three Rowohlt books in Danish weekly newspapers. Tucholsky explains why he has no interest in publishing individual pieces: 'If apolitical jokes appear, people think: Is that what the man is doing now, when his comrades are bleeding? - And if we publish the political ones, we would have to include the date they were published. I hardly need to say that I stand by my word, but a lot has happened in the meantime, and I would write many of my works differently now. Different in tone, sharper, different. In book form, it's something else entirely. One can add a preface, explain, describe the time in which it was all done—and then what is valid remains. But the public, says the wise man, is even more foolish, and with individual publications, people will think: 'Satire of today? Strange.' ... . It would be much easier to reach an agreement about a book publication. Preferably Gripsholm. — Unknown and previously unpublished letter. —Browned, punched. —Provenance: Acquired by the previous owner in the 1980s from a bookseller in Copenhagen.