101 - Edward Gordon CRAIG (1872-1966)

Edward Gordon CRAIG (1872-1966) Important lot d'une trentaine de L.A.S. et 15 C.A.S. en anglais, à l'attention de Jurgis Kasimirovitch Baltruchaïtis (1873-1944), écrites entre 1910 et 1914, mais non datées. Il y est question de sa création d'école en Angleterre avec comité international, de son projet d'Hamlet avec Stanislavski. Sur ces années les familles Craig et Baltruchaïtis entières se connaissaient et se voyaient régulièrement, en Suisse, Italie. Craig lui voyageait également en Allemagne, Russie, France. -"Dear signor, I am very sorry to hear about Tarasof. It is extraordinary - so strange - so strange, so natural. I do not understand there things. But I understand your having been here, the great pleasure it gave me which I do not express properly." Nikolai Lazarevich Tarassov (1882-1910) décède en 1910. -"A young English Diplomat comes to Moscow with me. He speaks Russian : and he is doing all he can to bring school into being. He is very young, very good and gentleman, & very full of tact. I think he will write the article on Hamlet for "The Times". I shall send you a wire when I arrive (...) My books papers letters are packed away. This is what I cannot answer your questions. Greet Mr Blackmann for me and Mr & Mrs Stanislavskiy. Kalschalof & Mosquin. Madame Kniffer. And your family a warm Italian greeting." -"My dear B. It may be that I shall be able to get to Paris when you are there. But I have an exhibition of 250 designs & 12 models in Manchester - Corporation art gallery. 11th November till Dec. 25th : and I have to visit Liverpool & Stratford upon Avon soon. I have rec? the copy of the Russian edition of Book. I will write & thank your wife. It is very difficult - nervious work just now for me : and people who work with me make it more difficult not more easy. To find MEN & WOMEN. That is the secret. How rare they are. One looks for Gods - people of Order & not even human beings are to be found. I am angry to hear that you have a stupid mechanical work to do for money. My new book is out in 30 days & I will send you a special copy. It is not good but you will say it is. & that is equal to 60 strong coffies. My dear B I don't know if you know how much I think of you & how often we speak your name." -"You did not send me the promised letter to be read at the dinner. I was a success. - I have a book coming out, illustrated. - I have an exhibition in september here and another in the spring of 1912. .D.V. - and possibly a book on "Hamlet". - and I am to write an article in the Daily mail a bad wicked journal (drawing of a small demon) but big & much read and one in the S* Review. May I send you both. I fear to disturb you there where you are physically, mentally & morally. (...) I think you might not to be disturbed. I often used to feel that. I, who have to work in middle of noise & dust & devils, will not have you do so. What about Yeats. I saw him last week & he said "Tell your friend to do what he likes & that the agents better - Mr Watt - was merely the formal part of the nonsense. I spoke much of you & explained ! That is really a dear fellow." -"When I see & I think of you my dear B. ? I think & see only riches. Growing always richer, heavy with richness enough to weigh down the balance & appal even Fate herself. -So long without a word from you I noticed. Even though I was most busy. I hope the next mask" will please you. Let me hear. And your poems ? Why cannot I too write poems. This is sorrow. For I would find my heart lighter if only I could speak ! - Cray ! - Boom ! For even I have a heart, I begin to know this by a feeling of thirst & tight waistcoat. -Dearest B. Your English is splendid ! it is more than correct alas, soon it will be faultless - then, what a loss for me. I who love that strange language which struggles through the mist. -I think Stanislavskiy & Souler (cf. Sulerjitskiy) are two whom I can trust. The one is the master & the other is his man, but both have warm hearts, if not wonderfully quick & delicate brains. Stanislavsky should have naked me to stay in Moscow for 3 or 4 more moths to do the Hamlet work myself. That is the artists way. But he wants to do some of the work himself. He was always like that. & it is very natural if rather childish. Last night I have a little illumination. I believe that I found the subject for my Drama. I believ I saw its whole shape clear cut. This is a drama that will be everlastingly popular & everlastingly secret. I was excited. I responded to all the questions of my life. & answered all the doubts. It is beautiful. Man plays one part in it & God plays the other. If I can get some months to work at it, & put it into preparation, its first form, all will be well. I greet you affectionately, yous EGC and do not drink too much coffie, I beg. -"Tu sais, j'ai eu à voir 100 personnes moi-même et accorder à chacun une demi-heure de mon temps. Tout va bien. Mais si seulement je pouvais avoir (1) plus d'argent. (2) plus