Letters: Gisela’s Parents - University Years (September 1931 - September 1934)

• September 23, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  Bletchingley, Sep 23, 1931

  Dearest parents, dearest Anchen, dearest siblings,

  My first letter from England, how long I have been imagining it and now it is all for real. I have to tell it to myself again and again, because I still can’t get my head around it.

  “When I left you, my father,” sadly without farewell (thank God, because it made my bravery easier for me) I rode with one Englishman and other Germans in one compartment. As I was exchanging some words with this Englishman, I noticed that something is not quite kosher with my perfect English, as it was once in a while clear, as he kept asking “Pardon?.” Till Osnabruck I was reading Trixis magazines and found a funny article, haha. There finally Hans came, and we had 3 very cozy hours. Then I slept till Hook. Suddenly I got awfully thirsty and sat down in the hall, with a glass of water. Not far from me, there was a gent who made eyes to me. Following Irma’s advice to enjoy the sea from the deck, I went up there, followed by this “voyage flirt” guy, who started a conversation with me. After we started talking in bad English, he revealed himself as a fellow Berliner. The compliments followed endless now in German, and now I finally know how pretty I am. I guess I reminded myself of my father's Greta Garbo’s photo, trying to escape his attempts to touch me. Because it was chilly and drizzling, and because the situation started to be real dumb, I excused myself, which the guy accepted only after the promise to have breakfast with him.

  The night was rather rough, and I heard some got really sick. My famous idea to move myself along with the waves and to breathe rhythmically, was of no use, as well as Mother’s medicine, I just slept like a marmot. Today early in the morning I caught an earlier train in Harwich, and thus escaped my voyage-flirter, but had to wait an extra 15 min in the train station, on the other hand, I had a very sweet porter all along the way, with whom I was chatting with great pleasure. I even learned a bit of cockney English. Eddy and Marion fetched me at the station. Eddy’s looks have changed a lot: he is much fatter than before and his eyes look a lot more tired. As I told him that he gained a lot of weight, he replied that I gained a lot more Jewishness! So we are on the same wavelength again! Marion, thank God, speaks English with me, and she has a big (Verbsserungs… the word is cut) and does it very touchingly. I think I will learn English much better simply from the streets, as I traveled, I was reading all the ads along the way. Although, I could have saved an interpreter for a German lady on my way.

  You won’t believe it, but until now everything went smoothly and I sort of arrived here without any faults. Shall I become a Lady, or will there be a catch in the next few hours, a catch that has not happened yet? My stuff is now beautifully in the storage, once again, deepest thanks, I am learning to appreciate it all now, forgive me that I am an ungrateful creature at the moment.

  I already had breakfast and a hot bath, and have sorted out all my things and myself in quiet, what also required someone holding a stocking ladder, of course.

  Marion will show me the property now, the house is really beautiful, although I do not really feel at home and am looking forward to my room in London.

  During our quick drive through, I haven’t seen any of the city yet, just got a silly thought that I will surely be lost in it by myself.

  I can already imagine the weather, the sky today is hanging low in the window, threatening to press everyone down.

  So here are the experiences of the “little Moritz” on his first day. This was a first stroke, and the second will follow shortly!

  Heartfelt kisses from your unfaithful, very faithful

  child!

• September 24, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  Thursday, Sep 24, 1931

  I know you will laugh and say “c’mon, Gisi,” because I am writing to you again today. But please do not draw conclusions that I am therefore feeling unhappy here or am too homesick. I feel totally at home here. I think it was the right thing to do, to go here first. I can learn a great deal of English here, with Marion, because if I don’t know a word, I can say it in German and she will translate it for me, whereas with English strangers I have to speak around. Besides, she fixes my mistakes and improves my pronunciation, a very important area of expertise! There is also that, after I had spoken English for 3 hours, I feel completely drained and exhausted constantly trying to re-shape my thinking and re-formulate what I want to say, from German to English. And if I feel that way, then we can switch and speak German again, I think if I did not have this break, I would simply burst and have a nervous breakdown.

  For Eddy it is simply hard to speak English with me, he is so happy to get something from Koesterberg, and keeps talking about him with nostalgia. Most often he talks about you, Anchen, but is afraid to fall in love with me, because I remind him of Renate back then so much. Marion is very nice and shakes over these impossible things that I produce with my English all the time. Tom goes somewhere on Mondays, as a farmer, and sits somewhere absolutely idle, with his Crossword, mute - or laughs just like uncle Paul. Only this morning, as we were riding horses, he was talking like a waterfall. Horse riding here is something very different than at home the horses switch to gallop in a tempo that one cannot see or hear anything. One can hear only the wind. Gallop is a very fast tempo, one cannot imagine anything faster. You would like it, Anchen!

  Alice is coming tomorrow again, I believe she'll have a birthday in the next few days. When I asked Eddy what she wished for herself for, he said “A man, and it is not easy to get.”

  Gregory is away for a long time, maybe I will see Wredes tomorrow, if we go to the city and I call her today.

  Thousand thanks for your sweet letter, father, I was awfully happy to get it. I already read the newspaper today, which sounds cheerful, because the English, due to the fall of the British pound, are going to limit the import of the foreign goods, and thus hope to revive their industry.

  With old love, your child in the foreign world!

• September 25, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  September 25, 1931

  9:30 PM

  Dearest parents, dearest Anchen, dearest Erich (you’ll understand my addressing you like this in a moment).

  I have gone through a lot yet again and I will try to write to you every day, as long as it is possible, so my reports do not pile up so much.

  Yesterday afternoon Marion, Tom and I went to Knole Park. I don’t know if you have ever been there or ever heard about it. A fantastic beautiful castle, that Queen Elizabeth gave to one noble family that actually still owns it and lives there, in one wing. The castle has no less than 356 chambers, 52 staircases, and 7 gardens. Absolutely marvelous old furniture, huge canopy beds from Charles I and James I. A heavenly park with ancient trees, large mowed grass fields.

  Early today I went with Marion to town, Westminster Abbey, which I still have to see for real. The most beautiful was a small chapel with only one pillar supporting it. Ancient windows and ancient tile floor, because of its age one has to take the shoes off, and that reminded me of Palestine so much. The man who was showing it to me, told me that I was a real Cinderella, no other Princess would fit in my shoes.

  After that we took the Tube Underground and then a bus to London. Mother, you were so right in all your predictions: I felt like a tiny flea and was shocked by filth and rot in the streets. I have a hard time getting used to the left-hand traffic, I would be run over a hundred times already without Marion. In the afternoon we had lunch with Gerald and Marion, in a big hotel in Hyde Park, I forgot the name. They were very nice, but I was shocked at Gerald as Menjou. Astonishing, how the mustache disfigured his face, he now looks like a dancer. Marion really grew old. The kids are adorable. Tomorrow they will be here again. Gerald will perform here in February, Marion will go to Egypt and then meet him in Palestine, where he will also perform a few concerts.

  After the meal - shopping again, I already fell in love with quite a few shoes and have learned a lot of related vocabulary.

  For tee, I went by myself to Nancy, Rose (love at first sight, dear Erich! she is so lovely more than anyone else, I can’t understand, why don’t you marry her, if she is not your and mine type, then I just don’t know, and her Judaism is so modestly hidden that nobody notices.) Anyway, I am endlessly grateful to you for her. The luck is that she is also in the LSE.

  Unfortunately for our tea came 2 less charming American ladies, we would rather hang out alone, but made another tea appointment for next Tuesday… Then Marion and I met Victoria Station. In the meantime, Alice has arrived and Marion is leaving tomorrow for the weekend. Tomorrow I go fox hunting, with Tom, who grew very fond of me, in his “nudnik” way. What will happen, I do not know, hope no gallop!

  The letter is silly, but I am dead tired, although endlessly happy. I already imagine that my English has gotten much better, in any case, learning English is a great joy for me.

  Thousand thanks, Anchen, for your sweet letter, please do not get upset that I am not writing separately to you,

  I almost forgot to thank you for your heavenly poem. I have not taken any course yet, cannot decide if I will take any extracurricular courses.

  My English, that I speak with Marion, is certainly not American, also my pronunciation is bad, because I say “oe” instead of “A.”

  Loves you, your Gisi

• September 26, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  September 26, 1931

  So, yesterday I went hunting with Tom. It was heaven! I feel the English style of horse-riding is much nicer and I already got used to the wild gallops. Today I even had to hop over a fence. There were approx. 60 hunting participants, 3 dog-drivers in red uniforms, and a pack of 52 dogs. Of course it is super slow and 50% of the time you just stand there doing nothing. I did not see a fox, but we did not stay till the very end. Anyway, we were on the horseback for 4 hours! 2 hours hunting, 2 hours back. We went there in a car. One sees some most beautiful horses and some most funny riders! The funny thing is that some bring their horses in a wagon, something like our Heinrich, the wagon is attached to the car, and so they drag this wagon with horses to the hunting place. The workers and the peasants rejoice over every horse and every rider, and open the doors for them between the fields. Huge difference with Germany, where one feels guilty every time the simple people see him, and oftentimes has to endure how these people scorn him. Generally speaking, I am fascinated by how lovely the folks here are. The bad thing is only that I take everything for a pure coin and cannot imagine that all this might be not for real.

  Today evening we will probably go to some neighbors.

  My English is already somewhat better, I am not thinking before saying anymore and it is not a huge stress anymore.

  Strangely enough, here is the one who loves you, always,

  Your Gisi.

• September 28, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  September 28, 1931

  Dearest Family,

  A thousand thanks for Anchen’s and Erich’s letter,

  Tomorrow early morning I go to London, leave my 7 Things at Mrs. Hilton’s and meet with Nancy to report ourselves to LSE, have lunch with Nancy and Marion and go back in the evening. Wednesday in the morning - to Ms. von Griesheim (? not sure what it is), in the evening, celebrate moving into 10 Queens Gate Place, South Kensington. Friday evening to Wredes (?) , Saturday evening a small gathering again, outdoors. This is my program for the week.

  With the exercising, Erich, I have not established a connection yet, it makes no sense with such outdoors space.

  I received a letter from Ms. V. Griesheim, where she advises me to not go straight to LSE. However, I will do it anyway. Nancy advises me to do it. The more English I learn, the better, and it is too early for English stenography, I can attempt stenography first when I know English well. I will tell all that to Ms. V. Griesheim the day after tomorrow.

  I am going now with Marion, to Red Hill, where she has to fetch some things, after that I will be packing and writing.

  The evening before yesterday, I went to a small poker gathering, where your beloved child won no less than 2 Mk (?)!First money I made!

  Yesterday, with Alice, I went for a long walk, whereas Marion and Eddy (the word punched out with a hole). A few exciting breaks with dog fights, because we had no less than 4 of them! At noon, there came Rony Ronalds, who, it looks like, is a “family’s friend” here. Tennis in the afternoon.

  In the evening, we were laughing a lot, again, because I speak such funny English often.

  The mood among the business people here, as I learned from Rony, is below zero… They see inflation coming in giant steps and let themselves fall into depression, absolutely not like Germans, who are used to crises. Every day I read the newspaper to Marion and learn from it a lot.

  I am finishing now, so I can take the letter to Red Hill and send it from there, it will be faster.

  Tons of Love,

  your child

  Maudi, can you send me my favorite blue-green evening dress, for some mysterious reason, it has not come with other things. Did you write a nice Sunday letter to me yesterday, Mauchi (I am not sure what this name is)? I am already looking forward to it!

• September 29, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  Tuesday evening

  I am an old sheep, I left the letter at home!

  Renate and Rico bumped into me, and we drank tea together. Now they are at there aunt’s, and if they can get out of there, we will go for a stroll. Rico looks very nervous, Renate looks very beautiful, I cannot say anything more yet…

  Nancy is fascinated with the room, she let Mrs. Milton know and she took it “as a man.” One week from today, I am moving in. I am looking forward to being free from packing.

  I find Barrington-wards lovely. But I imagined them to be awfully smart. Erich, they send you their love! They all are asking when you are coming, and I am not a good counselor! Don’t you have some small things to do here, I already saved 3 peaches for you!

  Mandi, your letter is still not here, I hope, perhaps tomorrow for breakfast!

  Don’t forget

  your best!

• September 30, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  September 30, 1931

  Dearest Family,

  One should never write about plans or programs, otherwise it will turn to nothing. Miss v. Griesheim telegraphed to me yesterday that she has a “bad chill” and I should postpone my visit. Well, that’s that! (one of the permanent expressions) Because I did not know about it yesterday, I brought my “7 things” to my den, those which I put on this morning. The house is a high and narrow building with endless stone stairs, on which, hopefully, I will lose some of my jolly fat. The Landlady - oh yes, the landlady is a real witch from Hansel and Gretel! A horrible creature for the educated and uneducated. First she led me into a tiny chamber, saying that this chamber is sunny all day. She said I can also have a bigger one, where there is not that much sun. I made it clear to her that the rooms’ position to the sun, which is always absent here anyway, was to me absolutely irrelevant, after that she showed me a really nice room that had hot and cold water in it. Apart from that, the bathroom is shared with many other tenants. I am cursing Mr. Reichwald’s niece now, that she is praised as a virtuous example in front of everybody. She had all meals with her and her son, went to theaters and concerts with them. I can take meals in the common dinner room, where every tenant has a table for himself. I have to see how it will develop itself. If I have enough people to improve my English over here, I will stay, but if Marion or Nancy (who are helping) find another ideal lady for me, then I will move out. Marion advised me not to go to Mrs. Embden, because it is horrifyingly far. But I will still go see it, because in London everything is in the daytime. By the way, ….. (the word punched out with a hole) is probably occupied.

  following this suspicion, I met with Marion at the LSE where she showed me around. A beautiful lunch room, a wonderful living room, table-tennis, everything a human being wishes for, and I think I will soon meet many!

  This semester I will take: English composition, style and appreciation, English as a foreign language (3 times a week, for intermediate and advanced), modern English literature, British Constitution.

  Perhaps I will be listening to some other courses once in a while, but these for sure regularly. One can pay either a “general fee” (10 guineas!) and be an auditor anywhere one wants, or one pays for selected courses, which is almost equally expensive.

• October 1, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 1, 1931

  Dearest family,

  look, look, where your dear Gisi is writing to you from! She is camping in Harrods’ ladies room, because, between seeing one of the apartments, found by Marion, and tea at Mrs. Calthrops, she’s got 15 min time!

  This ladies room is simply like a dream, marble toilets, washing tables and this living- and writing room. Everything for 1 penny, because I, of course, am not buying anything - and even that I could have saved, if I were an angel. As I threw my penny in, the door opened and I saw a horrible lady sitting in front of me! Please don’t think that I was unhappy in my den, there was another reason, because as I was moving in, celebrating, this morning, I found that the room was not even free! The girl that lived there before me, decided to stay through today, when she heard that I was coming today in the morning. So she only started packing when I showed up. I was put (preliminarily) in this “sunny” tiny hole, and instead of unpacking, as I imagined, I had to rummage in my suitcases, to change clothes and then change, which was not easy, as the door was impossible to close.

  I have to go to tea now, but I still have a lot to tell you, I will continue tomorrow.

  After I labored like a Negro, for 3.5 hours, carrying things, I think I deserve to hang out with you now.

  So, my room is now really cozy. A big bed, loft-bed style, too hard for Anchen, a small night table, with the telephone which, I think, is dead, because when someone telephones, I have to run downstairs. At the window there is a washing sink with hot and cold running water. To the side of the window there is a very neat dresser, 3-leg make-up table, where my father's photo smiles at me and where my books are (by the way, a gas fireplace, too), out front a small table, decked by my shawl, where my smoking accessories are. There is a big armchair, mine, covered with your, mother, blue plaid, because there is no sofa. But I am not quite happy about this arrangement, because the room can accommodate more. Next to the fireplace, there is a small dresser that I transformed into a table with my shawl. In the corner, there is my suitcase, not quite unnoticeable, still with some of my clothes, because our iron, mother, was unfortunately left in Hamburg, together with the laundry sack. I will have to get myself both. To the 4th wall, there is a very nice big wardrobe, but still not enough space for all the clothes. By the way, you should not think that it was that way in the beginning, all furnishing is the result of my here-and-there moving things, according to my noble taste! Carried through the grey house backdoor!

  Yesterday morning, after my “successful speeches” I met with Marion in a nice restaurant on Conduit Street. With the plan of the Underground, I now manage London like a big shot! With Marion, we went to the German Academic Bureau and I got myself some addresses of good English teachers. But despite having these addresses, I have not yet set anything in motion. They are all old ladies, but I’d rather have a young student girl, with whom I can also do some activities, at the same time improving my English. I want to wait a little, until I talk to Bernstoff.

  After that, we saw two more apartments, because Marion really wants to put me up with a real lady, but none of the rooms are as nice and the location is as central as mine. Besides, my landlady has figured out that I will not be frightened by her. Tea with Mrs. Calthrop, she is absolutely the same kind as Ms. Griesheim and I like her a lot. She lives (for Hamburg’ standards) quite close and she said, I can always come to visit. Then I went home, unpacked a bit more and then took the Tube to Leicester Square, where I fetched Montgelas from Voss Bureau. With him, we had a small snack at the counter and went to movies: Bad Girl. A lovely film! Before it, another new thing: Mickey Mouse, and I had to think about you, Anchen! You would be fascinated! There we met an actress, Renate Mueller, Montgelas knows her well, she is learning to be a private secretary. Besides her, we also met an Embassy Attache (with his wife), a Berliner Tageblatt representative, who had to go right away, because he had to write down a very exciting news and had to telephone immediately. Also Montgelas had to go to the Daily Telegraph Bureau right after the film. What an exciting profession it is, a journalist! He drove me home in a car, I had a key and quietly climbed up the stairs and went to bed. After 30 min, however, I hear footsteps, my door opens and in comes a middle-aged man, trying to undress himself! I am looking for something in my bed, to make it clear to him what I think of this, he suddenly steps out, confused, and starts to explain himself, for 5 minutes, behind the door, that he confused the rooms. 2 minutes later, a deep moan from next door…

  Today at noon, I am at Montgelas, I would rather stay home, but he invited some more people specially for me. Of course, this time he is very peaceful and nice. Tonight - with Wredes. Tomorrow - with Nancy over the weekend at Kolm-Speyers.

  I had awfully bad luck with Renate and Rico. As I came over here yesterday morning, at 10, I found a telegram: “we are coming at 8:38 and depart at 10:10 again.” Early today, I got a postcard from them from Leeds, I will still see them on their way back, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

  Thousand thanks, dearest father, for your sweet letter, which has brought me so much joy. I haven’t driven a car by myself yet, and here I do not have horses, either. Besides I don’t have an ‘ability.” I feel scared by the cars that are driving by.

  The Hamburger elections are really awful.

  I am perhaps condensing and exaggerating, Erich, but I am trying to depict it for you, Erich, how gloomy it is without you.

  Many thanks for forwarding me Mrs. Barrington-Ward’s letter, I just wrote to her, but haven’t heard back yet.

  Anchen, your letter and the first mail today, on my breakfast-tray, moved me deeply. Heartfelt thanks! You will get one extra-letter perhaps already this afternoon!

  Marion was candid with me recently and I feel sorry for her. She would like to behave herself imperatively, decisive, but on the other hand she says that one can have a nice life without imposition or pressure, she believes it, I think, in her heart somehow, but she does not trust this feeling and is anxious, and kills her chances for happiness with this anxiety. There is something comic-tragic in this condition…

  The last two evenings, Eddy was here with his sweetheart, whom he calls “bat,” out of great affection.

  Alice talks super fast, so I have to stay on alert, like a hunting dog, to get everything she is saying, she jumps with her thoughts like Auntie Malchen and she certainly is charming in her ways.

  I have to move right now.

  Please keep loving me as much as I am loving you,

  ever and ever,

  yours,

  Gisi

• October 1, 1931 (second letter) | Gisela to her parents

  October 1, 1931

  Old Quarry Hall, Bletchingley, Surrey

  Dearest parents,

  So, I am really here over the weekend and will stay here till tomorrow early morning as well, and cancelled my appointment with Seiffs.

  Mother, why did you avert me from Auntie Anna, you don’t trust me that I will do the right thing? So, she won’t bother me at all. Next week she will check my room with an inspection. I don’t think I will make my room squeaky clean specially for her, as I would do if you would visit, Mother! Because the doors, walls and windows are not quite in Mama’s taste, but I am too happy and I close my eyes on them when I tidy my bed in the morning, make my breakfast and prepare myself, then I don’t have any desire to do anything anymore, and I say to myself: you are not for sightseeing here in London!

  So, I hope you read my article in the newspaper, but to make sure, I am sending it to you. Is it not a place of honor?

  I am sorry that my name is way below, but I hope it is not impossible to start growing from there. I haven’t gotten paid for it yet, and I don’t know how much. First, I thought of sending you everything at once, but now I have another plan, which I hope is alright with you. Pat and Betty fell in love with one colorful picture to put it above their fireplace, they said it is worth 30 shilling, which is for them an enormous sum. I said, I will contribute 10, then each of us would contribute equally, that would be better than just me making them some useless Christmas present.

  They joyfully went to the store and had the picture in their hands already, when it turned out, it cost 2 pounds. They thought it was God’s advice to not take it and retreated, unhappily. Now I would like to pay 1 pound out of my wallet, and Lucy and Bunty (the secretaries that just came back from Birmingham) will pay another pound. If there is any money left, I will send it to you.

  By the way, I do not know Bunty yet, because she is still with her parents till Tuesday. Barbara came back on Friday, but Pat and Betty unfortunately left. On Monday, that is tomorrow, I will begin my lessons with Lucy. I have a feeling, my English is improving awfully slowly. I am more fluent and I know more words now, but I am tearing my hair when I think that I have been here for 5 weeks already!

  I want to stop hanging around so much and instead I want to start learning seriously. I got back my essay London At Night - I got 6/10, out of 10/10. All words at the end of the line are separated wrongly. Actually, they cannot be separated at all.

  On Thursday, we had lunch at LSE with Pat and Betty, after that we went to a lecture. In the morning, I was sewing and mending, In the evening, I went to Alice Berendt, where also her son (that was in Koesterberg) and her daughter (that has 5-year-old twins) live. I haven’t found out yet, where is Alice’ husband, was he killed in the war? With these siblings we went to “kit-cat.” They liked it so much that they enjoyed the cabaret-shows twice (gypsy band, American dancer, chorus girls), at 9:30 and at 12 o’clock. The American was telling jokes all the time during his show and it was super funny. We could not go dancing because they stayed for both sets. I liked the daughter, I thought she was very nice.

  Cambridge on Friday fell through, because Benji cancelled on me. In the morning, I tidied the house, shopped groceries at Selfridge, went to tea to Weitzmamus (?), in the evening I was at Wredes’ (?), met one very nice Swedish couple, Cletze, I believe, there were also a Swedish council and Mrs. Von Harlein and one lady from the German Embassy. The last one is Erika Robinow, she also speaks super fast English, and not very well, and sticks German words in between all the time. We played a card game, 21, I was crying from laughter, because I was cheating together with the Swedish council and no one noticed!

  Yesterday I woke up at 9:30, made breakfast, tidied the bed, packed my things and caught the train to Merstham at 10:40. But forgot my evening pumps, so I had to crawl in Aunt Anna’s. Yesterday I took a 2-hour nap in the afternoon, last night I slept 11 hours, that’s really precious!

  Uncle Paul is telling me that Father goes to America on November 5, is it true, why are you not writing to me about it? I will come to Southampton then. Which ship, for how long, if Mother goes with him? Send Anita to London then, that would be dope!

  Write to me a lot and in detail, I am longing for every letter from Paps-Schnaps!

  Deeply,

  your child

• October 4, 1931 (partial letter) | Gisela to her family

  […] and invited an English girl, of whom I only know that she is hard-core Catholic, and her father is a Conservative MP, and she once flew to …. (not sure the name). This girl, in turn, has 2 Frenchmen that live here in one apartment, both students and just acquired their English diplomas - they have one room free. She will introduce me to this girl the day after tomorrow. If something will come out of it, that would be splendid, but I do not dare to hope. The girl could teach me (English), I would constantly improve and that would be so much cheaper, Erich! Besides, he also invited someone from the German Embassy.

  In the afternoon, I went to Harrods shopping (dirty laundry bag, hangers, fountain pen, stamps), at home I ironed my evening dress and mended my stockings and washed my hair. In the evening - to Wredes. I find them both especially lovely, we were alone and had an awfully nice chat. However, I have never heard anything so bizarre as their accent. It was as though we were breaking 3 English wheels, but we could not talk to each other in any other language!

  Today I totally overslept and had my breakfast in bed. At 10:30 I met Nancy at the Victoria station and we went out. In the afternoon, I played tennis badly and had a beauty-nap. For whom this beauty, I do not know, however!

  On Monday, there is a lecture at LSE 11-12 and 5-6. Afternoon probably with our apartment girls. Besides, Renate should arrive somewhere this time. Tuesday afternoon - Barrington-Ward. I have not made an appointment with Bernsfort yet, because I could not yet make up my mind, but Montgelas saw him and gave him my address (Goldschmidt have not seen yet, either).

  Am I writing too often? You can’t stand it anymore?

  Be loved,

  Gisi

  It is Sunday, and the letter is still not sent. It will be faster if I take it tonight to London and send it from there. Therefore, I will write a couple of lines more.

  If the world is not tiny, my name is Meyer! (not sure what that means. -L.B.) - If your lovely daughter wants to find an English equivalent to this idiom, I would say: “If this is not… - I’ll eat my hat!”

  So, today for lunch there appeared an American girl named Elizabeth Rosenberg and she told me that her father was visiting YOU today! Can you bear it!! She is as beautiful as a picture, intelligent, serious and independent! She is totally the Best type[…]

• October 7, 1931 | Gisela to her parents

  October 7, 1931

  Dearest parents,

  Because of my sloppiness, you probably won’t hear from me for 2 more days, I left the letter sitting for another half a day.

  I am attaching here the summary of my expenses, I still have 7 pounds, but I do not want to sit here completely without money, besides there will be new expenses coming soon, as you will see from the summary. I would be very grateful to you, father, if you would somehow find the way to send me some money again. I won’t always spend that much, you can see for yourself that the most expensive, main expense was my tuition. In the meantime, I think I would change my fee for “general composition” (where one can listen to all lectures) to the lectures that I can choose and pay for one at a time. Because, I would like to hear the lectures specifically on the topic of English for foreigners, and for that, attend Pitman College, where there are excellent courses for English and Correspondence. Anyway, that is, in turn, super expensive, between 12 and 18 ginees, and I will only do that if they will refund me at the LSE. Otherwise, if not, it will be a God’s sign and I will hear as much as possible here and limit myself to the English-lessons with my flat-owner girl.

  By the way, I only came across this Pitman College when I came from the LSE Jewish College with my American (more Canadian) girl, where we were inquiring about various lectures. In the meantime, we found out that they were cancelled because of the fog. (I wanted to say like Erich: “So, thank God, this is an excellent idea!”) - so then we quickly went to Pitman College where I was thoroughly instructed about everything and it was fabulous.

  Maybe I can still go there after Christmas. What do you think, father? I then wrote a letter to the LSE Secretariat, with Hilda Rotenberg’s help (that’s the Canadian girl’s name), asking for permission to make this change.

  At noon we ate at the LSE with Hilda and Nancy. Amazing food a la carte, or a menu, crazy cheap. I will always eat there from now on. In the afternoon, another great lecture - “English for foreigners.” I am starting to think that my pronunciation is nearly perfect, compared to how abominable the pronunciation of others is. I made an acquaintance with one very nice guy from Switzerland.

  In the evening, Rico, Renate and I went to the movies, a crazy funny film, Monkey Business, with the Marx Brothers. It is a pity, Anchen, that you weren’t there, you would be dying of laughter. Such a great comedy, like Charlie Chaplin. This early morning, we went shopping, with Rico and Renate, but I really slept well and enough. After that, I did not see them anymore, they went to their Mazdazuan Mother Gloria (it is really her name). This evening, I had a meal here for the first time, and I finally found out how my landlady looks. She has the same face as her dog, a Pekinese named Charles. Mother, you really know all dogs’ breeds and you can imagine very well. Beside her, there was her son (whom she wants me to marry eventually) and one old spinster who also lives here. But she (Mrs. Milton) has really good and kind intentions with me.

  Thousand thanks, mother, for your heavenly and detailed Sunday letter. Too bad that it is still such a long time till next Sunday!

  Regarding Montgelas, I think your worry is really unfounded. A) he has changed a lot, B) I know all his tricks and I know for sure that they will never work with me. It is simply pleasing to have a German person whom one can ask for something, and you can see that he has been quite useful, because in the end, it is through him that I have this flat.

  The other questions, mother - A) food. Until now, I only had breakfast here, because otherwise I have always been invited out. Every morning some other “surprise”: kippers, fried eggs, scrambled eggs or cooked eggs. Coffee, for which one must use a lot of fantasy, to recognize it as coffee. But my appetite for breakfast has already reached English levels and you would be pleased with me. Supper tonight was very good.

  B) Cleanness. It could have been much dirtier. I am not looking too hard to find out whether there is any dirt anywhere. Besides, one cannot do anything about this hustle, really.

  So, now I have to study a little bit for the lecture and finally write some letters to others.

  Erich, please do not worry about taxi prices. At night I always go back in a cab, that’s what I promised the Rosens, because the Tube is not very attractive at that time, but otherwise I always use the Underground.

  Write to me, all of you, soon!

  Your hard core English spinster.

  One has to make a note about this room: it belongs to a really indestructible, through-and-through virtuous boarding house!

• October 10, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 10, 1931
  The London School of economics and political science (LSE) University of London, Aldwych

  Dearest parents, dearest siblings,

  So today I am writing to you from here. I thought I could bear one day without a letter, but I have experienced so much again that I simply must put it all on paper. Yesterday evening I rode in Elizabeth Rosenberg’s car home, and she was telling me and Nancy about her psychoanalysis a lot. For one or two years she goes to her analyst every day and he analyses her one hour long, and she is far not yet finished with all this.

  This early morning, I heard the first lecture here, only 6 students. The theme was modern English literature through which we can understand the years 1760-1820. The professor is reading and is really boring, what one can see proven in the number of those who took this course… Among those, there was a very nice-looking American girl, with whom I struck up a conversation. She is Jewish, and during the lecture was writing something in Hebrew out of boredom. In two months she will go to Palestine with her parents. She knew about uncle Felix - and she is staying here until her parents arrive, in a boarding house with her sister, since she came from Gent, where she spent her summer at her brother-in-law’s who works at the Union. She and I will meet this Wednesday for lunch.

  In Afternoon I was at Miss Reynold, the Kongo-traveler, as I came she was going to a horse market to buy herself a horse. I naturally went with her! Magically amusing stuff! A very big stone hall, in the end of which there is a pulpit, on which stands the Auctioneer and the horse has to run back and forth for a long while. They do not call 1 to 2 and 2 to 3, and one has to pay good attention, if not, one will miss a bid. The interested people are lost somewhere in the crowd and randomly tell the auctioneer how much they want to raise the bid for. The thing is, no one knows where these interested people are. I had tremendous fun, spotting them and watching their stone-cold faces with a mischievous smile. Anyway, the auctioneer probably had a very good eye to always know where they were. But this girl, looks like, is everywhere at home. She was hopping with the others at the Olympiad. Eventually there came the girl-apartment-landlady to join us at the market, and Miss Reynolds took us all to her house, where we ate by ourselves, while Miss Reynolds took care of her new horse. Her father, the Conservative MP, showed up as well, with his remarkable drunkard-nose.

  After the meal, Miss Reynolds came back and we drove to the flat, which I am really fascinated with. It is much more central than my current den.

  Queen Ann’s Gate SWI. A tiny little house. Downstairs a b]large living room and kitchen. Upstairs a double bedroom where the two girls sleep (24 years old) with a bathroom. On the second floor, 2 tiny bedrooms, and that is the whole house. The benefits are tremendous for me. I am learning 1) to cook, because we are preparing meals together at home, unless we are invited out, 2) to clean, because we cannot afford to hire a maid that would clean the apartment in the morning and wash the vegetables. Until now, we have done both things by ourselves. 3) I am learning what a household actually involves. 4) I am speaking English and I am getting better and am getting lessons from a girl that has already earned her English diploma. I would really appreciate it, Erich, if you would tell me how much I should give her as a compensation, because she said she leaves it up to my good will. 5) I can invite someone over, 6) I am paying here 2 pounds 10 shilling a week, saving therefore, compared with 52 per month, perhaps saving even more because I am spending less. Everything included in this price, even the telephone, for which I am paying extra at my old place. Both girls are secretaries,

  one is from Lancashire, another from London. Her parents live in London, she took this flat because her parents wanted to spend the winter on the Riviera and to give their house away. Because of money, because now they are not paying anything at all.

  We will probably take a fourth girl, then it will be even cheaper. I am awfully happy about this whole thing. It is so good that I can learn all this in such a wonderful way!

  Yesterday afternoon - again at the LSE. I met 2 girls through Nancy, tight friends with Brigitte Halm and they also know Lola and Rudo!

  I heard a very good lecture, English for foreigners (intermediate) . We were divided in 2 groups, only 11 people were taken into each group. Yesterday the teacher wanted to find out what we know. He wrote: Laughter, Slaughter, rough, plough, sorrow - on the blackboard, and we had to make a sentence with a word that reminds of one of the written words - and that for every word that was written. Damn smart, a real unusual way of thinking! After that, the sentences with Until, Since, Against, Again and Aftermath. The sentences in which we had to insert an irregular verb.

  In the evening I was at Nancy’s, her mother is not very sympathetic to me, too orthodox. Her father is more similar to Nancy. There is an atmosphere of exaggerated politeness, and I cannot be sincere, fearing to be impolite. I think I pushed Nancy to give up her politeness.

  Now I am going to the LSE, to pay my bill, then I will pick up Nancy and show her my new flat, eat at Barrington-Ward’s and will meet with Twink (?), the girl that I met through Ludwig Kahn, she wrote to me already that she would be awfully happy to give me lessons. But I think I’d stay for a while with my flat-owner, Lucy Ware.

  Erich, I think, I forgot your advice to not go out more than 3 times a week… When I was finally all set, I followed it with a steel will, but I cannot refuse these first invitations… when people invite me out for the first time.

  Much much love

  from your joyful, independent kid!

  (In the LSE, there are 50% foreigners!)

• October 10, 1931 (second letter) | Gisela to Max Warburg

  October 10, 1931

  Thank you for your letter from Berlin, father! Regarding Montgelas, I already explained myself in my last letter, and anyway I haven’t even seen him since. I have not seen Elizabeth Rosenberg either, but as soon as I am in my “castle,” I will invite her over. I am not sure if she would be “your type,” I think she is very interesting, even if there is something unhealthy in her obsession with psychoanalysis.

  Yesterday I came back home early and studied, we have a lot of homework for this English for foreigners class. Besides, the Advanced English class also has some kind of test to pass, and I honestly do not know half of it yet. Let’s see if you know the answers. 1) compose two sentences with two meanings for every word: vice, till, hamper, mean (3 meanings). For “vice” I wrote: “The sum of all vices is constant!” How do you like it?? 2) Give a synonym (a different word with the same meaning) for: quell, indolence (which does not mean “indifference” but “indelibility”) and feign. One sentence for each verb: to clash, to design, to dissuade (because he wanted to know if we use the correct appositions).

  I hope he won’t kick me out because I know so little! My only consolation is that the boy from Switzerland knows as little as I do.

  I even could help him one time. (He looks like Rosenthal, by the way, and in his manners, too). Out of 16 students in this class I am the only girl and overall, one of the 3 representatives of the white race. Otherwise everyone Indian, Chinese and God knows who.

  Yesterday afternoon I ate at the S.M. House with Eleonora Iredale (?) and some others from the Student Movement. All of them just arrived from America, where they were with Bettina a lot (she is valued a lot) and stayed at Paginas’ for one week.

  On Thursday, Gandhi will speak at the S.M. House - only members will be allowed in, and only a few, because they can only accommodate 200 people. But I just became a member! I am so happy that I will hear Gandhi, who is, by the way, absolutely irrationally strongly disliked here. Miss Iredale and Mr. Partz (the host there) were very sweet to me. In the afternoon, I visited Lady Jowitt, she is working like a Negro for the upcoming elections, and I helped her for an hour. The activity was to write a roomful of letters to former students (one gets the lists with names from the co-advisors - for some mysterious reasons, they are allowed to vote 2 times: one time where they live and second time at the University where they graduated from). In these letters there is Sir William Jowitt’s candidate program, abridged and “concentrated” to the point. So every candidate creates such a program to be sent in such letters. A very expensive and surely useless effort, because who, in our days, has so much money that it would make sense to take a trip to the alma mater and vote there a second time? Of course, not every University sends such letters to all people on such lists, but only every candidate sends letters to those who are in his constituency. The wives and children of the candidates speak in public and canvass. Jowitt is himself in his District and gives public speeches. There is an atmosphere of great excitement everywhere, and, as we say, there are as many people as there are opinions. It is marvelous that I can hear everything so fresh and undisturbed. If I were here, I would not know what party to vote for, because for every party there are good reasons “for” and “against” and everything is as long as it is wide.

  Afternoon I had tea at Mrs. Calthrops, she was saying again that the speeches were absolutely unimportant and something else is the actual matter. She, as many others, is actually against the general elections in general!

  Erich, I would appreciate it very much if you explain to me about her husband, whose existence is never mentioned, but somehow he must have existed, otherwise how can she be Mrs?

  In the evening I went to the movies with my (beautiful) Canadian girl and her sister.

  Early this morning, I finished my first stocking, my guess was that it would last only one afternoon, but it took me one week.

  In the evening, it is impossible to mend because of the bad lighting, and in the morning I always have something else to do.

  With this pile of stockings ahead of me, I will be busy till Christmas, for sure.

  I worked 2 hours again for the English elections, which seems to me such a joke. Oh, and I am not alone helping her, she has 3 long tables, equipped with loose paper, pens, ink, envelopes and alumni’s lists - and all friends and relatives are helping when they have a little time. This afternoon, for the first time since I am here, I had an afternoon nap, I am not getting tired that easily here, compared to Hamburg.

  In the morning, the weather is very decent, my blue coat, blue hat and Douglas shirt - who would think that?

  Mother, if you were here, you would enjoy talking about weather, good and bad. I am learning it here, how inexhaustible and deeply connecting this topic is. Tonight I will have dinner with my Tigermother (? not sure what this word is) and my fiancé. How I am looking forward to it!

  Thursday I spent the whole day at the LSE. The living room, the library and the food make it a real cozy experience and save me constant commute. One great lecture by Prof. Laski, THE man here at the LSE, for “political and social theory.” He is, of course, Jewish, like most professors here, and that is why they say “London Jew-el of Economics.” In the evening, I was at Nancy’s, where I gave her mother a box with fabric, which was not very clean-clean and wasn’t really fitting for her. Lively political discussion between Nancy and Colonel, as she always calls her father. Els Andrisse from Amsterdam is here first in a pen-relationship, we will see next week. I haven’t really been sight-seeing yet, I feel too much at home here, but it has to be done sometime soon. I still have a lot to write though, so I am finishing soon.

  After many inquiries, I gave up Pittman’s college, because: 1) bad audience (like in ours), 2) too much one-size-fits-all approach, 3) English in correspondence is like people of the second-rate write, but not like you, father. 4) for all that, it is too expensive. The secretariat in the LSE has replied to me in the meantime, yes, I can have my money back, splendid, isn’t it. I just have to access it again if it is worth it, I want to hear Laski’s lectures as much as possible.

  What do you think about the current Cabinet, father? Is it an improvement? Does Groener have any understanding of interior affairs? And Dietrich doesn’t really understand anything in finance, does he? But Bruning as a foreign minister is brilliant. What do you think about the idea of the return of the Jews to Spain? Have you read about it?

  Many, many thanks for your letter, Anchen, when I am going home, I am always thinking, is there any letter for me. Regarding my well-being-allowance money, I think I cannot give it to you, because I have this boy in Palestine and do not know what will be with him there. I promise you the best with Lola when she comes.

  So, now I think you are all “up to date,”

  Do not forget and write

  to your best one!

• October 11, 1931 | Gisela to Max Warburg

  Sunday eve,

  October 11, 1931

  After a day of hard work, I have to hang out with you again, because my thoughts are always with you when I am alone, and I cannot hide how damn much I would have loved to be with you tomorrow, with you, Lola and Weizmann. But one cannot have everything, besides I already have a paradise on Earth that I am enjoying mornings and evenings, whenever I set my eyes on it. I am truly happy to have this feeling that I am here for 2.5 weeks already, that I have much more time ahead of me that I hope to use in its fullest.

  Early this morning I heard a service at Westminster Abbey, which was actually disappointing. The service was in a small side-enclave from where one cannot see the whole church at all. The priest’ robe was stunning. He was using old English, in an art of a rhythmic litany, like a song-singing. The sermon was barbarically bad. I thought he would say something related to our times, but it was a long ode to the beautifying High-Church and awful curses on all other churches. Across from me, there sat two charming sisters who were praying and singing with real zeal. I thought of Anchen and myself.

  At 11 I was meeting with my Canadian girl and her sister in front of the Abbey, to go to a Temple (synagogue?) that has a service here on Sundays! But the sermon was far from finished at 11, and I, poor girl, had to make a bee-line in front of everybody to get out, because I was sitting in the front row…

  The service at the Temple gave me a lot to think about. The rabbi, wearing a frock coat without head covering, spoke about the difference between Orthodox and Universalist. To be a Universalist, he explained, means to be honest and true and acknowledge that we oftentimes do not really believe the revelations and wonders in the Bible. That sounded so cheap to me. It is so simple to throw everything into a pile, and in my opinion, one can do it only if one has something new, much bigger to focus on. Everyone seeks truth, and I do not see any revelation in it. If the Jews would think like this rabbi, there would be no Jews anymore. Religion means faith, not logical understanding.

  After the sermon, he was answering questions on pieces of paper that people gave him.

  As we were coming out, we saw Hon. Mrs. Franklin, that my Canadian girl knew, getting into her car. She took us in and asked me right away if I am your daughter and then invited me over for Friday. Laura is her sister in law, Sir Herbert Samuel is her brother in law. She and her sister Mrs. Montague have apparently founded this Temple and are very partial and emotional about it.

  Today in the afternoon, I finished my 2nd stocking, it was a major job. Then I washed 6 pairs of stockings and packed everything. I really take the hat off in front of myself, because everything fit so nicely and neatly in. And I even have one empty drawer in the wardrobe and I even packed my 2 coats. I am just waiting for a moment when the little unpacked things, like little devils, will jump at me out of the corner.

  I ate with my Tigermama and my fiancé, she asked me if I was engaged, she could not explain it to herself, why the whole thing was not yet perfect. She then invited me to my fiancé’s 21st Birthday party. I think I will go, it is good if we can part in a friendly loving way. Now they went to movies, where they wanted to drag me with them.

  Just now Rosenberg called and invited me tomorrow evening to Savoy. Therefore: aunt Nina’s dress taken out, evening coat damp-cleaned in the bathroom, with intricate manipulations. The result: curtains torn down, lights off. My spinster-neighbor is crawling in the dark to the toilet right now.

  Mother, I lost your piece of paper with the address in the Tube. I’d be very grateful for the Chambers’ address, it is not in the telephone book. You wrote Sir Herbert Samuel’s address, but I do not know him at all, I only know his son. Was it a mistake or on purpose?

  Love me even more and express it in many more letters,

  Ever and ever,

  Your child.

• October 11, 1931 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  Sunday, Oct. 11, 1931

  Beloved child,

  I lost my pen on the train - a soulful one, obeying me at the slightest pressure - and must now try how to brave the times without it… So - we were in Berlin this week and only returned the day before yesterday, Friday evening. Father is very pleased. You know that nothing came of the first combination, thank God, but another friendship is being formed, which is much more sympathetic and leaves everything untouched here. This is very essential. The publication will take place only in a few months, the fraternization is to be celebrated on Tuesday among the participants discreetly at a feast. The consequence is that the poor man will soon have to leave again tomorrow and cannot be present when Weizmann and Lola are here. Chaim will speak tomorrow evening. He told me that his wife is already in London (I saw him at Lola's) and I think you had to pay her a visit right away. He looks exquisite.

  Last night the Samson family was here on the occasion of Rico's presence. He wants to discuss his English experiences with Father. I found Renate and him animated and amusing.

  I had my last year's things put in order in Berlin, but did not order anything new. As long as we don't travel, I don't need anything. I am proud of that for the time being. I found a nice little Persian shawl from Carl Melchior, who will be 60 on Oct. 13. You'd best write to the company.

  One evening I was alone at the theater and saw “Intrigue and Love” for the first time in my life. A most excellent performance. It is still an excellent play today, scourges class distinctions, and is again very topical in other ways.

  Being alone did not make Annchen sad. She started cooking and was always busy. At the moment she is upstairs in the studio working on a new mask of Lieselotte.

  We have been following your many experiences with great interest, even Erich is interested in your letters. The new menage à trois is certainly charming.

  I only want you to eat enough and properly. Do you have enough room for your things, bath and warm water, laundry? Don't take our admonitions to dress warmly for excessive concern. The London climate is insidious.

  Poor Dasha is still writing from the Black Forest. Now her lungs are out of order. I am so glad to have half of Uncle Tim's[?] gift left. She has struggled with her health all her life.

  Next door, Dad has a visit from Dr. Max Embden[?] - the island owner - who has been sitting with him for an hour. How impatient Father must be getting! - Our Sunday will unwind quietly, no guests so far, at most Fräulein Porten[?]

  The house is awfully quiet without you. Come into my arms - so - a thousand Sunday kisses in motherly warmth.

  Your Maudi

• Undated (October 1931) (postcard) | Gisela to Alice (Maudi) Warburg

  To “Mrs Max M. Warburg, Neue Rabenstrasse, 24, Hamburg Germany”

  Monday

  Dearest Tusch

  Today, for the second time in the National Gallery, this one is the most beautiful painting, and I know it would have been your favorite as well. I cannot, however, find anything for me in the English painters, but I hope it will come to me one day. The Italians will be the first next time I am here. I just was at the Bureau Hamburg, trying to find out which ship and which train father will take, so I can see him. Now I am sitting at the Samuels Salon, where I want to make a visit so I can get a pass for the opening of the Parliament. Hope I will have luck. So far it probably won’t come through as Nat. L.G. [National Labor] against Conservative.

  Be loved,

  your Gisi

  [The postcard image is Rembrandt’s “A Jewish Rabbi”]

• October 12, 1931 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Railroad Hamburg-Berlin,

  October 12, 1931

  Your detailed letter describes the voting and agonizing ( “wahlende und quaelende”) England. at this moment everywhere everything is out of equilibrium. We live in a time with obsolete and not yet reformulated concepts, that is the time for revolutions, if not quite great men courageously intervene before. I do not see them anywhere. It is the Tower of Babel.

  But you just learn proper English, that will never become obsolete.

  Breuning is clever, accomplished, but indecisive, and I fear that he will perish. It depends on a few votes whether he can stay. Schacht's speech in Harzburg was really a stab in the back of all those who are trying to overcome the difficult economic and monetary situation. Spain has already - since it became a republic - readmitted the Jews, as a gesture.

  Tonight is the so-called “dinner” with the new Berlin friends, Erich is sitting opposite me. I am satisfied in principle, especially because the old combination is no longer in question.

  Today Weizmann is in Hamburg with Lola as his entourage, he is said to have spoken very well in Berlin, he is in good shape, and you will see him soon. For the time being, I strongly advise you not to see him too much, he'll catch on right away and you really have enough to do.

   A warm hug to you,

  your father

• October 13, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 13, 1931

  Beloved Family,

  I just finished the unpacking and am simply blessed in my own Castle.

  Lucy (Ware) - that is the name of one of the other girls - just went to get some stuff and clothes from her home, because tomorrow she is going away to Birmingham for 10 days, for the elections. The other girl is already there. There are other two girls coming for a sublet, two sisters, one is an actress, I just met her at lunch, she is lovely, and another is an interior designer. This actress is the first really charming girl that I have met here so far. All other English girls are somehow a bit strange. They are built well, but there is something in their winking doll-like faces that one wants to fix or re-mold. Even when they talk really sense they look so ungodly that they make an adverse impression. I could really observe that yesterday, with my Rosenberg’s company. We went to **** (unreadable). I do not know if anyone who is some family’s member, would be into the London’ nightlife enough to visit such a venue. Elisabeth brought her “Bean” with her (a real rag), so I could give my full attention to “Papa,” which I had to do with fantastic intensity.

  From 9 to 12 I danced almost exclusively with him, so in this short time we drew to each other much closer, in a literal sense! I could add one definite victory into my oh so beloved diary this year! Father, he bore a striking similarity to you: he danced passionately, he was flirting, and his daughter had a very hard time to make it clear to him at 12 o’clock that it was now time to go to bed. The topic for talks was, of course, the family, which had to be picked apart from A to Z. I also made acquaintance with Henrietta and Johnny, and I am completely head to toe in love with the latter. The common sense and the short time of our acquaintance do not allow me to await the same from Henrietta, but for me it is sufficient, when she keeps Johnny around her! On this path, I had to find out that father is going to America, and if I were more of an egoist, I would consider this event as the nearest possibility to see you, father! Rosenberg thinks it is very important that I accompany you, and hires me as a secretary. In our times, who would refuse any opportunity to acquire a profession. Are you going with him? Why haven’t you written to me about it?

  Yesterday I was at the LSE the whole day. In the meantime I found out that “my” guy from Switzerland has a lower firm as Bally in prof. Keine’s “Smokes” (not sure what it all means, seems to me, some words are missing)

  I had a charming intermezzo with my landlady early this morning, just imagine - my neighbor-spinster cancelled his contract because of me. Because: your sweet Gisi was operating a cable (with a lot of skill) in the tiny bathroom, trying to steam-clean her evening gown.

  It went splendidly, and after a few minutes, as I wanted to look at my great work, the whole room was like a sauna and the lights did not go on anymore, for some mysterious reason. In my smart head I figured out that leaving the evening gown there overnight will be better for it. The widow Bolte, who had an “accident” the day before (and blacked out) came home in the evening and wanted to go to the bathroom for her night needs. She was physically and psychologically attacked by the steam that came from the bathroom and she saw my evening gown hanging there and in the broken lights - she thought it was a suicide, and horrified by the hanging “body,” got a heart attack. After that, I did not see her anymore and learned about the whole trauma from my hostess. Anyway, this guy cancelled the rent contract out of fear that something like that will happen in the future, and could not be persuaded to stay even after the assurances that the said Devil will move out herself. The next day I saw a man entering the bathroom, replacing the lightbulb and fixing the lights. My landlady sent me a bill yesterday, 6 shillings for the lights repairs and gave me a long talk about a new cable. I however 1) did not know and did not break the lights deliberately, 2) she can tell my grandma that it cost 6 Mk to fix it… I did not pay the bill. But I still have bad conscience, in the end she lost a tenant because of me. I console myself that I have been there only twice for supper and paid for it, because I behave responsibly with any father’s money.

• October 13, 1931 (second letter) | Gisela to her family

  Tuesday

  Dearest family,

  in 15 min my class will begin (British Constitution) and I am already sitting at the school bench. I will try, however, to quickly report to Mother.

  I haven’t made a single stain yet, because, you won’t believe it, I just haven’t made a single stain yet! So, no fire alarm!

  We do not smell any gasoline, because there is no gas in the car repair workshop.

  The little house does not have much sorme (?) and light, but these two things are not very common in London, so it is for sure not unhealthy, and I am not at home that much anyway.

  We have a maid coming every morning, to dust the flat, we vacuum ourselves, as you will see from my last letters. The house is not a burden for us at all, and we are doing everything playfully, so if one of us does not feel like doing anything, there always are 2 others. Even if one was professionally active, one would still have time to “clean” the house

  Regarding the meals, every day is different. I go for lunch to LSE, sometimes I eat at home, dinners - if I am not invited out - I eat at home. The girls cook very well. Normally, we eat hot food only once a day, which I really prefer that way. You don’t have to worry that I might be under-fed.

  Early this morning I had breakfast with Rudo and Gershum in his hotel room. After that, Gershum showed us his shop with a very entertaining watch-storage.

  After this class, I go grocery shopping for tonight, Tomorrow evening I am at Gershuun’s with Rudo. Many thanks for the things that you sent me with Rudo, I took them this morning, but not yet unwrapped them.

  It was very very nice at Elsie Shaw’s last night, a bit boring. We went to the movies, and they screened a one-hour-long weekly report.

  Laski is now here, so I am wrapping up.

  Tons of love,

  Gisi

• October 14, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 14, 1931

  In the meantime, we had a heavenly cozy evening with self-prepared supper, a very nice night of good sleep and self-prepared breakfast. After that we dusted the living room, vacuumed the carpet and made the bed.

  Previously I wrote to you about the fourth girl here, she moved in, in the meantime. Nice and staunch-English, she goes today to Birmingham. Yesterday evening, I was stitching a conservative coat of arms, that the girls will decorate their “boss” with, on the speaker tribune. The sweetest thing in our house is a small lantern above the door, a copy of a Palazzo Strozzi lantern. The whole house is inside a courtyard that is filled mostly with automobiles, because there is an automotive workshop in one of the neighboring houses.

  Many thanks, Maudi, for your Sunday letter that came to me here. Yesterday I telephoned Chaim, to find out when he is coming, did not expect her, I did not know that she was already there, but I will try to add today or tomorrow.

  This afternoon, Marion and Alice ate with me at the LSE, this afternoon I will see “Grand-Hotel” by Vicki Baum, going there with my Canadian girl.

  I think now you are again updated and in the flow, it is terrible to be writing to you in German for so long, now I am all German again. Next time I will write to you in English.

  Do not forget

  your loving you Gisi.

  Erich, the laundry cost here is calculated after EMW. That is, it is cheap!

• October 17, 1931 | Gisela to Max Warburg

  Saturday

  I could not write to you for two days, it feels like a century!

  But if I tell you what I was doing, you will see that I really had not a single minute available.

  On Wednesday I had lunch at LSE with Alice and Marion, by coincidence, as is common in London, they went to an afternoon theater performance (matinee) of “Grand Hotel” by Vicki Baum. A very good performance, nothing earth-shaking, I was there with my Canadian girl. In the evening we had a friend of Pat(ricia, Ms. Nabb) and Betty (Ms. Nabb) for supper. A very nice amusing lad, we had a wonderful evening together. The sisters are so lovely, especially Pat, the actress, marvelously lively and very natural with her common English politeness. Mandi, I am learning it here, and you would be surprised how happy I am to have such an adorable and pleasing home.

  Early Tuesday, I was working for my class and read it aloud to Pat while she was sewing. I mended my stocking. I had lunch at home and went to my class in the afternoon, and after that went to the Student Movement House, had a meal with Eleonora Iredale and heard Gandhi speaking. A marvelous evening, which I am unable to report to you about, you will soon understand why.

  Yesterday morning I went to Chaim, awfully cozy hanged out with him, had lunch there.

  Came home, washed my hair, ironed my Hirsh-evening gown.

  And as I sat down, preparing to write to you all about it in detail, the telephone rang. It was Montgelas, asking how my flat is. I told him about Gandhi. 10 minutes later, he called again, asking if I’d like to write an article for the newspaper (newspaper’s name is punched out with a hole so I could not read it, I think it is Vossishe Zietung, Berlin). I felt overwhelmed with mania of grandeur and pragmatic thoughts about money, the possibility to earn something for the first time. And I screamed “Yesss! I will do that” and threw at him a sentence that I find earning money wonderful, even before he mentioned any money at all. After that awful moment, I am out of my mind, I am writing and erasing what I have written, right away. Can you imagine how it feels, to have an article on my resume and be able to put my first money on Father’s table!

  I have anxiety about my output, in one moment I think it is good, in the next moment hanging in the air, 5 minutes I think it is too personal, another 5 minutes - that it is too impersonal. Montgelas told me to do it in a very simple way, as though I am writing to you, unfortunately I have not done anything like that yet, it is the same impossible as it is impossible to look “naturally,” being photographed, so I could not make it “as though I am writing to you.”

  I worked today literally like a horse. This morning, after I found out that I actually don’t remember a half of it, I went to the Student Movement House and asked people some questions, so that I could put everything together. There were some questions, asked by some foreigners, in such a way that even a native English speaker would not understand. After that I went home at 2 and was working till 7, with only one break to make tea. At this moment, I am depressed again and have persistent thoughts that they won’t take my article. I do not have Montgelas’ number, actually, and I am praying that he please calls me. He told me that it has to be finished by tomorrow. Now I have to change clothes and will go to Weizmann’s.

  Thank you, father, for your heavenly letter, splendid, you are going to the USA!

  So, either you will get an excellent article soon sent to you, or you will get a small envelope with a small piece of paper with the drops of my sweat.

  Dumb stays dumb and wisdom cannot be inherited, this revelation came to me today.

  Soon you will get a normal letter (my house makes me feel blessed).

  Heartfelt kisses from your journalist.

  I forgot that yesterday evening I went to Franklins. I was bored stiff!

  A very big house with beautiful old things that are very stupidly all lumped together. Overall, a surreal mix of noble and base. For example, as we were going to the dining room, Mrs Franklin (a disgusting woman that treats her husband like trash) went forward and turned all the lights off, so all people had to crawl in the dark. The people, by the way, were really some rare bad gang. Endless sisters of hers. The many girls in green woolen dresses and green veils on their heads, adorned with green leaves, were fantastic. At the table, many prayers but not Gustus, after the meal children’ games, but he led me to a separate room, china collection, and I guess I conquered him… Now he wants to show me the biggest collection of china that exists, it belongs to one of his friends. At 10 o’clock I left and went to Markens in Weizmann’s car, the house was picture-perfect, we spent an hour there. Now I have something I can move to!

• October 19, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 19, 1931

  Beloved family,

  so today I will try to finally write a normal letter to you.

  First of all, thank you, father, for the money, it will hopefully last till Christmas. Today I am also getting some money refunded from LSE and I have about 15 shillings. You priced me too expensive, thank God. I was so happy about Bruening’s …. (the word?) even if it is too “poply.”

  I have to tell you once again, how blessed I am in this flat. The girls are so lovely, especially the actress who is so adorable. The girls feed themselves completely, live on 4 pounds a week, some of this money they even spend on clothes, for London it is very little! I am learning a lot and everything is so much fun. One will become practical, when one has to do everything. Washing, preparing, dusting, making the bed - it is a great temptation in the morning, to stuff myself again, instead of trying to lose weight, I am looking for a theory similar to “Oh the bed won’t get dirty!”

  Today I washed the pants, pajamas, shirts and handkerchiefs, washed and ironed. The other girls do all that themselves, so I am doing it myself also. To dry the laundry, I invented something: stretch a rope between two chairs and put the construction in front of the fireplace. One can make toasts there, too, taking a slice of bread and spinning it on a fork close to the fire.

  When I wake up, I think “Jurgens should see me!,” when I iron or wash the stockings, I think of Margarete with love. Before I go out, I shine my shoes with a piece of cloth!

  Early this morning, I was walking, a fabulous walk through St. James Park into Park Lane Hotel, where I met with Rudo and together we went to Montgelas, who took my article in, with only a few corrections! Funnily, I do not feel myself in a celebrating mood, I still have some doubts about the Berliner editor, and I am not so satisfied with the article myself. Regarding my honorarium, I earned it, of course, but we have not talked about money yet. If something comes out of it, money-wise, I will send it to you. So lose yourself thinking of me!

  For tomorrow evening, we decided that Rudo and Montgelas will dine at our place (Rudo will be cooking), I will try to get Nancy to eat with us and then we will go see “Victoria and her Hussar.”

  Yesterday morning I slept till 11, woke up, tidied the room and went for lunch to Chaim. I feel he changed a lot. No more that Zionist fire, and he is worrying about the English elections, like almost no English patriot is. He was very struck by how sad everything looks in Germany. Vera is super nice to him and I like her so much more now. Today, Chaim starts putting together the material for his memoirs.

  In the afternoon, I proof-read the article and completed it. In the evening, I went to Hyde Park with Pat and Betty, to hear the political speeches. It was very entertaining, anyway, we heard only one communist speech, all others were religious. Most beautiful was one from a Mormon, that is an American Christian sect, that allows polygamy. The listeners were asking questions but kept yelling in between about what they already understood. The speaker was a real American chap, with a wonderful real “sense of humor” that grew as he spoke. He was a real blessing to see, and it is beautiful to see how one will feel blessed seeing all these wise people, Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Communists, although every one of them claims to possess the blessing on Earth. There was one Indian who propagandized for the freedom of his country.

  Saturday evening I went to Weizmann’s (father, you would say “That is too much!” - but I am going there again next Saturday!).I heard the speech by Snowden. I thought it was very good, but this morning I read an article that demolishes his speech with some very good arguments. Because while he claims that the Labour program needs to be changed, it is the same program from 1928 that he himself has established.

  I have to write a short essay for my English class, till Thursday - “London At Night” - and I still have not the slightest idea what I will write about.

  Tonight I went to Elsie Shaw for the first time.

  Why is Anchen not writing to me, and some signs of life from Erich would be also very welcome. I literally cannot write to each of you separately, I already hardly have time for letters like this…

  What’s up with Father’s trip to America?

  Don’t forget me and love me, like I love you!

  Your Gisi

• October 22, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 22, 1931

  Dearest Family,

  today is another 3 days since I have written to you. Ah, dear God, why didn't you make a day with 48 hours. I would easily fill these hours up and won’t even have enough.

  On Tuesday, I had breakfast with Rudo and Gershoon, went to see Gershoon’s clock shop, spent noon at LSE and afternoon at home. Ironed my dress- I am spewing curses, by the way, at this Hirsch dress. We do not have such a narrow ironing board and I am just killing myself, trying to get all these meaningless ruffles smooth, where I just can't even reach them. Now I even tore something there, for the first time, so I gave up for now.

  Made the table, peeled potatoes and put them on fire. By the way, this morning I, like the widow Bolte with my hat case, where I stuffed the things that Rudo brought me, went shopping at Selfridge. Butter, cheese, ham, eggs, bacon, fruit, bread, jam cigars. Very big and rich. Then I bought a small briefcase, for 3 shillings, which I can use like daily bread, because my folder that I carry is in tatters and people stare at me as though I am wearing a red shirt. Spent 38 shillings altogether. Too much, no, Erich? And I beg your pardon, mother, that I am talking about money. Rudo showed up at 6.30, got queer looks for his tuxedo shirt that he was wearing above the belt. Then Rudo cooked for Montgelas, Nancy, Pat, Betty and myself - potatoes, bacon, ham and eggs all in one pan, super tasty fodder.

  Montgelas brought 2 plum pies and Rudo - a basket of fruit. Rudo was fascinated by our house and our girls and felt absolutely at home. He got especially excited over our pantry that is hanging outside of the house on the wall. After the meal 4 of us went to see “Victoria and her Hussar.” The main male character was played by a German or Hungarian Jew who obviously has learned English 3 weeks ago, and he spoke and played so funny that it was a delight to see. One of the female main characters was played by Barbara Din, the wife of the famous sculptor De Fiori, she was performing for the first time! She is Russian and, despite being not very beautiful, has great charm. These two actors were saving the show, 2 others were also rather good, but the rest were miserable. The English people are really not good at acting, it is such a great effort for them to become someone else and express their feelings in the open.

  Montgelas knew both Barbara Din and the Hungarian, he already winked at them from his lounge, and he took us backstage after the performance. These are the finest moments in his life, when he can familiarly address such famous people - “he felt like a million” and I felt the same, could easily top him in these feelings… After that we went to a Hungarian restaurant. Here it is really empty in the venues at night, and everyone says that how day and night feel, is the opposite.

  On Wednesday, I slept endlessly long. Tidied the room, wrote, went to LSE, ate there and started to write my “London At Night.” Had some tea with my Canadian girl and one Norwegian guy, then went to my class. Rudo and Montgelas picked me up and Montgelas drove us to Gershoon. There was traffic like nothing I have ever seen in my life and it took us 45 min to get there, instead of 15 min. We ate at Gershoon’s and Rudo accompanied him to Balin, I stayed alone with his wife, she is so lovely. They live awfully simply and it is actually hard for them. They have contact only with the very few Russians that we have here and they have a hard time hanging out in the English circles and they do not fit in there at all. We could say “good night” to kids, the two rarely ugly but undoubtedly Russian girls. They speak Russian, English, German and a bit of French.

  Early this morning I found out that I completely forgot about Laura’s invitation to come over tomorrow evening or day after tomorrow noon. I had to tell her, too late, that I cannot make these both times. Tomorrow evening, after we have been scheduling it for two weeks, I am getting a visit from this girlie that I met through Bernhard, and the day after tomorrow noon, also after multiple scheduling and rescheduling I am having lunch with Els Andriesse from Amsterdam. I missed my “husband”’s Birthday as well, so I had to write 2 apologetic letters of cancellation.

  I finished the essay for my class, went to Chaim at noon (I haven’t seen him Sunday through Thursday, father nota bene!). Vera was invited out, so he was telling me, wonderfully, about the first years of his education and about Zionism. He is now in the phase of reading all his letters from 1902-06, when he was engaged to Vera and wrote to her every day.

  This afternoon, I re-wrote the essay in nice handwriting, had my class. It is terrible to be the only girl, somehow something feminine is coming out of me, it is inevitable, so everyone looks at me with smiles, especially when Germany is mentioned. It is so much like at school, I have such a feeling, especially when I distract myself by looking at his wig… Why cannot he simply carry his bald head with pride, I am asking myself, devil knows.

  Today I innocently went home. I wanted to go to bed early, but here it is again!!

  Maudi, I am cursing the whole week through, till Sunday, when you won’t be removed from me. Only on Sunday I love that secure feeling that you will now engage with me, and early Tuesday I jump out of bed.

  Be kissed and hugged,

  by your Spinster!

• October 27, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  October 27, 1931

  Dearest family,

  today is finally THE real Londoner fog. Pitch-dark night. Montgelas, who called me early this morning (and with whom I am going to Caledonian Market this afternoon), was telling me gruesome murder stories that he himself was a witness to, which happened on the sidewalks. Luckily my mood is not weather-dependent, otherwise I can imagine how easily one can become melancholic. I even find it somewhat romantic, but unfortunately it got real cold, the newspapers say that for God knows how many years there has not been such a cold October. There is a significant draft through non-existent double windows, but I am wearing polar clothes and got tough already. Therefore, Mandi, do not worry about your Best One.

  Of course, I have experienced a lot of beautiful things since I wrote to you the last time, and it seems to me like years ago. I am afraid I won’t have time to tell you all about it, because I am sitting here at 12:30, in the LSE library and expecting Els Andriesse at 1 PM, to go to lunch with her. Tonight I am invited by Marxens, to go to Savoy with them and hear/see the results of the elections there. A very unique opportunity. After a long doubt and insecurity, I finally persuaded Betsy to call Mrs. Milton this morning and to tell her that I am terribly sorry that I won’t be able to celebrate my “husband”s Birthday because I am down with a nasty cold. I am afraid, I still have to wash my hair after the Caledonian Market, because, in mama’s words, I have to look glam! By the way, I was quickly punished for my pride of being “stain-less.” There is an ink stain on my red dress (through into stockings) - on the spade of the Friederichs dress there is a stain also, the spade Hirsch dress has not been brought into hospital yet. The holes in my stockings are growing endless, I wish I were bad at mending.

  Yesterday evening I was with Betty and her blind friend, after that I went to a very exciting meeting. The candidate was a liberal free-marketer, but for nationalist government. His speech was so-so, especially when his program is almost ideal in all points. Stop reparations-forgiveness for wars. Organize a world conference on customs control. Disarmament conference, international defense conference. To illustrate how it would be for the dirty England if Nat. Gov. would not come through, he showed everybody German inflation-certificates and spoke about the related past. In one corner, there was a very (for England) misbehaving group, that constantly yelled something in between and later on asked questions and really gave him a hard time. In front of me there sat a working woman, fascinated by the candidate, with a 4-year-old kid on the shoulder, who was dozing on and off and whose head rolled left and right, like a ball, when his mother enthusiastically clapped in admiration. The whole meeting was somewhere in the city, on the other end of the world from my school.

  Saturday and Sunday I spent with Weizmanns. She had a cold and went to bed on Saturday, so Chaim, Benji and I went by ourselves to see White Horse Inn. Excellent performance, Chaim and I enjoyed it so much.

  Benji’s face, this 10-day-rain-weather’ face , is starting to slowly annoy me. The parents are very sweet with him, but it seems they do not understand him. Why is he always so grumpy, criticizes everything, has no enthusiasm about anything and sees everything in a negative light, I haven’t found out yet. Maybe I have a chance on Friday, when we go to Cambridge, which he wants to show me in Chaim’s car, after which we probably go to have breakfast with Heinemann, with whom I am chronically trying to arrange a meeting.

  I am sitting here awfully glam, with freshly washed hair in auntie Nina’s dress with a picture-beautiful red velvet jacket that Lola gave me and there is no one yet to enjoy such beauty. I will be picked up by Simon Marx in 15 min.

  It was heavenly at the Caledonian Market. I could not resist, unfortunately, and got Lola and Rudo a picture-perfect silver cream jug, for their 10th wedding anniversary, for 14 shillings. Montgelas said that even 40 shillings for it would have been a steal. The market is fabulously entertaining. You just cannot imagine what is being sold there, all this stuff. Something like Jewish Market in Amsterdam.

  Here there are many Jews as well and they speak all languages, many speak Yiddish. My article is already in print, although not published yet, I have not thought about a name for a second. Montgelas said it would be unpleasant for you. He said that 1) it is too late, 2) it would probably be only G.W. and he cannot imagine, like me, that father could get some problems because of that.

  Through that unfortunate evening at Ernest Frankiln’s I was invited to Laura’s and to Alise Berent’s as well. I have a bad conscience about Laura. I think I am getting old and I have already told you about my sloppiness with Laura. Alice B. will be visited by me at least this Thursday.

  I am really curious how the elections will come out, they are making bets here in the stock exchange, they are buying stock papers that are changing their value (course). Yesterday, for example, the course was 196. So it is like an auction, because eventually everything gradually rises. 196 means that so much majority is set for the Nat. Gov. and such a sum of pounds one then has to pay. If the majority is more than 196, one gets an additional pound for every additional voter, if it is less - then one loses one pound for every voter. Of course, I am playing this game along, 200 pounds is nothing for me!

  The Ludwig Kahn’s girl that came here on Friday for dinner, is an unstoppable waterfall. Her letters sounded like the letters of a flapper. First, she asked me if I like dancing and sports (that would be the most important thing, she said). I imagined myself a good-looking, lively girl - but instead, there came a real bluestocking, I was astonished and asked her who she came for. The tragic thing is that she still tries to look lively and easy-going despite her bluestocking nature. I would not have stood the evening without Betty, we literally breathed freely when she was gone.

• October 28, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  November [sic.] 28, 1931

  The letter is still not sent and you haven’t heard from me for a long time. I have to tell you volumes of news again!

  So, yesterday evening was fantastic. Our crowd consisted of Simon Marx (without his wife who had a gland removal surgery), Mr. and Mrs. Goodenday (Gutentag - this is what I am thinking!), Mr. and Mrs. Sieff and one more insignificant chap. In Savoy, there were no less than 2000 people. In the two big halls there stood 2 big screens on which, starting at 9:30, the results were appearing. The whole space was furnished with small tables where people ate and drank alcohol in plenty. Between them, there was an orchestra. I would never on Earth imagine that the Englishmen are capable of such emotional, inexhaustible enthusiasm. The whole event, of course, by the means of the Bank Conservative. At every victory (and there were no losses), the whole house bursted in applause and cheers. Despite knowing that the conservative victory would be very good for Germany, I was on the Labour’s side, I cannot help but siding with the weaker. But I only got to applaud twice, and for real victories, otherwise no change. Our table was a spectacle by itself and Mrs. Sieff belonged to the (absent) Labour people. They watched the people around them like shepherds watch the herd, controlling the cattle with a few watchwords, and they decided not to throw their political pearls before the swine, which they did not quite follow. Mr Sieff, already naturally pale (you know him, he was with Simon at Kosterberg, and his son is a real rascal that followed me in Palestine), would slowly turn bed-sheet-white, and his always sad wife would sink into a mood of desperation. Therefore they left early and I had to be there, father, for another abominable hour across from Simon - (I call him that, because he, already from the very first minute, started to call me “Giselle” and I don’t see why I should continue to call him Mr. Marx. This, by the way, is another victory of mine over someone over 50! I do not know anyone here otherwise, who DOES NOT call me by my first name, all friends and girlfriends of my roommates called my by my first name from the very first moment), who cheered on fairly blessed at first - but would slowly become less cheerful, because the majority grew too big for him. Goodenday was as happy as a king. Downstairs there was a dance floor, where people went from time to time when they got too hoarse from screaming or when they had a specially celebrated victory. Chaim, Vera and Benji were in the grill-room where we came over once for a short time, they went home early. The whole thing was an unforgettable sight and spectacle. At 2 o’clock we decided to go someplace else, to continue to enjoy ourselves, Goodenday (by the way, such a lovely man) objected because he was dead tired, but Simon shamed him as a fun spoiler and dragged him along. His wife grew very beautiful, but her face is doll-like in a typical English manner. I think I was the only girl without lipstick and I started to feel quite lonely, but Goodenday and Simon praised me for that. We went to “Cit-Cat” and from there to Barkeley, which was already closing. From there right away to “Bat,” so early I haven’t been there yet for breakfast. Fried eggs, bread and butter (4 o’clock in the morning). There were the elections results, too, but later than in Savoy. After that, I finally went home… I slept from 5:15 until 12:15 in the afternoon. In the afternoon, I went to Gunther with Trixi and had breakfast there, being invited by Auntie Anna with Marion - they wanted to have me over for this weekend, and I am fighting difficult fights, because I have hockey on Saturday afternoon, can go to a student ball in the evening, and Sunday evening dances at Sieff’s. But I think I will accept the invitation, because I have refused once already and if I don’t go this time, it would be ungrateful. Therefore, I will be back Sunday afternoon and will go to Sieff’s.

  In the afternoon I went shopping in London with Trixi, all the time dying from laughter, we ran the escalators in the wrong direction, noticed it only downstairs, and started to imagine Tantalus suffering as having to forever run down the escalators that go up, that made us laugh like crazy, we almost fell on the ground. I forgot my house keys, took too little money with me and my briefcase opened itself up on the bus and the contents flew out in the wind. She will write to you all about it, I am sure, in a more drastic way, but please do not think that it is always like that. After the class I came back to my locked and abandoned home without a single penny in my pocket and shook my poor head in despair. Finally I managed to unlock the kitchen window lock, stuck my head and hands in this gap, stood on a pipe and could step into the open window. These Chinese are really smart!

  I think tomorrow my girls will come back from Birmingham, I am very sad that Pat and Betty are leaving, we are such a happy marriage, all of us!

  Thousand thanks, mother, for your letter. Regarding the evening dress, I think I will be fine without it till Christmas - and then it is better to have one in the house. But it is a sweet thought! Anita and Erich, deep thanks for your letters! Erich, your Herr Kayser was here when I was not home, my girls said he is a very small chap who was desperately looking for Nr. 3, which was nowhere (I haven’t forgotten my address!) In any case, quite lucky that he found the way here at all, it is not so easy. I will write to him. For the election campaign he is a bit late, addressing me, and I would be a (misty) personality!

  Good Night,

  Keep loving me,

  Gisi

• November 4, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  Wednesday, November 4, 1931

  Thank you for your letter, mother. I can understand your mood and sincerely sympathize with you. If I were now home, I would surely wail together with you, which I almost did anyway, being so emotionally touched, hearing father’s voice on the phone yesterday. Suddenly I was devastated, and I wanted to call Lola to congratulate her for her 10th wedding anniversary, but Montgelas said that after 7 PM it will cost 7 shilling 9 pence for 3 minutes. Despite that father said I should not visit him in Southampton, I cannot deprive myself of this joy. It is not yet decided if Chaim is coming with me, but he would love to talk to father. Actually I was supposed to be at his place tonight, but Chaim had to speak with the new High Commissioner. Therefore I am peacefully home with Lucy. Early this morning and in the afternoon I was with your Kayser, Erich, and had plenty of chatting with him.

  England, war, Jews, golf and the world. We disagreed on everything, but we found each other very understandable. Tuesday and Thursday he is back in London, so I will see him again. I think he has a great resemblance to Primus Ben and looks like Hans Henning von Holtzendorff. Actually I was supposed to play field hockey today, but it rained. Just now I called Gertrud Hutz and am meeting her Tuesday at the LSE. She is staying here until February, has been staying with a family in Ramsdale for 7 weeks, is now staying with people she met there for 4 weeks, and then wants to go to some family. Maybe I can find someone for her. Monday she starts English stenography.

  I never told you about our Nelly. That's our scrubwoman. She is a poor little creature, 21 years-old, cross-eyed, the labor has run down her back. Her husband is unemployed and has tuberculosis. She has 2 small children. The husband gets 7 shillings 6 pence a week disability benefit, and she earns 6 pence with us, this is all they live on, how - the devil knows. I would love to talk to her, but Iunderstand literally nothing of her indescribable cockney. Lucy has had long talks with her. I want to try to get her children into the Home of Uncle Paul’s.

  Erich, when are you coming exactly. I am tickled to death to see you!

  Last night I went with Simon and Sachers and Laskis (a sister of his and her husband, he is the sub of my Laski at LSE) to a premiere of “Lady In Waiting.” I enjoyed it very much, well played, though sometimes so slow. Sacher next to me, who always puts everything down, found it unnecessary. Afterwards we ate in the Savoy Grill Room. Erich, Sacher will probably write you a letter soon and ask you about the fate of private property in inflation. Such a similar question bothered him and Marx said he should turn to Uncle Fritz, but I said you would be better. Yesterday at noon I had Eddy in the LSE and afterwards he showed me the law-courts. He had to leave soon, but I listened to a divorce case for over an hour. So funny to see the lawyers and the judge in their wigs! It was a cross-hearing of 2 maids and 2 doctors.

  I want to go to bed, my dears,

  Don't forget me,

  Gisi

• November 10, 1931 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  Tuesday, November 10, 1931

  Dearest Family,

  they say the devil will fly if the need is high, I have used up all my paper, now I have at least a moral justification to get more letter paper (that I have used up so lovingly) tomorrow.

  I haven’t written to you for a long time and I have a lot to tell you. Firstly, a thousand thanks for Maudi’s letter early today, I hope you straighten everything out. Do not take too much laxatives, but please be an angel and send me with Erich Normacol, I am afraid to eat anything, and Normacol is insanely expensive here. By the way, when is my “beloved son” coming? I will gather all the peaches (girls) for you, Erich, and they are tickled to death to meet you!

  For a week, we keep postponing our cocktail-party, because I say that I want you to be there. Now finally it has been relentlessly scheduled for next Tuesday, and we will have a special party for you.

  Many thanks for the two sweet letters from Anita, that would be nice if she could see Lucy  again. The letter from Jutta is also very nice, but I do not have time to answer her at all, I already have an awful lot to write.

  With my report, let me start backwards, because I am not sure when I wrote to you the last time, I am afraid, it is almost one week ago.

  Early this morning, I went with Kayser to the German Embassy and we saw the King’s Procession from Bernstoff’s balcony. A wonderfully beautiful sight, and a very good view from where we were. Montgelas has arranged it. Multiple ranks and uniforms were present, especially beautiful old uniforms and all kinds of decorations. Then I went home and worked with Lucy. Had lunch with Kayser. The whole afternoon was dedicated to my “unfinished” essay “People (unreadable)” and then I wrote to father. I went to Ernest Franklin's office and saw the Mayor’s show. Nothing to write home about, as they say, and yet I am doing it! It was a pity to see these beautiful uniforms spoiled by the rain. We had a class in the afternoon and in the evening - a company of (unreadable), 12 people altogether. The parents were disinvited, as it always is when she invites people over, we are so old-fashioned! Eddy and Marion were there also. In the wardrobe, Marion noticed promptly that I had a soot stain on my back (of the decollete of Aunt Nina’s dress). You know, right where no one can ever reach, unless one is an acrobat and where Anchen, I think, scratches from time to time. So Marion and I found a bathroom and Marion managed to straighten me out after very hard work. Anyway, my back was red afterwards, and we had to use a lot of powder, to make it look normal. I had to think about Tusch. It was actually fabulously boring. After the meal, everybody played bridge, there was an exciting game at my table, I won 29 shillings.

  Attention, we are now moving to Friday, because like I said, I am telling you backwards. Friday early morning I went to Southampton.

  […]

  ‘Besides, I was telling them all the time that I did not have breakfast yet. After a half hour, when I was enjoying Maudi’s poem, Anchen’s drawing of the night table and the orchids of Hoff’s, my attention was again directed at the Tender. There began a Tantalus torture - for 15 minutes I saw father smiling friendly 10 meters above me and yet I could not get out. Then father started to use sign language, I had no idea that he could do that. You might think, it is not very typical for our times… Finally father showed me into a corner and I went obediently until I bumped into Mr. Richter who said

  […]

  As I came home, Chaim called and said I should pack and come over, because we wanted to leave early the next morning and there are interesting people coming this evening. So I went immediately with 7 things. Mayor Walter Elliot, who is in the Cabinet, was there and Kerensky, the former Russian Premier Minister between the Tsar and Bolsheviks.

  Saturday morning, at 10, we started to Rugby with a nurse in the car. 3 hours drive. Michel has changed a lot since Palestine, I find him not so handsome. 80% of the time he was consuming food in great quantities. In the evening, we went to Stratford on Avon, one hour drive, Shakespeare’s hometown. A sweet lovely old town with a picture-beautiful and really clean Shakespeare Hotel where Charlie Chaplin had some tables.

  […]

  But they would never shine their shoes themselves! The whole study plan is, in my opinion, insane, the school does not prepare for the exams that everyone has to take after 1 or 10 terms. To prepare, one must study on the side by himself. All English schools offer a prize to pay for advertising of disarmament. There were very interesting ideas. Michel had an idea to build a cannon that would be smashed by a big hammer and a white dove would fly out of it as an ambassador of peace.

  During this tour I finally got closer with Vera, we had long talks about Benji. I feel so sorry for her. She worships her husband and the children and understands it

  […]

  In the afternoon, Gertrud Hulz is coming for lunch.

  […]

  Tonight I am at Laura’s, Friday at Sachers’.

  I will now work with Lucy on my English, every morning for 2 hours, after father told me that he is afraid, I am not studying enough and Eddy said yesterday that my English got worse. Very encouraging…

  I have to dress myself now. So, that was quite elaborate.

  Keep me loved,

  your Gisi

• November 18, 1931 (partial letter) | Gisela to her family

  November 18, 1931

  Dearest family,

  I do not know if you are already back home, in the meantime, but I would like to simply assume that yes.

  There has been a lot happening again. Firstly, I am sitting in Lucy and Bunty’s bedroom, because the whole house is already upside down preparing for the Bottle Party, which is supposed to start at 9. There will be approximately 25-30 people here. A very diverse crowd. Not only the friends of all of us that do not know each other, but also some people have arranged it with others, and can only come if they bring someone else with them. I invited Gertrud Hutz, the Hapag widow, Eddy, Nancy, Montgelas, one unknown German girl and one guy from the German Embassy and someone who he will bring with him. “Bottle party” is because everyone must bring a bottle. We contribute sandwiches and chocolate cookies. Montgelas will bring hot franks. Hopefully it will be nice!

  Now, unfortunately, I have to go for tea to the Parkland Hotel, where I am meeting with Mrs. Loeb, who Erich sent my way so kindly. Too bad if she is not nice. I gave up trying to reach Mrs. Henning.

  Last night we had Lempsen (my girls’ boss) and Montgelas for supper. Yesterday afternoon Mongelas took me (as a representative of Berliner Zeitung) to a marvelous gathering of journalists in the House Of Commons, after we picked up our tickets in the Foreign Office.
  
  […]

• November 19, 1931 (partially damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  November 19, 1931

  […]  joined in and he was a fantastic success. […] admired the house without limit, it would be so great to have you all here one day! Perhaps, you would all shiver from the cold, but actually one gets used to it very quickly. […] the greatest success was a huge inflated balloon […]

  There were 2 parties and people sat on the floor, one party against another, and each party's members were trying to catch this balloon and somehow kick it on the floor or on the wall of the opposite party.

  Gertrud, because she lives very far out and had to wake up early, slept at Montgelas’ flat. The widow was drinking too much, which made me quite angry. As they say “She was well fed,” but in English that was “just a bit tight” (as they say about being tipsy), and everybody was getting drunk. Eddy, for whom I had an impossible wish, as he is the only Kohn-Speyer, brought one tiny gramophone, to which we even danced from time to time.

  The party was over at 1 Am and after that we were cleaning up and washing the glasses that we borrowed from the “public house” (and they are coming to pick them up today at 10 AM).

  I bought all the accessories in my favorite Woolworth: water, napkins, paper (for a nice game where you write one word and pass it on, and the other writes a fitting word to it, etc. Woolworth is really a fantastic place, our towels are from there and lots of other things.

  The meeting with Mrs. Loeb was a big disaster, I went to Parkland instead of Barcley and waited 30 min in vain, went to Hyde Park Hotel, too. Now I am having lunch with Mr and Mrs Henning.

  […] early Nadin Hambourgh from […] came, she knows Brigitte Hahn and she is a Nancy’s client (and her father is a very famous pianist) - she brought me an insanely difficult book on economics that I could hardly read at all and asked me to (hihihi) translate it. I have not yet met any person who could translate a text on economics, do you know anyone, Erich?

  In the afternoon I washed and mended pajamas, pants, stockings, shirts, handkerchiefs. In the evening I went to Chaim, where Halpern also came. It was the first time he saw Chaim after the Congress - and it was a very awkward moment, since it was Halpern who gave Chaim the “death blow.” He asked me to watch over his daughter who is a student here in college and stays in a “hostel,” where she has to be home no later than 9 pm and leave at 10 AM. God knows how I can manage this, we will see over a few days.

  Saturday night I went to Chambers, they are nice, but boring, […]

  On Sunday, I was at Elsy Shaw’s that just came from Richmond in her auto and after that went to my place for tee. She is absolutely in love with our “castle.”

  Thursday and Friday were under the banner of the International Fair in the Student Movement - and both days I went to the class 2-4:30 PM and then worked as a Negro at the fair 6:30-9:30 PM. I met a lot of nice people and one girl invited me over for Sunday.

  Friday night there was an international gathering of students in a sort of a barrack, where there was one stage and people sitting on the floor. There were folk dances and an English choir, a student choir at which I was laughing from joy that I do not know anyone from that unpleasant looking collective. One Chinese singer was incessantly beating a small children's drum and singing atonal melodies. The Chinese also had a flute and a Chinese violin, also playing atonally. It was really like a suffering cat. One really good Spanish dancer, an Indian singer and in the end one South-American singer who sang jazz. He was really outstanding, he studies medicine and sings only as a hobby!

  One sweet little Japanese who sang a very short song, after which he, amidst stutter and comic effort, tried to explain what it was about. As everyone applauded, he said he can sing another one, but first he has to think how to translate it to English. Then he stood 5 minutes in total silence and finally had to sing the same song again. There were in this long program a bagpipe player and a Scottish dancer, too.

  Tonight I am going to the movies with Seiffs, Some movie premiere, I do not know the movie title.

  At noon - at Nadin Hamborough’s, afternoon a party at one friend of Pat’s place. At noon lunch with Mrs. Loeb, then to the House of Commons with Montgelas, and to tea at Halem’s. Saturday […] to Cambridge.

  […] to Eumertopulus to see one Chinese […] I did something unimaginable […]  Sunday […]  understood as last Saturday […]  so, first Franklin and then Eumertopulus were waiting for me in vain for 30 min.

  Sunday afternoon I went to this girl that invited me over at the International Fair. Evening was with Pat.

  Now I have to drop… I apologize for this letter with multiple interruptions.

  Yes, and loving you,

  your happy Gisi.

  Thank you, by the way, for your sweet letter!

  Not a bad a sequence… Thousand thanks for Maudi’s Murnauer letter and Anchen’s!

• November 21, 1931 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  November 21, 1931

  40 Wall St, New York

  Dear Gisi,

  Just a word to tell you that I am leaving here Wednesday on the “Albert Ballin.” I don't know if this letter will arrive in time to possibly meet me in Southhampton. I advise you, however, decide not to do it. It is a waste, although I fully understand that nothing is too expensive to see your father. But since you are coming to Hamburg at Christmas and this is only 14 days later, I am really only writing to you so that you will feel especially close to me at least on the day when the “Albert Ballin” is rocking in Southampton.

  I received your letter and was very happy about it. The family here, especially Aunt Nina and Aunt Frieda, were also very interested in your escapades there, Aunt Frieda especially with all that you wrote about Weizman, etc..

  I am very satisfied with the stay, only Uncle Paul is very worn out and wants to relax for a long time.

  Your father

• November 23, 1931 (damaged letter) | Gisela to Alice (Maudi) Warburg

  November 23, 1931

  Beloved paintbox [nickname for Maudi],

  As I returned from Cambridge yesterday, I found your letter in my mailbox. It made me sad that I made you worry or feel that we are “not friends” because of my not-writing to you. I can only apologize, of course, that I had too much to do and did not have time to write, but that, probably, won’t make you feel better. You will however find at home one letter from last week. I do not know how long you are staying at Murnan, you did not write to me anything about that.

  I feel happy for you that you are spending such marvelous days in Murnan and that the 7 snake-headed […] will be somewhat relieved through your verbal efforts.

  So, Maudi, now I will try to repair everything and tell you everything, so you can experience it all together with me again.

  Yesterday afternoon I finally went to […] It is really a huge fantastic collection that one cannot even grasp all at once. Some of his objects have been to Berlin, to the East-Asian exhibit.

  There were many people, besides my

  […]

   mesmerized by every object, and looked at every piece with fascination “Isn’t it beautiful”

  […]
  
  watched me with affection.

  I went for tea to this girl that I met at the International Fair - she lives in a 2-room apartment, cold and primitive in the modern style. You would not imagine how many people here live together like us, maybe because their families live in the country, or they want to be independent, even if their parents also live in London.

  […]

  at Reynolds, the aid that I met at Montgelas and through whom I found Lucy and Bunty. There was also Pat (the actress), her brother and one more girl friend of theirs.

  Very cozy. These girls went together to Oxford - but they completely accepted me as their own, it is awfully nice of them! Pat is going to play a polar bear in one Christmas fairy tale and she practiced so much “jigsaw puzzle” that she turned blue all over.

  Saturday morning we went to Cambridge with Eddy and George Stevens (the Menjou- guy who was in Koesterberg last summer) in George’s car and had breakfast at Stephen Heinemann’s in his marvelous smart “dig” (student flat) - with a grand piano, gramophone and radio! He was awfully nice and showed us around all the colleges in Cambridge. You would not even think what […] atmosphere this town has […] ancient buildings, luxurious monasteries […] peace, […] yards that are made around

  […] students find peaceful sleep and comfort […]

  The dining halls are exactly like […] in the past

  There is an astonishing difference between […] public school and these colleges

  It was especially exciting for me to see a rugby match for the first time.

  The most […] chapel that I have ever seen is Kings’ Chapel. It stands there unchanged since the 15th century! Every college has its own chapel, but this one is by far the most beautiful. The colleges are not big enough to accommodate all the students, the “digs” have the same house rules as the colleges. In the evening, we went to the “Festival theatre.” It is the most modern English theater, in architecture, atmosphere and stage-directing. We saw Alcestis by Euripides.

  The prompts are being prepared right in front of the audience, without a curtain, this is this theater’s specialty. I think it is a chic idea. The whole set consisted of a big staircase and 2 cubist rocks on every side.

  The stage was lit from the front the whole time. The performance was […]

  The Greeks give […] meaning to psychology. None or nearly no emotionality.

  After that, we searched for […] in Eddy’s […] these are the young […]

  in a small Hotel, where we all had breakfast the next morning. George Stevens invited his brother who is a student in Cambridge. Started the way back to London at 11 AM. One heavenly weekend!

  Next - I will be going to Oxford with my girls.

  Friday at noon I had lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Loeb and Mrs. Henning. I think Peter Loeb (I think it is a woman) is extremely beautiful and lovely. Regarding Mrs. Henning, I saw her only too briefly, to form any opinion about her. She departed already on Saturday, because she was missing her kids too much.

  I accompanied Peter Loeb to her tailor and she also visited my flat which she found fascinating. After that I went to the House of Lords with Montgelas and saw the Inact meeting of the Law. Out of 751 Pears only 9 were there, generally there are never more than 36 there - and the Law writer in his special robe and a wig is reading the Laws out loud to them. After that, the King has to ratify it, but he usually delegates this task to a commission of 3 Pears, who, in old French (and it is the same since Wilhelm the Conqueror) ratify the Law by saying Le Roi Le Veult!

  I went for tea to Frau Von Halem, and there were no less than 2 Hamburg lads there!

  […] Newman, whom I will initiate into […] tomorrow. He was fascinated by […] and what I told him about it. He has been sitting in the […] for some weeks now, has […] Conversations class a day and […] with Germans.

  (I think she discusses the possibilities for this person to learn German in Hamburg by finding good German contacts, with Erich’ help)

  I was happy to be with Germans for a change. At 6 PM I went to one of the parties that are so popular here. One can dress as one wants, some dress in evening attire, and from there straight into a theater - some dress casual in their office clothes. Normally one does not even take the coat off, just stands outside with the drink, as long or as short as one wants. The one I went to was at one of my girls’ friend’s. Very nice crowd.

  After that, Lucy, Bunty, 3 boys and I went to Gargoyle - a nightclub. Crazy nice evening. I even found a ping-pong table which made me totally happy.

  On Tuesday - class and a cocktail party at one of Pat’s friends’. 2 tiny rooms stuffed with 35 people.

  […] with Nadin Hamburg, I wrote about her last time. She put on some amazing gramophone records from her father and we fished a little from the bridge.

  […] Wednesday evening I was at […] theater with Seiffs, their son and Sachers. It was called Little Catherine, a historic […] about Catherine the Great in Russia. Very good performance. Quite a controversial piece, it is remarkable that it passed English censorship. After that, we ate at Berkeley and danced. Amazing orchestra. I love Berkeley, but I am surprised that it is Erich’s hotel of choice, because it is notorious for being super smart and extremely expensive.

  There is not much to say about mornings here, we usually have breakfast or wake up at 8:30 AM, whoever cooks breakfast has to get up at 8, we take turns. We usually eat in our pajamas. After that, I tidy up, make the bed, take a shower or bath, vacuum and dust - and study English. And so it is almost every day the same.

  […] hospital […] Christmas, my things […] somewhat suffering […] In this town it is really […]
  
  […] was a very peaceful day. Gertrud […] and studies English stenography.

  […]
  
  Don’t forget me, and forgive me,

  your unheard of happy

  daughter.

• November 24, 1931 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her parents

  Tuesday, November 24, 1931

  Dearest Tusch,

  Although I have written to you yesterday, I have to thank you for your sweet letter from Sunday. After Murnauer, I did not dare hoping for a second letter and was already preparing myself for a long week until next weekend.

  It is really too unfortunate with our Annele. I hope she is feeling totally alright again, by the time you will get this letter, and I hope Maudi can caress her in motherly warmth. I felt a great temptation to give you a phone call right away, but tonight I am going to Carl Goldschmidt, and before 7 PM it costs […] for 3 minutes of a call to Hamburg, and so my “reason” won over my “desire.”

  Regarding my coming home, I am afraid, father, it is yet too early for me. I would like to depart from here on the 20th or 21st, and come back on the 2nd or 3rd. I think LSE will start later than that, but I will have time to visit the museums and do some good sight-seeing. Besides, I would not like to get out of my English surroundings. Time is money and has to be spent responsibly. I am thinking, actually, if coming home for Christmas is not a waste of time. You know how much I would like to come, though, so think about it in quiet…

  My offer to bring Nancy with me seems to evoke no enthusiasm in you… I know, if I would stand in front of you in person, you would say “We will see.” I leave it up to you all.

  Right now, I was on the phone with Chaim and he said that Anchen feels better! Wonderful!

  I have to go for tea to Laura in 30 minutes. She is having a “jour” and gave me 2 days, but it was impossible for me to show up on both days.

  Tons of love to you all, please tell Dach that I simply have no time to write separately, so she is included in my letters to family!

  Gisi

• November 27, 1931 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  November 27, 1931

  Dearest family, you guys keep me on a meager diet with letters. Maudi is innocent though, because there has not been a Sunday that she did not write to me, and I will not engage in a futile hope to expect something twice a week. I got one letter from Erich, which smelled strongly of business and dispatch, like some other unpleasant letters. Anita is completely shrouded in silence, which I don’t love!

  Right now I am facing a difficult question, whether to go to Southampton again or not. I could use my money for the trip. I will make it depend on what day it is and whether I have a conflict with one of my classes.

  Last night Sachers and I went to see one brilliant piece: The Good Companions. However it was not easy to understand, because they speak fantastic Yorkshire dialect, but since they were speaking slowly, I managed it. Accidentally, Peter Loch and Maun were sitting behind me. I will see them today in the afternoon again, they will depart tomorrow.

  After that we went to a Welfare Ball in the house of Lady Early, the daughter of von Melchett. Nothing too exciting. To keep loyalty to my course of the year, my main dance partners were Papa Sieff and Kisch, who, by the way, sends warm greetings to Anchen. Michel Sieff was not so cheerful, he was suffering from indigestion. Indigestion is THE topic of all conversations… You cannot imagine how often young cavaliers in any circle have been telling me about their indigestion. People really define themselves in every society by their digestion problems!

  At noon I was looking […] with one painter whom I met at one cocktail party Poor lad!

  […]

  Afternoon I had a class and then ping-pong, I joined a ping-pong group at the LSE. There are some damn good players there, unfortunately […] so one never can say it in one sentence […]  and I cannot get in.

  In the morning I brought Vera to the station, […] to Berlin, and […] in Lichtwitz. Something in their […] is not quite right, and I don’t know what it is.

  After that, I cut and washed my hair, because I could almost make a braid already, and Maudi would not like that at all. Last night I had a dream that I wanted to go to a hairdresser, and you, for some mysterious reasons, were against it. To my great worry, I dreamed in German, I think it is because I always have dreams about you guys, and it would be surely strange if all of a sudden you would all start speaking English.

  Wednesday evening I ate at Laura’s and after that went to the Anglo-Palestine club, where Kisch was speaking. A very nice speech, but I still cannot stand the man, his wife is much nicer. I was very […] one phone call that he […] led to Kisch, did not understand at all.

  […] also spoke after Kisch, but I could not understand it all, it was very noisy […]

  The evening was at […] for the first time, there was a couple […] that know you, Erich and another married couple of actors. He is so completely a mix of […] and Otto G. One nice young lad […] Went for tea to Laura […], in the afternoon Newman […] and then had a meal with him. A boring boy.

  In the afternoon I am going to Chaim, for a few moments, then to Loeb and in the evening to Wredes, where I invited Gertrud with me. Because Barbara (our fourth girl in our flat) has already left for the weekend, Gertrud will stay with us overnight. Maybe we will go for a quickie to Martens, after Wredes.

  Even if you use all your fantasy, you cannot possibly imagine the power of the movement “Buy British.” There is simply no one who would buy anything foreign. Even if you go to a fruit shop, you see housewives asking 3 times if the apples are English, even if they have to pay 3 times more. The same with eggs, my girls won’t move to buy eggs that are not British, even if they are twice cheaper. Not a soul would even dream of going to Switzerland this winter. The English spend most of their money in Christmas Welfare markets. A horrific revelation.

  Enough babbling, don’t forget your

  Best One!

• November 29, 1931 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  Sunday, November 29, 1931

  My beloved child,

  This week you have most pleasantly warmed my loneliness with your dear letters. I was only in Wannsee for one day to see my Annchen. Lola and Rudo took the best and most touching care of her. After all she has been through, I found her very well and fortunately with a huge appetite. She is only asked to stay in bed once in a while out of caution. Today the doctor is coming again and will then decide whether she may stay up this week. To relieve Lola she has a nurse and strangely enough the same one, Frieda, who took care of Uncle Aby in his first time in Kreuzlingen. Of course I wish Annchen could already be here for father's reception.

  You have to come here for Christmas - don't even doubt it. First of all we have to see you, secondly I wish you for Annchen and thirdly you and your things have to be taken care of again at home. Even a machine that runs so overheated needs it from time to time.

  I also found the Loebs very nice, the man has a delicious sense of humor.

  Vera Weizmann had arrived in the morning when I was in Berlin. Lola of course already in the morning to the train, brought to the clinic, picked me up, in the afternoon back to the clinic. She has already lost some weight due to the excitement with Annchen. But I was pleased to see that she ate better at lunchtime than she had in years. Since Rudoens are going to London at the end of this week - Rudo has business - let me know ASAP if you want them to bring anything.

  I have so many things to do and invitations that I am quite busy until father's arrival. Last night with the Countess Rödern at the Hansa Theater I let myself to be treated. It has been a long time since laughed so heartily.

  For the good father's sake, I would have wished that the circumstances had become better in the meantime! Now comes the speech of [illegible]! The stock exchange has of course reacted in the most nervous way.

  It seems as if father's philosophical view of the world has had a beneficial effect on Uncle Paul. He is back in New York. I had letters from Father from White Sulphur Springs. Brinckmann will not be back until just before Christmas.

  Erich is playing field hockey. He is so busy all week that he can't quite get himself together. When he's not sleeping, he's on the phone - a strange way to catch his breath.

  Don't forget Renate's birthday on the 5th. They came from a master conference by car from Hanover, had fog, could only drive 20 kilometers and were not in Berlin until 8 o'clock in the morning.

  Now I want to go with Erich - he is just coming into the room - next door to a Simplicissimus exhibition, which is supposed to be excellent.

  Have a nice Sunday - wherever you may be - and a thousand warm kisses

  Your Maudi

• December 13, 1931 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  Sunday, 13. 12. 31

  My beloved child,

  So now comes my Sunday trip to you. Gray, wet, dark sky, but the fireplace burns warm and bright and the world outside is none of our business.

  My Annchen is much better. She doesn't feel her heart anymore - this for Lola - the examination also showed that the blood composition is normal again and she gained about 4 kilos in one week. The spirits and desires awake stormily.

  Yesterday we listened to the premiere of the Christmas fairy tale (by Salomon) - afternoon performance, very charming, funny music. At table we were with Professor Poll & Frau - 12 persons - while Annchen had a tête à tête with Rueppli at our table and then went to Salomon's homage celebration with him in Feldbrunnenstr. For breakfast Aby S. was here with daughter Olga and Lilly M.. That was decidedly the most fashionable day of the week. Once also with father & Erich to table in the Rotariclub where Prof. Ratogen[?] spoke about his journey in Arabia.

  Tonight the family plus Miss Gordon and Paul Ruben are here. People are so happy when you ask them for a spoonful of warm soup. There is a war mood again.

  Father has to go to Berlin again tomorrow for three days. Uncle Paul's breakdown worries him a lot. I had detailed news from Aunt Nina and today from Frieda. The absolute quiet will calm the nervous system, but one must be patient.

  In the house, happily, all the people are back from their vacations and business is back to normal. I have done some painting, energetic Italian work and feeling like a schoolchild.

  By the time you come, the Christmas shenanigans must be done. I do very little this year.

  Did I tell you that we heard Brüning's speech here on the radio? His diction is not ravishing, but the deep holy seriousness has a strong effect. The news from home and abroad prove that. It is a pity that you did not act as interpreter - that would have been a lux.

  The whole house is looking forward to seeing you,

  kissing you and Rudole,

  your Maudi

• December 1 and 2, 1931 | Gisela to her family

  December 1 & 2, 1931

  Beloved family,

  Again, the days have passed since I wrote to you last time. Ah, and tears are running down my face as I am telling you that I lost my fountain pen and my gold crayon. You cannot even imagine what tragedy it is. Anyway, now writing is a real struggle and a painful reminiscence.

  I do not know what you are doing by now. As far as I know, Annele should be still in bed with the flu, my compassionate thoughts are revolving around her all day. But Lola is surely a real Angel that fulfills all unspoken wishes and relieves all pain. I do not know if mother is still in Berlin, I will probably find out from her Sunday letter that is supposed to arrive today. Father will be in Southampton on Thursday. I will write him a letter to the ship board, but I won’t go myself. Aunt Anna has been scheduled to visit our flat for a very long time, and I see it as a God’s sign to not go.

  With my chronological report I better go backwards again.

  Of course, my letter was interrupted. In the meantime, Maudi’s elaborate Sunday letter has arrived, and I will try to answer it in the same elaborate way.

  Yesterday, Tuesday, I had the 11 AM class, played ping pong and went to Alice’s club “English-speaking Union,” where we had lunch together with Goldschmidt’s daughter. Then I went with her to Fortnam and Mason, I don’t know if you know the mall. It is the most beautiful and most expensive English mall. Sweaters and shoes are simply too irresistibly looking. They had a sale, and the things were so “cheap,” discount on shoes from 77 to 48 shillings (haha), I fell in love but remained steadfast, but I could imagine that if I were with Lola, I would get weak. Besides, I am now sooo cheap! One pound is now 13 Deutsche Mark!

  At 4 PM I went for tea to the LSE, after that I visited a Zionist meeting of the LSE students. It was insanely weird. Approximately 25 people, some Palestinians among them, who were asked to contribute each 6 pence towards the founding of the union. Then there was a reading of a totally meaningless “constitution,” heaven knows why it was on the table at all, and after that there was a question if there are any objections to this constitution. As there was no answer, they read every single paragraph of this constitution again. One paragraph read: the union must have at least one meeting per term! Then there came a shy question from the audience, what will happen with the sixpence. Finally there came a branch of pearls from a young Rabbi, from Franklin liberal synagogue, who delivered a very good speech about Zionism, Judaism and socialism and proved how well these three things fit together. Actually most Jewish students are communists and cannot unite this ideology with Zionism, which really showed in their poorly arranged discussion, which was like limp wagging of short tails.

  After that I went home, where Lucy and Bunty were going to host a cocktail-party, changed clothes, went to Chaim, there were Ernest Schiff (and wife) and Kisch (and wife). Then - to Montgelas, where Erik Charell and Lea Seide (the starring actors in the White Rose) arranged a party, where there were also Berustoff (?) and Halems (?) - and Berustoff presented them 3 Hamburg Blooms: 1) Putz Von Schroeder, 2) Maut, whose wife’s maiden name is Merck and 3) last but not least, among these selected few, your sweet angel!

  He also asked Lucy. It was quite nice, nothing very exciting, despite that he made a great effort, he invited a Tirol band, put out franks with mustard and beer, but unfortunately, that did not change anything. I had a “heartfelt” eye-to-eye talk with Charell, who is very similar to Marle, but has that decadent Viennese “blasé” about him. Lea Seide, a really affectionate, educated, tired creature, showed up to our eye-to-eye talk, but I left her alone as she went into stage-applause.

  Monday morning I was working in the house like a slave, because Nancy (the maid) could only stay for a short time, her husband was very sick because of the tremendous fog. In the afternoon I was at LSE, evening spent alone, very cozy at Chaim’s. He was explaining to me his work in chemistry that he took again this week. There can be no talk about a discovery, or an invention of explosives, TNT, that one always connects with his name. He simply discovered synthetic acetone that can prevent spontaneous combustion of explosives. I am very happy about it, because the idea of (cannot read the word) was always a splitter in my eye.

  Imagine, I got a ticket for dinner at 7, in Grosvernor House in Dorchester Hotel, where all the celebrities will appear, and the speeches of Reading, Amery, Baldwin and Chaim will be broadcasted to America, the price is 2 guineas! Thank God, I got a comp ticket from Chaim, but I think it is not fair towards good poor Zionists.

  On Saturday, I went to Oxford, with Lucy, Bunty and one friend of theirs, riding in Lucy’s old Essex car. We planned to go back the same evening, but shortly before Oxford, our car started making strange noises which got weirder and weirder as we were coming closer to Oxford. So we brought the car to the auto workshop over there and they told us that they need time till Monday night, to finish the repairs. Strangely enough, Lucy and Bunty knew a bunch of friends who by accident were also there this weekend, who they went to school with. So through one of these friends, we got a room in one of the Youngsters’ digs, a single room where they brought a second bed in. So Lucy and Bunty slept in one bed, we did not want to go to a hotel, that would have been too expensive. Bunty’s brother and sister study in Oxford. The sister is a noun. She is in one catholic college, where Lucy and Bunty also went. But it must be super hard for her, because for a student there are 3 times more temptations than in a monastery, and she cannot participate in anything. In the afternoon we went to a cocktail party in one friend’s dig and in the evening - to one lovely venue outside of Oxford. 18 people and 3 cars - in a fairy-tale-like fog. Sunday morning, for 2.5 hours, we were visiting all sight-seeing attractions in all 12 colleges, with one friend of Bunty, it was unbearably cold amidst horrible fog. And at 1 pm I had to take a train back, because I was meeting with Stephen Heinemann at 3 PM, to go to the concert of Yehudi Menuhin.

  The train was 45 min late because of the fog, so poor Stephen had to wait for me all this time, in the icy cold, in front of the Albert Hall, and we missed the most part of the Kreutzer Sonata. After that he played too many virtuoso pieces, technically perfect, but musically not to my taste. In the meantime, he grew up and wears long pants. I did not go backstage to see him, as I initially wanted - I am sure there were too many fangirls already to greet him, and I can live fine without having talked to him.

  In the evening Bunty returned in her car with the friends, after a 5-hour (instead of 2) drive. Lucy returns on Tuesday. I went to bed early.

  Friday morning I was home, slept and woke up only because of the postman at 4:30. At 4:30 I already had to be at Chaim, for tea. Because of that, I was also late for a cocktail at Loebs’ in Berkeley, where he was already in pajamas, preparing for some sleep. So we had a pajama conversation. In the evening, I went to Wredes with Gertrud. A very nice crowd, among others Anton Bon, who snatched 5 shillings from me, cheating in bridge.

  After that we wanted to go to Marxens, but got out only at 12:15. I was silly enough to let myself be persuaded by Gertrud and telephoned from the next telephone booth if I still should come over - and woke Marxens from their deep sleep.

  I am sitting here in my training outfit, so I am not freezing, and have to change clothes now, because I am going out to eat with Hadassah Samuel and we will go to the Parliament.

  I don’t want to be sent anything to bring with you, Tusch. Thousand thanks! I am looking forward to seeing Lola tremendously, and last but not least, I am looking forward to Christmas!

  Deeply,

  your Best One

  (please do not think that I am into too many things, when you read my report about such colorful week! This week I have no plans and will go to bed early!)

• December 3, 1931 | Gisela to Max Warburg

  Beloved father,

  My prudence has no limits and, after long contemplation and great temptation, I decided to not come to Southampton this time, because I will see you very soon anyway. My plan is to leave from here as late as possible - that would be 20th or 21st of December - and to come back as early as possible, that would be January 3.

  I just do not want to lose time, and I can learn and see a lot here, even before the beginning of the semester. In case you think that Christmas leave is a time waste altogether, I am ready to just stay here over Christmas. You know how happy I would be seeing you, you have to observe all considerations in quiet, what you feel is the right thing to do.

  I would like, if it is ok with you, to stay here at least till June. I think I need at leas that much time to learn English in a decent way. But that I can discuss with you.

  Since you left, I got much “cheaper,” and got down in my expenses to 13 Mark.

  Lola will arrive here on Sunday, with Rudo, for one week, you can imagine how glad I am!

  Perhaps it would make no sense to tell you all about what I have experienced in the meantime. In case you have awfully lots of time and energy, mother can read you all my family-letters, otherwise I will soon tell you real lots in person.

  Lady Samuel and her daughter-in-law (who was with us in Palestine) took me to a very interesting Indian debate in the House Of Commons, she told me how you flirted with her and that she still has your box with paint on which is written “I am thinking of you” (in French). Yes, I would like it, to flirt with you myself.

  Now I have to excuse myself, with my deep daughter's love, I hope you will read these lines in Southampton - they should prove my love to you.

  Ever and ever,

  Your Best One

• December 13, 1931 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  Sunday, 13. 12. 31

  My beloved child,

  So now comes my Sunday trip to you. Gray, wet, dark sky, but the fireplace burns warm and bright and the world outside is none of our business.

  My Annchen is much better. She doesn't feel her heart anymore - this for Lola - the examination also showed that the blood composition is normal again and she gained about 4 kilos in one week. The spirits and desires awake stormily.

  Yesterday we listened to the premiere of the Christmas fairy tale (by Salomon) - afternoon performance, very charming, funny music. At table we were with Professor Poll & Frau - 12 persons - while Annchen had a tête à tête with Rueppli at our table and then went to Salomon's homage celebration with him in Feldbrunnenstr. For breakfast Aby S. was here with daughter Olga and Lilly M.. That was decidedly the most fashionable day of the week. Once also with father & Erich to table in the Rotariclub where Prof. Ratogen[?] spoke about his journey in Arabia.

  Tonight the family plus Miss Gordon and Paul Ruben are here. People are so happy when you ask them for a spoonful of warm soup. There is a war mood again.

  Father has to go to Berlin again tomorrow for three days. Uncle Paul's breakdown worries him a lot. I had detailed news from Aunt Nina and today from Frieda. The absolute quiet will calm the nervous system, but one must be patient.

  In the house, happily, all the people are back from their vacations and business is back to normal. I have done some painting, energetic Italian work and feeling like a schoolchild.

  By the time you come, the Christmas shenanigans must be done. I do very little this year.

  Did I tell you that we heard Brüning's speech here on the radio? His diction is not ravishing, but the deep holy seriousness has a strong effect. The news from home and abroad prove that. It is a pity that you did not act as interpreter - that would have been a lux.

  The whole house is looking forward to seeing you,

  kissing you and Rudole,

  your Maudi

• Undated (December 1931) | Gisela to her family

  Dearest family,

  Firstly, a thousand thanks for father’s card and mother’s letter. I am afraid I need money again. Can you send me 5 pounds as soon as possible?

  Many thanks, Erich, for Stalin's newspaper. It is strange that you sent it to me. Montgelas has distributed it here a few weeks ago, and we gave it to the Commander Locker-Lampson (she misspells his name) (the Girls’ Boss), who is the leader of the Blue Shirts here, The Sentinels of the Empire (= a paramilitary organization, dedicated to fighting “bolshevism”) and an archenemy of communists.

  We had beautiful active days. Early Sunday morning I picked up Vera and Rudolas from the station, they were pale and exhausted from unstoppable vomiting. Poor Rudo was so affected that he had a blackout and fell down. Now he is limping, like Frederick The Great, with an impressive cane, but it is already much better. Next to Brown’s hotel, where they went right to bed and I was unpacking. Then I left them sleeping and went shopping for our lunch together, bought rollmops and franks.

  Lola finds our house fascinating, but she also thinks that Maudi would not have been so fascinated, because of our unremovable dirt and dust.

  Sunday evening I went to Buffy Dugdale, Lord Balfour’s niece, where there were some interesting people, (Leo) Amery and Walter Elhof among them. One very interesting dialog between Amery and Chaim, in which Chaim, in a soft tactful way, instructed Amery what he will have to say in his speech next evening. The house was fantastically abominable, full with very English crap. Mr. Dugdale, who, contrary to her, never goes out, and of whom she, it seems, has little use, still suffers from a concussion that he has gotten in the war. On his pale face with winking eyes, he carries an expression of being shattered and shocked. Generally speaking, I am stunned at how many war-disabled one finds here. Legs or arms amputated are yet rare in our circles, but in every family someone was killed in this war.

  Monday morning I went shopping with Lola. Unfortunately, for the first time I surrendered too much, but for that my auntie will bring me surprises from the Angelland! Then Lola and I had lunch in one very sweet small cafe on Conduit Street, Afternoon - my class. In the evening, there was a big Gala-night, which went unbelievably well. 600 people gathered in Grosvernor House, and many could not even get any tickets anymore. At the long table sat the guests of honor. I am attaching the program. Our table, as you can see from the plan that I am sending you, was located marvelously. It started with lighting up the Chanukah candles, which the Chief Rabbi made very inspiring and beautiful. Men were given small paper kippas, to put on their heads, which was a great idea but a very weird sight. After that, good and not too long dinner, and I committed a faux-pas: my neighbor was Lyton, son of the architect von Relhi who built the house for Vera and Chaim and who is your married nephew. For 30 minutes I was persuading Lyton to drink the wine from Palestine, and was telling him that I don’t drink alcohol but this time this wine is irresistible. After that, I learned that he is such a heavy drinker that he already had alcohol-delirium episodes and had to be sent to an institution for recovery, so if he drinks another drop of alcohol, he will die instantly!

  The first speech was by Lord Reading. The flattering rhetoric towards Chaim was almost unbearably thickly flattering.

  After him, as expected, Thomas - this man elevated himself through hard work from being a simple locomotive stocker and he still struggles with the language, he is sitting where nobody belongs, and he lets them fail where they are. I think no other language than English makes it so clear whether the one who speaks is educated or not.

  The contents of his speech were really clear, warm and lovely.

  The third speaker was Leo Amery, the little man, one says about him that he would be a Prime Minister, if he were one head taller. He spoke about everything what Chaim told him to speak about, but he was lacking Thomas’ enthralling momentum.

  After him, Chaim, whose voice was hoarse from excitement, but he was as reserved and beautiful as always. These 4 speeches will be radio-broadcasted in Great Britain, America and South Africa.

  Then Elliot was speaking, very well and witty, how he compared Jews to Scotts, referring to Reading’s speech. After him - Sokolow, a deadly boring, densely constructed speech which he read from paper. Everybody was mad that he showed up at all. Then Lady Erleigh spoke, the daughter-in-law of Reading, Melchett’s daughter, who made the whole table, with a lot of effort and skill, with great success, really good-looking. That is, an ugly looking woman, had real charm in speaking, even if I thought it was disgusting that she read out loud the amount of money that was raised, with the names of the contributors! The last one was Simon Marks, who said, in a very charming way, that it was forbidden to him to swear tonight and that he would never want it anyway. In the end - Hatikwah and God Save The King (the atheists sing “God Shave The King '', by the way). During the meal, by the way, a toast for the King, Queen and Prince of Wales, by one charmingly comical man in the red tails, who also was concluding all speeches with a blow of a wooden hammer and led the choir to sing “He is a Jolly Good Fellow” for Chaim and Reading.

  After the gala, Chaim, Rudolas Manur and I went to Marxens, where all the servants were already in bed - so Lola and I, in the Kitchen and the dining room were trying to prepare something to eat for the hungry speakers, because poor Mirjam did not know where what was. In this house I feel an atmosphere of wealth, too much money and they do not know what to do with all this money, although the men are really good people.

  On Tuesday noon Marxens invited me to the Embassy Club. At 2 PM Stephen Heinemann picked me up from there, together with a friend, to go to a rugged game between Oxford and Cambridge. We caught the last 15 exciting minutes, such was a long drive to the stadium. Then - back to Marks and Spencer, where Lola and I had to pick up Simon, so he could give us a tour in his shop on Oxford Street. First he took us to his Bureau on Baker Street where he has all models and where I, as a model, tried all his various gowns on. He, in his turn, made up a really decent Turkish screen to protect my privacy, while I was changing clothes. Then Lola got too tired to go to the shop on Oxford Street, so I rolled towards home with my young lad, where we started to prepare everything for the Cocktail Party. I was tempted to invite some people to go to the theater, but they were all busy, and as I wanted Lola to meet them all, I invited them to a cocktail party.

  Rudo made us supper and finally we went to the theater, around 8 PM: For The Love Of Mike - and then to Savoy dancing. Unfortunately, we could not enjoy the play, because the drunken Rugger game student crowds flooded the hall - and to every sentence from the stage were making loud comments which were not clever at all and made me red hot from anger.

  Wednesday - lunch with Montgelas, whom I like more and more, the more I am seeing him. I believe we were very, very unfair to him and now I have a very high opinion about him.

  Afternoon - LSE, where I met Gertrud and Schumacher (he was our volunteer) for tea, and evening - at Marxens’.

  Yesterday I had lunch at Savoy, with Marion and Hans Seligman (he and Peter Hahn were there, too - that evening in Savoy), and suddenly Kern appeared as well. Afternoon - LSE, in the evening Lola and I cooked here and then went to Cavalcade with Montgelas and Rudo. This is THE success of the year, sold out until the end of January, we got our tickets by chance from Mirjam Marks - and you cannot imagine, what kind of cheesy sentimentality this misfit is. A short summary of the last 30 years. I have to tell you all about it in person.

  Today I went to Caledonian Market. Afternoon - to Carlton with Weizmanns. In the evening, I went to Weizmanns for dinner. I had a good afternoon nap. Now it is 6:45 and I have to be at Lola’s at 7, all dressed up. Mother, I will never follow your advice to dress up relaxed and in quiet…

  So, I am finishing up, my dears, soon I will be able to tell you everything in person. Be hugged by your child!

• Undated (November or December 1931) (partial letter) | Gisela to her parents

  Monday and Tuesday

  Dearest parents,

  I just brought Lola to the train station, it was a very nice week, spent with Lola and with some available helpers. Last time I wrote to you Friday afternoon. The same evening, we were at Chaim’s, with Marxens, Lytons and one Russian. They engaged in a highly philosophical discourse that was very wisely moderated by Robert Lyton, but he had a very negative criticism that Miriam Marx tried to confront in a quite naive way. The question was, if a genius is born when the times need him - and if such genius must be recognized in his lifetime.

  Friday morning there were preparations for an afternoon-dinner in our flat, where Weizmann’s Marxens, Hadassa Samuel, Eddy K-s and Lola were to be present, but Vera had severe cramps in the morning, so she and Chaim had to cancel, and because Hadassa thought that they were coming together, they cancelled as well. Therefore, only 5 people showed up, but it was a great success. Viennese schnitzel, cauliflower with Polonaise sauce, potato croquettes, fruit salad and cheese plate. Lola and I had no idea how to make a schnitzel and sauce Polonaise, but we just made it all up, and it came out great. After it was over, there was not a single piece of our work left unused and the kitchen was in indescribable condition. Unfortunately, there was also a party planned for Saturday, which meant that I, because Nelly is not here on Sunday, have to wash everything on Saturday (after the theater) for the next morning breakfast, and wash everything on Sunday after breakfast.

  But it was worth it, I think Simon and Miriam enjoyed it. I was wearing my dress from Marks and Spencer, adorned with my blue sachet and necklace - and Miriam could not believe that this was a Marks and Spencer dress, and Simon was fascinated too.

  Right after the party, we saw a visiting show, where the “father’s sins” made up a huge percentage. Laura dear, Samuel’s Alice Berendt, and each time the door slammed behind us, we sighed “Thank God, it is not our mother.”

  After that - Schiffs, Gershoons, and Weizmanns, where Lola was consoling weeping and distressed Vera. Dimming the lights did not help, belladonna did not help and there is really no treatment. So she convinced Lola to come with her to Berlin, but in the meantime she changed her mind for Paris, where she finally went early this morning, there is her sister and she feels at home there, in case she needs long-term treatment.

  In the evening, Peter Hahn, Rudolas and I went to Barretts to see a piece about Elisabeth and Robert Browning. The piece is very sentimental and the characters are a bit weak, but honestly played, and Lola and I gave a lot of work to our tear-glands.

  […]

  in reality, to see that on screen.

  Monday morning, I went shopping with Lola. She said she will bring me her blue afternoon dress and her red evening dress for New Year’s Eve, when she comes back.

  Monday I had a nap in the afternoon and brought the family to the train station in the evening. Just when Rudo was coming from Birmingham, Paul Eisner called and upset Lola and Rudo with “why are you staying for so long.”

  With the house it is like that: we can have it again after January 25. Before that, I cannot get in, however, because the girls took over the responsibility - and because the owner did not know about my existence - so he raised the rent. School starts on the 15th, I have to be here, so I will be at Weizmann’s or in a room that the nurse will find for me.

  I have to do a haircut now, therefore I am finishing.

  Tonight I am going to a huge happening in Carlton Theater, with Sachers - first the show, then dancing on stage, and I will dance with the Prince of Wales and Prince George!

  I am thinking, I will depart from the train station here on the 21st, at 8:15 PM, staying here alone is no fun.

  Tons of love,

  Gisi

  Thank you for your lovely letter, Maudi!

• March 16, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  March 16, 1932

  Dearest Family,

  I am sitting here after all my phone calls, everything just like I imagined, but unfortunately less successful.

  Lucy and Bunty are unfortunately not in town, therefore Pat and I are eating alone tonight and after that I am going to see her in her new play. Mrs. Marx, Mrs. Wrede, Mrs. Shaw are not home. I picked up my suitcase at Chaim’s. Michel came back home from vacation and is very happily busy with his radio-construction. Benji seems to not be happy in his new job, with such effort acquired a profession and is going to quit, what he wants to do, I don’t know. I have to say, I do not agree with his simply ditching his first opportunity to make his own money, just because it did not quite suit him. But one cannot measure this poor young lad with a common yardstick.

  Our trip was lovely.

  We flew to Aamersfort for hours and did not even notice it amidst our very exciting highly philosophical conversation. Among other topics, we talked about parents, and it became clear for me, anew, what an angel I have found. I was astonished, how clearly Ingrid sees her parents and the difference between them. I better tell you all about it, in detail, in person. It is marvelous, how quickly she immersed herself in everything English, already in that one day. She makes mistakes, but picks everything up right away, I see how she will soon surpass me. In Aamersfort Hans came and went with us to Rotterdam, which was very much fun. The night was neither stormy nor quiet, Nancy claimed to have funny feelings in her belly, which Anita would surely understand, but we all almost have not slept. The second class cabin was outstanding. 4 beds, and the fourth was out.

  At our arrival Tom was there, he is in business in the meantime. The rest of the family is in the “cottage” over the weekend. Ingrid and I quietly rattled in, and as in the old times, cuddled before the fireplace.

  Each of us was envious that others were sleeping, and only in the morning we found out about our total insomnia, and I of course regret that we lost our time not having used it for some interesting conversation.

  I apologize for this dumb letter, but Nancy and Ingrid are talking right next to me and I cannot concentrate. Where will the next letter come from?

  Tons of love,

  Gisi

• March 17, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  March 17, 1932

  Mitre Hotel,

  Oxford

  Dearest family,

  since I wrote to you, I have, again, seen and done such an awful lot that I am getting nausea at the thought that I will have to put all that on paper.

  Chronologically. Yesterday someone showed up for lunch: one very lovely girl, a friend of Nancy, a bookbinder and a painter, who might join us to go hiking.

  During our lunch, I got a call from Simon Marks in person who said that I should come over, when I expressed my regrets about me being “booked up,” he said that it does not matter, and if he sends his Rolls-Royce right away to pick me up, we definitely will make it in time. So Ingrid and I rode to him, where the whole holy family had already gathered, as expected. Sieffs with his two sons, the older son with his newly acquired horrible bride and her even more horrible parents, who apparently just came from the ghetto. Also Namur, the former Chaim’s secretary, who is now a history professor at Manchester and who gave me very good advice about the Great Goddess of this grown-up girl - college. The joy of the seeing-again was, of course, oriental - and the whole atmosphere was breathtaking for Ingrid (she is slowly recovering from it).

  After that we went home, picked up Nancy and took the subway to Oxford Street, where I wanted to get a book for Anchen and the invisible hairpins for mother, but because of Shabbos, all stores were already closed. Nancy left us there and went to Betty Schuff for tea where she was invited. Poor thing, she is now very upset and down, she was so happy about her upcoming trip to Frankfurt, but just received a letter from her contacts asking if she can postpone her visit till after the elections, because they said, they are not sure that the elections will be peaceful. Betty already imagined a civil war in their thoughts, and she wanted to have the fresh news from Nancy.

  Ingrid and I went to Montgelas in the meantime, who fed us some tea in a small run-down pub near Savoy. We had a very good conversation. He was very upset that during his last stay in Berlin the steel-helmeted Fuehrer pitched his tents at Lola and Rudo’s - and he blamed them for the same as I blame Erich for (every day).

  At 7 PM we met with Nancy and Pat again, had a meal together and went to see Pat’s new play which was a failure, so it was not a big effort to leave before the ending, Besides, the main protagonist had to speak Irish dialect the whole time, which I understood only barely, and Ingrid could not understand at all. However Pat herself was awesome and acted brilliantly.

  While in bed, I talked to Ingrid for a long time, we understand each other so well. Nancy, again in her inner world, despite the parents being absent, was however super polite as always.

  Early this morning at 10 Am - to Oxford. I feel I don’t have the authority to make you forget to embezzle your real Gisi! I left my taupe coat at home, but because Nancy made a mistake about the train schedule, we arrived at the station so early in advance, that I had time to take a taxi, go home and pick the coat up, unfortunately the expensive taxi paid out of the father’s money. Eddy picked us up in Oxford, first we tried to find a cheaper hotel, because we did not want to indulge ourselves in the breathtaking Mitre Hotel, but after we found out that the difference between Heaven and Hell is only 2 shillings, we ended up here. (We stole this paper during one of our night meals.) Now we started our search for Doggins House [Hans?] […] whom I met at Lucy and Bunty’s, but my memory was all wrong and we could not locate it in the telephone and address books, or asking the pedestrians, it seemed hopeless, until finally one policeman, after my unclear description, established that Doggins should be one Dr. Counsel, which was confirmed later. Doggins is only his nickname, and I have simply never heard his real name. He was not home, but his daughter asked me right away if my name is Gisela, Bunty had written to them about me coming, and her father was desolate, but they were hopelessly full already. I could hardly recover from such a hard blow, but no time was left and we continued with the huge list to contact the people, marvelously chosen by Eddy. (They were looking for a place to rent, where to live when they enroll as students). One lady so luckily lived very central and was a translator of Thomas Mann (one would think, what a happy “marriage” with this famous translator of Rilke!) and her daughter - a sculptor, Anchen, and she was on a hiking tour. I hope she will get back to me tomorrow. So that was the first stretch. Then we went to Ingrid’s family. She lives pretty far outside of Oxford, but she has a really unusually lovely landlady. I think she has luck with it. Then we went to one family that lives in Christ-church, he is a priest. One tasteful house

  […]

  the women (should be very good for you, Gisi) - and he is always full of a thousand ideas.

  In the end that was something I would definitely take, although it is further outside of Oxford. One very educated, musical lady, he is a secretary of the University Extension lectures, their son and daughter live in the college. They will read with me and they are particularly well-spoken and they will help me to improve my English. Besides, a tasteful house, full of light. For a small room they would charge me 3.5 instead of 4. Nancy found her too “don typ” which will make it hard to please her doing things right, but I accept this burden with my big desire to learn. Tomorrow I will get me a translator, and even if it is not ideal (it is much more central-located), we will follow all legal procedures, as you have always wanted.

  You don’t have to believe me that all that really happened, but the letter is already as long as a book again and I am tired.

  In the afternoon I was at Doggins’ for a moment (Ingrid is also completely in love with him). He wishes for himself that one of his tenants would cancel and I move in, but it won’t happen. In any case, he said, we can come whenever we want and it is already wonderful. Besides, he said he would like someone to read aloud for him, because he is almost blind, and asked me if I would do that - he would also check my pronunciation and I would improve. I am so looking forward to that.

  Nancy was outstandingly skillful during these visits. We could clearly see the benefits of such politeness, but also the dangers of it, because one has to be very skillful to get out of the situation if something goes wrong. Eddy was also touching and tireless.

  We ate at our lovely Golden Cross and went to well-deserved bed for our well-deserved rest.

  The planning of this hotel is something fantastic: many between-floors that are full of unbelievable variations and artsy features, placed in a circle around the main staircase.

  It was a heavenly day with many entertaining characters! Therefore, forgive me the length of this letter and be heartily kissed by your child!

  Because this letter was not picked up yesterday evening, it has to become even longer. Ingrid and I had a chance to make it clear for ourselves, how remarkably and very differently the Jewish Question pops out these days here.

  A. Diverse phases of Jews in England

  1) After their arrival from the East - East End.

  2) Hempstead

  3) Assimilated.

  These are by no means only outward, location-wise divisions, but the differences in language, that in England is such a strong indicator of one’s class of education.

  It is also characteristic that money here plays a lot less role than education. For example, Marks is obviously a Hempstead Jew and, despite his wealth, cannot socialize with the higher classes. But his children, who study in Oxford and Cambridge and speak “high English,” can achieve that if they assimilate.

  B. How different classes of Jews relate to each other.

  The biggest obstacle to Hempstead Jews’ entry to the higher society are the higher society’ Jews. Because these Jews are so deeply assimilated that it is absolutely impossible in Germany in our times. They don’t differ (from non-Jews) by the way they speak, seldom differ in the way they look (Nancy) and have the same worldview. In this high society class Jews and Christians are all together (but not in Hempstead) and the faire Christian Englishmen will give these Jews (who have the same worldview) every chance to reap the fruit of their intellect. And it is understandable that these high society Jews defend themselves from every invasion of Hempstead Jews. Because with every not-so-well assimilated Jew the difference between Jews and non-Jews will become unraveled. Therefore, I think, it is a healthy instinct when the Hempstead Jews turn to Zionism. They hope that it will make their unavoidable and inescapable difference (from non-Jews) positive. It is also understandable, therefore, that English Zionists focus on fundraising, donating money and organization, but don’t emigrate themselves. They don’t suffer from anything here and don’t lack anything, they are recognized as full-rights citizens. If only 2 million can come to Palestine, it is good that they can at least make this connection to Palestine.

  In the play that Pat acted in, there were some remarks about Jews. They can allow themselves to talk about Jews, perhaps even joke or laugh about them, because in essence, they have deep respect for Jewish intelligence.

  Doggins asked me yesterday if I were Catholic like Lucy and Bunty. When I said that I am Jewish, he said - “now I know for sure that you are very intelligent, the most brilliant men have always been Jews!.”

  The translator will come back only by the end of the week. So I will “do it the right way”!

  Deeply,

  your child

• March 18, 1932 | Gisela to her parents

  c/o the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson

  3 Church Walk

  Oxford

  Beloved Parents,

  I am writing to you in bed! My first evening “in the family.” They are really so nice in a special way, I have not seen their father yet, he will be back only tomorrow, but I met the daughter (21) and the son (19). One can tell that they are a priest’ family and unfortunately don’t have the slightest sense of humor, at least I cannot laugh about things that they find strange. The daughter looks very nice and corrects me very well. The son looks like he is 14 and is still a real baby, but seems to be very smart and studies on a scholarship. My room is tiny but lovely, simple and light, same as the whole house. They raise their arms in amazement at my arrival, they have never seen a wardrobe suitcase before and were thinking if it will fit at all. I had to unpack it downstairs anyway because it would not go up the stairs, if one can talk about unpacking at all, because I had the whole wardrobe with hooks and a post, where a quarter of my things will fit. The rest stayed in the suitcase, and the evening clothes are hanging in Mrs. Hutchinson’s personal wardrobe, but it is not large enough.

  I am swearing aloud about my too much stuff, one needs nothing here at all, really.

  I could have taken a wonderfully cheap room, large and big (where Elizabeth lived) in a central location, but I think I will learn much more here and I feel awfully good to not be living among strangers and be bothering some strangers all the time!

  Maudi’s letter was heavenly! Deepest thanks!

  Ingrid went to Leeds early this morning and will be back only Friday. She is such an admirable person.

  Imagine, I REALLY do not have Mendelsohn-Bartholdy’s letters! Please look for them everywhere, maybe also in father’s office, and send them to me Express!!!

  Good night, my loved ones,

  Loves you deeply your child.

• March 19, 1932 | Gisela to her parents

  Good morning, the first night was good.

  The house is as freezing as all English houses, and I am still cuddling. As she saw me this morning, she asked if she should show me anything in Oxford and then bring me to Doggins (where I wanted to go), I replied politely but firmly that I am VERY happy alone and want to be independent. I said, I lived in London for 3 months and have always been alone during the day. —- Yesterday evening and early this morning I already read to her.

  Ingrid’s family, by a coincidence, is only 0.5 min from me.

  Yesterday evening, before the meal, they were saying an evening prayer, I did not tell them yet that I am Jewish. When Mr. Hutchinson comes back today, I will make them a surprise, I guess… He did not give his final consent to my staying yet, and I think when he sees my evening clothes in his wife’s wardrobe he will kick me out for my audacity.

  As I read back what I wrote here, I got an impression that you can get an impression that I am not quite happy here. But you don’t need to worry at all. I am on it, to make my room and my stay here very happy, and it will be wonderful when we all know each other better.

  Deeply,

  your child

• March 20, 1932 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  Oxford, March 20, 1932

  Dearest family,

  Just now father’s letter arrived, with the excerpt from […] letter and your answer, what can I say? I always thought that they are not into antisemitism, but I am glad about your nobility in reaction. I only feel pity and superiority. This letter, as all antisemitism, is simply another opportunity for me to be proud of my Jewishness and of your, father, noble name - and antisemitism can only make me positively sure of these feelings of pride.

• March 21, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  Oxford, March 20, 1932

  Dearest family,

  March 21, 1932

  In the meantime, a day passed by again. I am looking forward to the beginning of real study work, because one cannot sit reading the whole day and one can enjoy the “family” only in some doses. And because they almost don’t speak, I can only benefit from our conversations in a limited way.

  In the meantime, I finally met their father, He is a mix between Ms Kuhn and your, Anita, Rosenthal - and shows such sweet shyness in speaking. In any case, thank God, he has some character, which she (the wife) does not have. He is a Fellow at All Souls, a college that prides itself in specially gifted graduates, and he was showing me around there today really wonderfully, all the most beautiful old halls in this college that I would have never found myself.

  Yesterday morning I was writing and reading, had a good nap after the meal and then went to my dear Doggins. In the evening, in the Family, amidst the deep silence I was mending the son’s stockings. How about this sweet domesticated daughter!

  This morning, as yesterday morning, I read Tess of the D’Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy to Mrs. Hutchinson. She can laugh her heart out over this book, and I only watch her with amazement. Imagine, she was laughing about the cellar! The good lady asked me if there was something that I love to eat - and poor me, I said “salad,” thinking that they surely know what it is. Since then, with every meal, I am getting a bowl of undressed salad, but I have not yet trained myself into it, more into how to politely get around it.

  By this time, they know that I am Jewish. For Mrs. Hutchinson it was a great blow, to realize that I will not be going to church every Sunday. I think they have never seen anyone Jewish before and they are stunned that Jews are human beings with legs and arms.

  Anyway, she is disappointed that I am not even going to a synagogue and asks if all Jews in Germany are like that. She knows not more about Germany than you about China. She was amazed that Nazis and National-Socialists are the same and asked me who their leader was. Their world is very small and she is by no means curious about anything.

  At noon, Peter Hilton came (he arrived earlier than Ingrid) and invited me for tea. Silly me, I told them (Hutchinsons) about it and they were totally shocked, until their daughter pacified them a little. Peter was very nice and we went together to Mr. Cutcliffe, who keeps a summer school for foreigners. The school has grammar, essay writing, reading and pronunciation 1 hour each every day. 3 times a week lectures on Shakespeare and 20th century literature. In this school, boys and girls study separately (haha). I think I would like to enroll. At the end of the semester, they have a real exam. Maybe I will also take 1 or 2 hours of private lessons, where I will be translating Rilke and maybe I will audit some lectures, too. If the translation work turns out to be too much, I will postpone it and do it at the end of the semester with Mrs. Shaw in London. (By the way, this idea just came into my head.)

  The weather at this time is really brutal but I am getting used to the temperature in the house.

  The students are coming back tomorrow. Have you found my recommendation letters? I am really lost where they can be.

  By the way, Mrs. Hutchinson is very nice, despite what I wrote about her.

  The letter goes out this evening. I am looking forward to our phone call on the 5th of May! The number is Oxford 3995.

  With big love,

  Your child

• March 24, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  Oxford,

  3 Church Walk,

  March 24, 1932

  Dearest family,

  I am longing for Tuesday, because I have not heard from you for a long time. The recommendation letters are still not here. Have you not found them? That would be too horrible. Erich, you wanted to send one to Barrington-Ward!

  Despite not having a recommendation from M.-B., I was at Joachims this afternoon, because my Hutchinsons told them that I have one, therefore they invited me. She is the daughter of a violinist, and he is his nephew (cousins marriage), there were two daughters, 17 and 23 and one son, I do not know if they have more children. The older daughter is very charming, works in London for an architect-firm that builds settlements for workers. This is something very new for England, they are taking the experience from Germany. In the whole of England there is NO modern architecture at all, as astonishing as it sounds. The second daughter looks like a lamppost, long and skinny with a duck face, but she is very nice and totally fascinated by Germany - she was in Frankfurt for 6 months. The mother is German, but speaks very good English. The father came in only briefly, apparently he does not see well. There was their German cousin there who works at the Altona Hospital. Such people we meet abroad! And who suddenly walks in, our dear Sutton! We spoke a mix between German and English, with a nice relaxing atmosphere. I told them that you, Anchen, played violin at our sister-in-law's, they had a lot of fun with that. The Lamppost asked me if I want to go for a walk with her and speak one time German, one time English, which I think is a very nice idea.

  After that, I went to this married couple that Elsie Shaw had recommended. A real disappointment. The husband has just been discharged from India Service, after he served abroad for 25 years. But it is a horrifying idea to retire at 46. He wants to start something new, it seems, but takes his time and just sits in his chair all day round. A spoiled man, it is obvious that he is used to giving orders all the time. The wife looks really desperate, they have 6 kids, all of them somewhere in public schools.

  Yesterday noon Ingrid, Bunty’s brother and I were at one adorably small, very old venue. The brother is very nice, but so boring. For tea we went to Sutton, there was also Freddy Crevenna who studies here now under Sutton's wing. Sutton in his clumsiness is something quite moving, one wants to give him a welcome. In the evening, in the company of Ingrid, Peter Hylton and 3 other boys that he brought with him, I was at a restaurant and then at the theater. It was a colorful evening, thank God, only a juggler, and the rest was all fun things. It was simply wonderful. I was actually surprised how much I understood, although I am basically not satisfied with my progress in the English language. One was doing all the things that Peeper told us about, a corn-machine that works like a typewriter, was telling stories about mouse-traps. You cannot imagine how much life this theater has, full of undergraduates. Every laughter is like a hurricane that goes straight back to the actors, for them such an audience is a huge inspiration.

  Only one thing spoiled the evening, actually, that I called Mrs. Hutchinson from the restaurant, feeling being considerate, told her that we were going to the theater (which I did not know before), and that I cannot be home earlier than 11. To which she said - yes, she just wanted to ask me to do a favor and tell her in advance where and with them I am going to go. That made me furious because it was not sincere care, but a formal “patronizing” which I simply cannot stand. But after I calmed down and explained to myself that she simply feels responsibility for me, I told her this morning at breakfast that I didn't do it on purpose, not to tell her where I was going, but it just turned out that way because I did not know it in advance and did not see her in between. I said, I could, of course, always tell her everything, why not - but I know myself what I should do and what I can live without.

  I said all this in a lovely tone and she swallowed it then.

  The girls in Oxford are a separate issue… There are 2 kinds: either blue-stockings or totally unbearable creatures. The first kind are nearly all college girls, the second kind are mostly foreigners that came here for fun. A particularly bad reputation is that of Swedish girls. As a non-University-member (like us) one cannot do much. The list of the classes that came out yesterday, does not offer anything interesting. The best classes, unfortunately, are at the same time with Cutchliff’s classes. Ingrid and I firmly decided that we will show to Oxford another girl-type, a golden middle street.

  Because the studies for girls is something still quite new, the boys and especially the teachers here have something like contemptuous skepticism, which is understandable if there are only these 2 types of girls around.

  Swimming in love,

  your child.

• March 26, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  March 26, 1932

  Merano, Parkhotel

  Dearest Gisi,

  So you've been in bed for two days, you will not be allowed to go to England while you're still coughing! In the meantime Liesl has arrived, as sweet as ever and happy to be free for a few days. The day before her arrival, I met his brother-in-law, Mr. Tugendhat, Liesl's boss, at the home of a Privy Councillor Heimann. Small world. He spoke highly of her and only regretted that she was not a man (perhaps also that he was not younger and without a wife).

  Enclosed for you is my letter to Klatzkin and Ruben's letter, after you have read K.'s book, a food for thought.

  Here it is very restful, Dadie often comes over and is not so dissatisfied with Mama’s condition, Queen Mother has not yet received us, although we have sent her flowers for 10 lire (Erich! M.2.20). Lola's detour was a pleasure, she has really become much firmer.

  I myself, as a result of many teas, am losing weight so slowly, from time to time mother gets fears that the weight loss goes too fast and then compassionately feeds me prohibited foods. Unfortunately, this state of compassion never lasts long. In order to check how far I have come down, yesterday I called to check my weight.

  Here embraces you all three,

  a half of your father.

• March 27, 1932 | Gisela to Max Warburg

  Oxford,

  Saturday

  Ingrid and I are sitting here side by side - or, rather, Ingrid is lying on the bed, because I only have one sitting place. The tragic thing is that my people here have a visitor coming next week, for the whole term, and he has to be placed in my room, so your poor girl has to squeeze herself into another room. I am getting the youngsters’ bedroom, which is a hole in the wall, I have not seen it yet. In addition, I am also getting his study, another “real hero in the cell” hole in the basement, but I will make all this real cozy.

  Oxford has a completely different look now, it is being swarmed with undergraduates. Yesterday Sutton invited us for tea, but as we came, he was not there at all, so we went to Doggins, picked up the address of one lady teacher, then to Mr. Cutcliffe - to enroll in his summer school and then back to Sutton, who was still not there. As we came back to Ingrid’s house, it turned out he had been there and invited us for tea for today. We are having lunch today with Bunty’s brother, and I am invited for tea to one Canadian Rhode scholar, but Ingrid and I are going to Sutton and in the evening meeting with Peter. I bumped into that Rhode scholar on the street, accidentally, as it often happens here. With Oxford’ plan in my pocket I already know the city very well and I have so much fun finding everything.

  Please forgive my obviously stupid letters, but I am unlearning speech in this family, and will regain the ability to speak only when I will be among students. But I am learning to deal with Hutchinsons. Now I am simply saying: “I’ve got an appointment for lunch,” instead of elaborating, like I did the first time when I told them about having coffee with Peter that shocked them so much.

  Besides, I am sending you one letter from Defi. Honestly, I found your answer, father, not so good. When one writes such remarks, one has to explain the reasons, in my opinion.

  Tomorrow I am going to Joachims for tea (my people told him that I have recommendation letters and M.-B.), after that to one friend of Mrs. Shaw’s who gave one recommendation. Ingrid is impatient, therefore I am finishing,

  Deeply,

  Gisi

• March 29, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  3 Church Walk

  Oxford March 29, 1932

  My dears,

  I have written a lot of confusing stuff to you yesterday. There are only ELEVEN German students here in College (Ruth Dienstroem is the only girl). It is hard to say how many Germans are here in total otherwise, like Ingrid and me, for example, and apart from us, I know only about 5 others - and I think there aren’t many more. My extraordinary knowledge comes from Schleppegrell with whom we hung out yesterday after the Union. The name of the guy, who opened a second Nazi club here, is Von Diegas, a ghoulish type who is now a secretary of German clubs, because Schleppegrell could only buy his reunion with this organization, as an angel of peace. Rojas and Schleppegrell will be the candidates to the presidency next semester and because I have a right to vote as a member (of the German club), I hope to cast one decisive voice for the latter.

  The night at the Union was fabulous. The whole thing was staged as in the Parliament, with a “speaker” who was always addressed as “sir.” Yesterday Cambridge Union was a guest visitor. The question was “Shall we start a new left-centre party” that was supposed to combine the ruined liberal Party and parts from the Labour Party. Two undergraduates from Oxford were “for,” two from Cambridge - “against.” These four and the club officials were in tailcoats. After these speakers, who were speaking 30 min each, everyone who had registered before could speak for 4 minutes. The female beings were allowed only in the gallery. The voting was done by the procedure where everyone who was leaving, had to go through a “yes” or a “no” door, where the watchers were counting the votes. I was shocked, how these youngsters were talking some masterful demagogy - and I think it is a brilliant idea, to train them to speak like that already in public schools. I think Germany should follow the example. One should try it in Heidelberg, by the way, where it is such a failure. One speaker was Indian, and he gave the best speech of all (except he was always distracted by other many-many Indians). Namely, he deviated from the original, purely politically-practical topic onto philosophical worldview and started talking about pure Christianity and Gandhi as its embodiment. He demanded harmony in Faith, Thought and Deed, something that I am longing for so much. I could not absorb only that he put Europe down as having failed to reach such harmony and saw the East or India with Gandhi as an embodiment of this ideal. Such few people exist everywhere, I think, hidden in the “minorities.” But all this could only be rejected here. Schleppegrell could not calm himself down after this comparison of Gandhi to Christ, and we naturally could not come to an agreement.

  This evening I am going to the Labour club, with the Canadian Rhode-scholar, where Harold Laski (London School of Economics) is speaking. I am sure it will be entertaining. Tomorrow I am going to a theater with Ingrid’s lovely landlord. So this person is out again (in English, not sure what it means).

  But it is really the only true one. One can learn a lot and it is impossible to go to bed late, mother, because at 11 PM everything dies out.

  Today I told Mrs Knox that the reading hours make no sense for me. She happened to have the exact same opinion and she said I can easily stop them, that she noticed for quite a while that I was too advanced for this course. Unfortunately, she has no time for private lessons because she has too much to do, but I will take a few anyway.

  Thousand thanks, Anchen, for your such from-the-heart letter. Where did you take the philosophical quotes from, that you wrote to me on the back of the monastery-school message?

  I am looking forward to the next evening in the German Club. Oswald von Nostiz, Cambridge German Club president, will speak about national-socialism.

  Now I have to write one essay in English.

  Be much loved,

  Your Best One,

  You can write to me: c/o The Rev. F.E. Hutchinson, Esq.

  or c/o Mrs Hutchinson.

  It is an offense to omit the salutations (like “Mrs”). Such mistakes can lead to fines! But you can leave their names out completely, the postman already knows my name.

• April 17, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Hamburg 1, April 17, 1932

  Dear Gisi,

  I am enclosing a letter from Deti. (it was about antisemitism - L.B.) The fact that she wrote so often speaks for her, but shows how far we have now come in Germany. However, after all that we have experienced, we should not be surprised. I advise you NOT to respond to the letter. There is no point in trying to convince people in such an excited time. You can talk with sick people only after the fever is over.

  I hope you had a good trip, we are very eager to hear more.

  Be hugged,

  your father

• April 28, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  Oxford,

  April 28, 1932

  Dearest family,

  I haven’t written to you in 4 days, and it feels like eternity to me. I have volumes to tell you and I have a free afternoon ahead, to use for that.

  Firstly, deep thanks for your letters, mother and Anchen. As soon as the portrait of uncle Paul is finished, I would like a photo, Mandi! I am also looking forward to the Lost Son, he looks so promising in the drawing.

  I think it is better if I don’t report everything chronologically, but rather elaborate over some things separately.

  LECTURES

  For Ingrid and me only a few are of interest. As a non-University-member, one has to get a special permission from the professor. So I wrote letters to all professors whose lectures we are interested in, and we are hoping for a quick reply. Prof. Zimmern wants to see our German school records. He is very revered here. We are auditing “The Machinery of International Cooperation” and “International Economic Relations.” His wife is French and hosts cosmopolitan tea once a week, and next week Schleppegrell, one friend of Nancy’s and I can come too. They say, during these afternoons the discussions about God and the world emerge. Otherwise, we are also auditing “Political Theory” and “Introduction to Philosophy.” That’s all. These lectures are taking place in the “Hall” (a big dining room) or in a classroom in the college, where the current tutor belongs, or, if the professor is in one of the “schools” (departments) then in one of these huge buildings. But there are comparatively few professors here who are on tenure from the University as professors and have to give lectures. The rest are tutors (teaching assistants) whose capacity is 18-25 undergraduates and who have full power over their bodies and souls. The tutors are not required to give lectures and only lecture out of passion, which considerably diminishes in the summer. As these tutors lecture about what they themselves have read, it often turns out that the students are not hearing any lectures on the subject they major in. But lectures themselves are seen here as inessential, and in the last semester, before the finals, nobody hears any. The real knowledge is therefore up to their ability to read the assigned material themselves. That means, their independence is less than we have, because the tutor kind of prescribes what they have to do. The undergraduates have a private lesson with their tutor at least once a week and they have to write one (or sometimes 2) essays per week.

  The tutors and the lecturers are absolutely fantastic, and they “read” twice a week, where one has to endure the most unimaginable accents for the whole hour.

  3. (not sure where the “2” is) Ingrid and I are now in the so-called “Boys class” - they are made of those who, compared to “Girls class” are approximately 15, and we landed there with a few others. That is very convenient, because of that we won’t have a schedule conflict with other lectures. The “girls” are those “vamp” types. I wrote to you before that the girls here are divided by vamps and blue stockings. The 3 boys are stupid and untouched.

  Again, we made many-many new acquaintances. Firstly, one lovely girl that is here in one of the girls’ colleges - she visited me at Nancy's request. She is remotely related to Carl Melchior and remarkably, is the exact same type - she looks completely like Ruth Melchior. She lived in Munich for a long time and she wants to translate English letters into German, so perhaps I can help her, and she can help me with my translation of Rilke.

  A young actress, whose room was recommended to me by Joyce (Anita, explain who Joyce is, by the way, she is still not back because of her appendicitis surgery). A beautiful, very charming being. A mix between Anna-Marie Vogler and Marion (Gerald’s wife), strangely enough, she knows Gerald well, she met him in America and sees him each time he is here. On Sunday eve, she will take us to a Russian family that Joyce was also writing about, they have a Sunday eve gathering where anyone can come whoever wants to.

  Through her, I met one English girl who wants to rent a flat and wants to have me as a third one, like we had in London. The actress, Katherine Thinsen is her name, wants to introduce me to Helen Cook (the family in the Christ Church, where I was inquiring about accommodations).

  When I was at Lionel Gelber’s (The Canadian Rhode scholar) for tea, I met one very nice Palestinian and we had some highly dramatic debates about Zionism, to which all three of us (except Ingrid, she did not say anything) provided a different aspect.

  Yesterday evening we were at the German Club, and before we went to eat at one charming tiny venue, with Schumacher and Schleppegrell. The Germans here are a sad thing in itself. Apparently, there are 4 German Rhode scholars here: except the above-mentioned two, also Koelle (from Hamburg) and von Trott zu Sult (the last one I know only from afar). Schumacher and Koelle look like they have hard times here, the spiritual level is too low for them and they are smug and arrogant. Although with Schumacher, it is perhaps because of his illness. His hands are itching and he wears gloves. However I cannot find excuses for Koelle, the German Club President, I think he is disgusting. Schleppegrell is a real baby, but at least he is funny and enjoys himself here. Otherwise there are a few other depressing and noble German students. One of them is a very good-looking Count Goerk (Austrian) who is always running around in the company of a picture-beautiful Swedish girl - last semester he and another unattractive German opened a Nazi-club, that, thank God, went on hold this semester. But imagine - what about other 40-60 German students that would have had to share this burden of downright shame as Germans! The one and only German girl that is popular here (not a student, came here only for fun) is one insanely mediocre and beautiful Marietta Von Masse - she is as famous as red cloth and people spread thick gossip about her. If I would not find her disgusting myself, I probably won’t believe all the rumors, because Oxford is a real province in regards to gossip.

  Yesterday Dr. Erziger spoke about German and English law. A fabulous lecture, where I understood how the German judicial system works, for the first time - and a lot became clear to me about English law, too.

  Just 2 years ago, this man was stuttering horribly, and despite that this is nearly gone now, one can still see how he struggles with every word. The lecture was in the Rhode House, well-attended, mostly by English people who see it as practice in German. Sutton pulled in 2 Salemers, by the skirt tail. After the lecture there was a Q & A, and after a strong encouragement from Schleppegrell (you don’t believe it, but my heart was somewhere in my pants) I also asked one question - the first question ever asked by a female since the club was founded, as I was told thereafter. Later I also met him in person and I would have gone to the hotel with him and 2 others, to have a meal together, but my Cerberi did not give me the house keys again. By the way, Ingrid and I became members of 3/6, where they also have interesting lectures and an annual dinner.

  One evening, I had to sacrifice to you, o Erich, in that I went to the movies with Berenberg Gessler. Thank God, he left yesterday for London. He brought with him one Swedish girl who blacked out in the movie theater - if I did not already know that he is a jerk, I would have found out at this moment. Ingrid and I carried her out, where we brought her back to life, while he was running around like a headless chicken, and then did not even want to go home after all that. This guy is also a shoplifter - and if he is interested in getting some attention, everyone believes that he is smart, which he surely isn’t. He complained to me for hours about the stupidity of Hamburgers, and it was on the tip of my tongue to say to him - you are the real true representative of them.

  He pulled out long speeches in defense of Marietta von Masse who was a very lovely girl. He is exactly the same as And. Pardon, father, no personal remarks…

  One afternoon we went for tea to Mrs. Sutherland, the Namur-recommended Mastress of the Somerville College. She is particularly nice, but so unwashed. In this college, by the way, there is the second German girl of significance, Ruth Reinstroem, who Ingrid was in Salem with. She has not come back yet. She combines insane intelligence with “vamp.”

  I don’t have much new to say about Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson. Recently he entered the dining room (did not see me) and said: “Is that young person out again?” One has to note that the word “person” is being used here as we use the word “she” without a name. So it seems he did not grow fond of me. Mrs. asked me to give her your address, in case I disappear or get run over. Is that not goyish! But we are on good terms now. Sunday evening I was cleaning up with them. I have my room only till next week.

  If only Anita knew how I miss her blue suit, she would have surely sent it to me together with the blouse. Because this suit - THIS IS IT, in the tiny wardrobe and in the rain and cold. How many seats did the Volksparty get? The results from Hamburg were not in the news, Prussians are shocking socially.

  Call me on the 5th, after 7 PM, then we can hang out as we should knowing that it is cheap. But not before 9.30 PM your time, otherwise we all are eating, and the telephone is in the dining room, that will limit my free speech!

  Tonight we are going to Oxford Union. So “this young person is out again.”

  I am already hearing your sighs, how long this letter is, and I hurry to finish - kisses!

  Yours ever,

  Gisi

• May 2, 1932 (postcard) | Gisela to her parents

  Mr. and Mrs. Max Warburg

  Dearest parents,

  If you get this card in time, I think it would be nicer if you call me for my Birthday in the morning, then I can go to the theater in the evening. Is that OK, 8.30 AM your time, then I have a lot of time in my pajamas, hopefully I won’t oversleep.

  Deeply,

  Gisi

  Oxford 3995 (phone number)

• May 4, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  May 4, 1932

  Ferdinandsstrasse, 75

  My dear Gisie kid,

  All the best for tomorrow and much of the following: “Happiness consists mainly of developing oneself and helping others!”

  The current our homeland’s environment must be a great contrast to the “vie bohemienne” in London, which is certainly very interesting and healthy. There is not much to report from here, I don't see a clearing of the world crisis yet, but one becomes philosophic and takes care of the daily troubles, of which there are enough here.

  More on the phone, which is your main gift - the birthday table awaits you on the Koesterberg.

  You are embraced by your loving

  father Max

• May 5, 1932 (poem) | Max Warburg to Gisela

  1.

  A little brooding,
  Never hurt anyone
  whatever they do!
  Even if they want to hurt you,
  Don’t respond in kind,
  Always remain good and kind!
  
  

  2.

  When the sky is so grey
  and everyone ‘round me cries “oy veh!”
  I put on my rose glasses
  And yell: “I want that
  everyone ‘round me is glad!”
  And keep yelling and yelling,
  until it all becomes true.
  
  

  3.

  Oxford is a cute old town
  Where one can study English.
  Only it’s a pity
  that a girl is seen as shocking and bizarre.
  One maiden that is not pious,
  is not to the Priest’s liking.
  She comes home late,
  The Priest’s wife is grumpy!
  
  

  4.

  It is cold in a student’s flat,
  even a pious Jew is warmer.

  (for his beloved Gisi for her X-teenth Birthday)

  May 5, 1932

• May 5, 1932 | Gisela to Alice (Maudi) Warburg

  May 5, 1932

  Oxford

  Dearest Stumm, god-sent Maus-Schmaus, The one and only Haschepfn, the exquisite Mushkatelle, best Tusch, beloved Schumpfel, dear Maudi, the honorable Mama, [Alice Warburg’s nicknames]

  It was never necessary for me to send you wishes for your Birthday, all my 20 years I always celebrated it together with you, and there was so much love in these celebrations each time! I do not want to think that this year I won’t be able to give you my humble, eloquent, without words kiss, and I do not know how I can express my feelings on paper. In any case, it looks to me like the most worthy celebration of my Birthday, to be communicating with you and tell you how grateful I am to you that you brought me into this world. It was great of you, if only you could have as much joy about my life as I am having every day, it would be the best reward for your work and the best proof of my gratitude!

  Thank you for your sweet birthday letter which came right after our phone conversation. It was so good to hear your voices, even if my usual emotional state held me from saying anything meaningful.

  As I came into my room after breakfast, there was a heavenly carnation flower, a book about Oxford and a cigarette lighter on my table - and Ingrid hid herself behind the curtain. - Right away, I bought a celestial birthday present for myself, for which I thank you!

  Shakespeare’s works in leather binding and with gold trim (only 12 shillings). That brings me such joy, I will promptly start reading.

  Mrs. Hutchinson is really getting nicer and nicer and radiates warmth underneath her hard shell. Just now she brought me a flower pot with a blooming climbing rose. Yesterday I told her about one invitation to tea from Nancy’s friend, at which she asked if I went there alone. That would be actually not “done” (not how it should be done), but the times have changed and she did not want to be “stiff about it.” I said, I did not know in advance if I was going to be there alone, did not see anything wrong with it, the times have really changed and today one has trust in each other. She saw it then as good and understandable, and she said she is glad that we finally spoke about it.

  In the meantime, I am one floor higher and I have made this unfriendly boys’ den into an amazingly cozy room. Even Mrs. Hutchinson was pleasantly surprised. The only thing is, it cannot have any heating possibility. She gave me one oil heater from the 17th century, but this thing stinks like hell and can only be turned on in case of a real emergency. So I took my brown suitcase, my gray plaid, the green pillows, my Negro doll and made a very cozy coach out of all that - and the rotating bookcase, covered with my shawl, made into a smoking table. Then one strong rope between two hooks in the wardrobe - as hangers’ pole. Because of that, the wardrobe is not closing anymore, so I took my blue plaid and spread it over the corner as a curtain. Finally, my table at the window has an azalea and a book from Schumacher and Schleppegrell. I feel very uncomfortable that they went into such spending, I don’t remember myself ever saying that I need anything.

  The touching auntie Frieda wrote to me, too.

  Yesterday Ingrid and I went to Stratford, with Ingrid’s landlady in her Baby Austin (car), to see one of the festival performances in the theater. The lovely old town was fabulously decorated. The new theater, the sensation over here, is nothing special for our eye, that is used to modern architecture. It gives an impression of a factory. Inside, there is simple, modern practicality. The performance of Julius Caesar was outstandingly good - and since it is the only Shakespeare’s play that I know well (read it at school and saw a performance in Salem) I could especially enjoy it. The Mark Antony speech is something fantastic.

  In the evening I went to the German Club - “Why National-Socialism,” by Oswald von Nostiz from Salem. The speech was good. It was a skillful explanation and development of national-socialism. Starting with the program, he then went to the points that are difficult to understand in England and courageously carried out antisemitism. The banks in the hands of transnational Jews, communism also transnational (but national in other countries), the newspapers and theater as all being obstacles to the national spirit. Schumacher asked a good question: “Who is a Jew?” And the speaker was weak in answering this strong question. The whole thing was in English, because they wanted that this important issue would be thoroughly understood. Koelle as the President, emphasized in the beginning and in the end that the club does not identify with Nostiz’ views.

  On Tuesday, for tea, I went to Benecke, the nephew of Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He is a Magdalene College fellow. He is a real representative of the German professors. He has 2 rooms, in which everything, all furniture, including the floor, is packed with books. One must step over piles and piles, looking for a lonely free chair, and even if one finds a free chair, one still has to find a spot on the floor where to put it. On the sofa there are horsehair pillows, ridden with holes, the chairs have only 3 legs, curtains, the suit, the shoes and the ties are all dirty, stained and ripped. To all that, there are also many pigs who come in all sizes and looks and are hanging out by the fireplace lying on one another. He himself looks very shy, compared to the youngsters that usually don’t look for words with females. Because of his sense of justice, he does not let himself say any opinion without saying an opposite opinion at the same time. The guy is really charming and I grew fond of him during our long tete-a-tete, after all guests predictably left.

  After many apologies, he asked me again for lunch on Monday afternoon, to meet his sister who is visiting here for a short time.

  In the evening, Ingrid took me to the movies, one very good film. Monday afternoon we had Joyce for tee, she does not wear well for Oxford, vamp type. On Sunday May 1st, I woke up at 5.15, to go hear the choir of Madgalene College at 6 AM. They celebrate May 1st here that way. The whole thing lasts 5 minutes. These crowds stood in front of the 15-meter-high tower, on which, in dead silence, came down the angelic voices of the boys’ choir, mixed with birds’ chirping. It was a beautiful morning, the one and only really spring-day with heavenly birds’ singing, so it was not hard to wake up early at all.

  After the choir, there are ancient folk dances in 4 different places one after another - 9 boys dancing with an accompaniment of a fiddle. Then they drink hot coffee in a booth and hang out, killing time until 8 AM.

  We had breakfast with Peter and one of his friends, in one of his “digs.”

  Then I went to one lady doctor here close by, to treat my twisted finger (it is already fine again, in the meantime). She is an older lady that wanted to go for a car trip as I showed up, so she performed this complicated surgery already wearing a hat and a coat. Hansaplast is of course unknown here, so she made me a “Police finger,” as we call it, I literally got a finger lock! As I shyly inquired whether one can make a more slick bandage - she said: No (she has never treated a finger before).

  After the meal we picked up Schumacher and Schleppegrell to go see punching. We literally died from laughter, because Schumacher and Schleppegrell really had no slightest idea about this hard hands-on.

  One has to use a long stick, but the hard thing is that one must stand at the end of the boat and cannot see, therefore his whole dear effort is to pull the stick back to himself - and not let himself be thrown over the board with that stick. After having tea with Prof. Brierly, I was fully dressed up, so I did not dare to try it myself, but stuck to the canoe which we were gripping afterwards. The hard thing is to try to row with this long thing, in which they did not succeed. So we swam against all these many boats in the narrow stream, I gripped my canoe in hopes to be saved, and rowed it through all these boats, splashing water into all their faces with my great skill.

  After all the obstacles, we managed to land at Magdalene College, and as we left the boat, a thunderstorm and rain started, and Gisela had to find her way to Brierly in all her outfit, first by bus and then 10 minutes walking. By my arrival, the great blue coat as well as my dress and hat, were soaking wet. Mrs. Brierly was very nice, but the poor parents are completely maddened by their 8-year-old kid. I have never seen such inconsiderate impoliteness, the father was annoyed beyond containment, and the horrified mother was helpless. They are raising him too stupidly, I would have been happy to give them a lecture in pedagogy.

  In the evening, we saw one brilliant French film in the Cinema-club, where only members are allowed in, but one friend of Peter’s is a secretary in this club and he let us all in, after we had a very cozy meal together.

  Now there is a book from Peter, telegrams from Fritzens and Hans and the letters coming. I am getting really domesticated! I have one hour this afternoon and have to do some work.

  Be warmly hugged from your happy old Gisela!

• May 10, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  May 10, 1932

  Dearest Family,

  Finally an hour that must be dedicated to you in quiet, despite the 15 letters, sitting in front of me, waiting for my reply.

  Last time I wrote to you on my Birthday. First, deepest thanks for my father’s letter and for the poem which I was indescribably happy to read and keep reading again and again.

  My Birthday-night at the Union was really boring. The question was: “Do you find that class struggle makes no sense?”

  On Friday I went for a walk with Lionel Gelber (the Rhode-scholar). He is an amazingly intelligent Jewish boy . He invited me to a Rhode-scholar Ball on the 25th. The catch is that both Schumacher and Schleppegrell have already invited one girl each, so I am not sure what would be with Ingrid. They are inviting girls there for those boys who have not invited any girl themselves, and maybe she will find a partner there, but it is of course, not as nice as to go there with someone already, who invited you.

  For tea I was at Kenneth Bell’s , where I met one very nice girl, a friend of Lucy Hutchinson. K.Bell was her tutor, and it is fantastic and very friendly that tutors hang out with their pupils.

  In the evening we went to the theater with Peter and a friend of his: saw Berkeley Square. Very popular and often-performed play.

  Saturday morning, I heard a lecture by a super famous Swedish economist Cassel about the gold-standard. Unfortunately, his English has too much of a Swedish accent, I could hardly understand anything. For that reason, they printed out the handouts and put one on every chair, I will send one to you, maybe you, father, will find it interesting.

  Saturday afternoon, I took a quick nap and then worked, in the evening we had dinner with Ingrid, Schumacher and Schleppegrell and went to the movies: Private Lives. A very good film. (something about the gramophone records on the terrace)

  Sunday morning I washed my stockings and wrote, after that I went to hear “The Creation” by Haydn, the first concert of the 3-concert-series during the Haydn Days. The choir was good, but the orchestra was weak. Herman Fiedler plays cello in the orchestra and he got us two tickets for today’s performance of Haydn String Quartets.

  For tea, Lionel and I went to Prof. Zimmern. He himself was not there, but his wife was talking without commas and periods, non-stop. But it was worth the effort, what she was actually saying impressed me very deeply. She talked about the possibilities of Oxford. Besides us, there was a Jewish lad and a Jewish girl, one woman and one American, a lovely Rhode-scholar, who was complaining that either one dives into work and then sees nothing of Oxford - or participates in all events, but leaves no time for work, which is a real danger. I also understand already that I should not let myself to be dragged by the stream , try to see as much as possible, but see what is right and good, but then it is hard for me to draw boundaries, especially if I, as a non-student, do not have any specific forms of work.

  But Mrs. Prof. Zimmern spoke so beautifully about “carpe diem,” father, “accomplish the right things.”

  And then, with her typical French temperament, she spoke about close-minded intellectuals, she said “They use their brains but not their mind, and that is most dangerous and destructive.” It really speaks about Lionel, whose fault it actually is. Unfortunately, the Zimmerns are going to travel for 4 weeks and won’t be back until the end of the semester.

  Ingrid is going to the discussion-tee this afternoon again, and I (unfortunately) have to go to the concert.

  Sunday eve Joyce and I were at a Russian family that lives outside of Oxford, whom we were asking about housing back then. There were a minimum of 40 students there. The lovely Russian couple themselves and then many others who gather on a Sunday evening, hard to list everyone, because everyone brings whomever they want with them. The husband is a private coach (tutor) in philosophy and classical languages, at the Brazen Nose College, a very very entertaining guy! One student played a bagpipe that was tearing our eardrum apart, and then we played charades. It was a real wild mix of people, partially not so aspirational Swedes. The Russians are from a noble family that was once super rich, they have been in Oxford for 7 years. They begged us to come again whenever we wanted.

  On Monday we had a very festive lunch made by Bennecke at the Magdalene College Common Room. I came casually in a suit, not aware that one must wear silk gowns to such a lunch. I was sitting between 2 very nice people.

  For tee, I went to Scott, one of Nancy’s friends, who, at the end of this semester, will hold an examination for India Services. The exam is very demanding: Indian history, language, law - and then one must serve at least 25 years, to be eligible for a pension. The age limit is 55, and after that it is super hard to find anything here again. He is a very nice lad. Besides me, there was a German Rhode-Scholar von Trott (also very nice) and another Balliol lad, who asked if I wanted to have tea with him, and also another girl who lives pretty far from Oxford, wanted to ask me to a tee. That way, one meets a tremendous mass of people every day.

  In the evening, there was a party here. 3 older ladies and one older gentleman and one boy, who is fantastically musical and was playing piano almost the whole evening. They are all so musically gifted here that they sang the soprano-alto-tenor-bass simply sight-reading, and tried to give me some sheet music as well, but I managed to recoil back. One of the ladies had a son who is the head of one of the Christ-Church rowing teams, and she asked me to go to see the rowing in the Christ-Church Barge (every college has its barge in the river) during the Eights Week - that is what the next week of competitions between the colleges’ rowing teams is called. Her son, after the finals at the end of the term, will be sent out into the wide world, to Berlin, to learn German.

  So here is the compressed overview of the week, I would have told you more about it in detail, but where to find time, not to steal it!

  Tonight I am going to hear Lloyd George, which I am so happy about. My Hutchinsons hate him. They grew even more fond of me, after I skipped the debates yesterday, to play a “lovely daughter.”

  Love each other as much as I love you,

  Deeply,

  Gisi.

• May 15, 1932 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  Sunday, May 15, 1932

  This week we are rather neglecting each other, I had no word from home and only wrote to you once myself. Shall we on both sides improve ourselves? Mandi is however totally excused, because I know how much hassle your Birthday must be. But the good old Erich, you don’t have a birthday, still did not dedicate any of your time to me, what shall I make of it?

  My week was, so to speak, completely full. I will tell you the timeline.

  Tuesday afternoon tea at St. Hugh College, one of the girls’ colleges, Betty gathers the friends of Nadin Hamburgh (the daughter of a pianist in London invited me), very nice, but nothing special. After that, with Herman Fiedler (cello player, a friend of Eddy and a daughter of a German professor Lior), going to a wonderful concert of Haydn’s chamber music. In the evening, went to Lloyd George (there is a lot to tell you about it, but I have written an article about it, so you can read it in the newspaper (Mania of Grandeur) - or I will send you the handwriting, if they send the article back to me as non-fitting. Montgelas did not respond yet at all and I am in rage. Maybe I am optimist or just silly but I don’t give up hope that Montgelas is just lazy and not well organized.

  Wednesday, like I said, writing this article till 3 PM, in the evening dinner with Schumacher and Peter, after that went to see Iolanthe, an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan. It is the same guy who wrote Micado, these operettas are a sensation here, every Englishman knows them and listens to them again and again, every year the actors’ group tours through England with these performances. They are in Oxford for 14 days and every night is sold out way in advance. The whole thing is very witty and humorous, typical England. The plot unfolds partly in a House of Fairies, partly in the House Of Lords, the prompts are gorgeous and the costumes, too.

  Thursday afternoon I went to a cello concert with Mrs. H. of the best English woman cellist, but I have to confess, I was a bit disappointed. Then I had a class with Cuteliff and in the evening - to the Union, to the India debate (not sure what it is - L.B.) Question: that […] House condemns the Indian policy of H.M. present government. The insolubility of this question was very clear to me. I want to write an essay about it, I will send it to you if something comes out.

  At 5 your girl went to a fabulous but very difficult lecture on the poetry of Blake. In the evening I went to College for supper with one very nice girl, Hilda Studebecker, that I met through Lionel. It was quite amusing to philosophize with all the other nice girls that gathered together after the supper in Hilda’s room. She is engaged with a Palestinian lad, with whom she had debates about Zionism at Lionel’s.

  Yesterday morning Cassel’s lectures, this time I understood them better. Then lunch with Lionel, after that I washed my hair, picked up Schleppegrell and went for tea to Alpert, who landed here in the meantime. There were Deigmann from the German Academic Bureau in London and Soumer, who boasted about his speech in Kriel about the life of Beukiers. They were both honorable guests to the Annual Dinner in the evening, in the Rhodes House, where I went.

  The Chancellor of Birmingham University, who was also an honorable guest, together with Einstein, held a fantastic speech, in which he praised Germany and Anglo-German relations. Einstein spoke very briefly. Koelle, the President, made a very good speech. I was sitting next to one German Rhode-Scholar, a wonderful very intelligent man, a socialist or a communist, as it is so often with Germans here.

  I even dared to approach Einstein afterwards, and, as my father’s daughter and my sister Lola’s sister, exchanged a few words with him! The trick about such dinners is of course how to get a ticket, and everything stumbled upon Einstein, who, apparently decided to refuse to spend his whole evening at his writing desk. The Chancellor said in his speech that one must bow and bring flowers to a country such as Germany for having such people as Einstein. I would like to see how the Nazis would look and what they would think in such moments.

  Tomorrow we would like to go to the river (we: Lionel, Ingrid, maybe Troth) but before that one essay must be born! Tomorrow we go to Stratford, where we meet with Alice and Hilda and go see the Merchant of Venice, if we get tickets.

  When I got home last night, the Rev. asked me if he could see my dress, because his wife told him that it was […]

  He barely looked at it, the good man! that I dressed myself so beautifully, and today in the morning I was shining because of that and thought nostalgically about Margarete. My birthday greetings have not yet been answered.

  Deeply yours,

  your happy child!

• May 20, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Hamburg

  May 20, 1932

  Dear daughter,

  I got your emergency call and I am transferring you 500 RM in British pounds.

  If you need anything again, please let me know as soon as you can. Fathers are there so daughters can get help from them.

  Be hugged,

  your loving father.

• May 21, 1932 (damaged letter) | Gisela to her family

  Oxford, May 21, 1932

  Dearest family,

  Today I had a real student-afternoon, and I hope that Petrus will see me soon, and approve of my work, because I am supposed to meet Lionel tonight. I still have to write a paragraph, then write endless letters and mend the stockings, but the realization that it is absolutely impossible to get it all done, makes me very lazy and my day goofy.

  Early today, I got my article sent back to me - too much about Lloyd George, that is so interesting for me at the moment, and too little about the Union. Because I was supposed to write an article about the Union. I did not allow myself to write about it in detail, because I simply thought, that has been done before so many times. So here we go, another task to do.

  In the meantime, I started translating Rilke, with one girl student in Cherwell Edge, she is a translator. It is very hard and fantastic, sometimes German is not translatable to English, but I am learning a lot.

  For every class, I translate 1-2 letters of his, two hours twice a week. And we go through them with this girl student. She already announced her sub-participation and gave permission to use her name. And she should have it, my generosity has no limits! She is not very charming, but she knows the craft, that’s most important.

  I see now in horror, in my notebook, that today is one week since I wrote to you the last time!

  This is not because I am lazy, I just cannot put right on paper everything that is happening, to describe it for you, I just cannot report to you in full what has been happening during this short semester.

  So, last time I wrote to you, it was Pentecost Sunday morning.

  In the afternoon Ingrid, Lionel and I had a meal together and then went to the river in this gorgeous weather. I went to Yates’ for tea. Mrs. Yates is the lady that I met here at the Hutchinson’s God feast and her son is a canoe rower at the Christ Church, I was talking to him about Pentschl He is so-so, nothing special. But there was one very interesting Canadian Rhode-scholar. Anyway, they invited me to their Christ Barge for the Last Day of the Eight’s Week. Sunday night could be a very amusing evening, but instead Schlepp called me…

  Ingrid, whom I had to fetch, was not there, and so far I was the only girl there. Because many were in rowing-practice or were elsewhere, Soumer and I were soon left alone and they brought me afterwards home. We posed a philosophical question about girls’ university education, in the past and today, and his rude description somewhat damaged my thin skin, it just proves that in our times something is still not right. I will have to specify it for you in person.

  Monday - Stratford. Ingrid and I pulled ourselves out of Oxford, following our thoughts after a brilliant performance of Merchant Of Venice.

  [on top of the next page:] Careful! In case Marion is still there!

  First, we were honestly astonished by how sloppy the traffic of the English trains is. Don’t ask when the train is coming… The time is written in the stars. So we arrived at Stratford with a half-hour delay, and Alice, Tom and Hilda were already eating at the Shakespeare Hotel. Alice understood me well and told us right away that the performance already started one hour earlier, because the actors had to be in London for the evening performance - and that is why they did not manage to get any tickets. Ingrid and I, instead of saying “Never mind, we came here to see you!” changed in the face and some time has passed before we could utter any words. So we spent the afternoon driving in Hilda’s Roadster, seeing Shakespeare’s house of birth, his wife’s house of birth, his school and his garden. The best thing was that we both (Ingrid and Gisela) were running around, armed with our knowledge of Shakespeare’s works, because we had studied The Merchant Of Venice while still in Balm. In addition, it started drizzling and Ingrid and I sat down in Dicky, where we went on laughing about the things from Pentecost Monday. After all that afternoon that cost us 4 hours, Tom drove us back to Oxford in his car that had been in the repair shop in Stratford, and we sat in the Kemp Hall with him and Peter.

  On Tuesday (gorgeous sunny day) I was alone with Peter from 3 to 7 on the river, reading in seclusion. This small stream, when the weather is nice, with all its meadows and all these boats floating, is simply idyllic! In this daydreaming I completely forgot about my Cherwell Edge tea-hour invitation, where I was supposed to meet my translator aide.

  But I made it up later, at 9 pm, at a coffee-party at Diana Habbock’s place (Nancy’s friend) at the College. Except us, there were 4 other girls, one of them was Trott’ sister, she is here as a babysitter for a 1-year-old kid. She is exactly like […] and Perthes, but smarter, knows all Uncle Aby books and she wants to study in Hamburg, because of the library. At 10 pm we suddenly decided to watch the beautiful moon, which lasted only till 10:15 and then I suggested we go swimming, and while we swam, Ingrid and Diana joined us, in Eva’s clothing (naked).

  On Wednesday, I translated Rilke with the Auntie (aide) from 10 to 1. Afternoon tea at Delazlo, Joyce was there, too. In the evening was a dinner with Lionel, and then we went to visit one lad, who wasn’t at home, and we hanged out there. Actually I wanted to go hear one lecture, but Lionel did not want it, and College does not allow girls after 7:30 pm, therefore, if one is not going to movies, theater, lecture or for a walk, that means one is suspended in the air. Anyway, I did not dare to tell everybody at home about this harmless evening, so I simply said “We had dinner and went for a walk afterwards.” But - oh my! - Gisela does not possess any lying skills, and when they asked “who were you with”? - I said “Ingrid, Lionel and myself.” To that, she said “I was at the lecture and Ingrid sat right behind me.” I could not get myself out of this conversation, fell silent and then we simply changed the subject.

  The next day I was running around with a bad conscience, wanting to tell her that I lied, but after a few thoughts I decided to drop the matter and I believe she already forgot.

  I promised myself not to lie anymore and I really hope she forgets it, and it won’t be like in a proverb about “who lies once, is not to be believed anymore.”

  On Thursday, I had a translation hour. In the afternoon, Ingrid’s landlady and Peter and I drove to the outskirts, a very nice afternoon, and I found something there for Minnie’s birthday!

  In the evening, the Eights Week Debate, the best debate of the semester, where it is super hard to get the tickets to, but Ingrid managed to get them through one ex-president. The theme was “If the press should give news and not views.” In my opinion, a very stupid theme, because I cannot imagine any good news without views or any views without news. The speakers were sometimes very witty, but also void of any content.

  Yesterday was tee at St. John with one friend of Freudenbergs, who Ingrid met through them. At 6 pm we went to the rowing races, because this week is under the motto “College Rowers compete.” The thing is actually not to arrive first, but to not to touch the boats with yours, so if one bumps into another boat, both the “bumper” and the “bumped” are disqualified and the next day they start one number more from behind.

  Every boat is being rowed every day, so each of them bumps into one boat at some point, or even into 2. There are 3 divisions, the 3rd starts at 3, the second at 4 and the first at 5 o’clock. On the first day the boats start in the order in which they finished last year (continues to give the details about the rules of the game)

  Didn’t you understand my highly complicated explanation?

  Every College has a boathouse on the shore, so one can watch the whole thing, drinking tea.

  Yesterday Joyce was hosting a bottle-party in her friends’ flat. That is actually absolutely against the rules, so she pretended it was her friend who was making the party. The best part was Ingrid’s and mine bottle of gin, the liquor store wanted to sell us the whole bottle, but that was too expensive, so we went to the hotel and the waters’ boss sent us in his office, Ingrid charmed him with her redhead, and he gave us some and sent his waters to bring it to the party. But except one American, whom Ingrid was communicating with, the people were terrible. It is grotesque when these grown-up people check the watch all the time, because they must be back in college by 12. The rules are there to be broken.

  At the request of Zionists (indirectly, through Lionel) I wrote to Einstein, asking him if he would like to come to the dinner of the 25th anniversary of their establishment. They did not dare to ask him, because apparently he already accepted one invitation for the same evening, but I wrote to him, asking if he perhaps can find 30 min to appear at this dinner as well. Yes, yes, the chutzpah!

  Now I have been writing to you for the full 2 hours, and it is starting to rain. My God, what will happen to my huge mountain? Summer clothing is a much bigger problem than winter clothes, all stains boldly snow right away and the clothes are always so wrinkled.

  Ah, if my worries had Rothschild’s money!

  By the way, I do need some money. I am totally broke and it is painful.

  Keep me in your hearts, my dears, as I keep you in my heart with love!

  Yours best,

  Thank you for the card from Erich, really sweet!

• May 25, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Wednesday, May 25, 1932

  6 AM

  My dear Gisi kid,

  You haven't heard from me for ages, yet your novels require an audible echo from me. Despite the difficult times here, we feel your experiences in Oxford very intensely, although I am not getting through all your Lionels and Nancys. The charm of Oxford seems to lie in the tradition, that does not hold back any other developments. I hope you will learn a lot, thoroughly, and develop your memory, so that you will never miss a tea appointment or a package again.

  I have read your essay about Lloyd George, it is a very good description of the milieu, but you are much too kind to the man. Enthusiasm, eloquence, spur of the moment bordering on genius, feeling what the soul of the nation is ripe for, are the qualities of a restaurant manager, one must not be blinded by them. Lloyd George is a politician of the day, but not a statesman, a some English Erzberger. No Englishman in a powerful position has sinned as much as he; he is a demagogue who did not find the courage to fight this disgraceful treaty in Versailles, unscrupulously, cynically, superficially allowed destruction to happen and helped to build a European house of cards in which we all suffer today. There are few people I curse, among them is this one. If you write another article, please do not use your name. I believe that you already have talent for scripting, but with name one should publish only what is forged by long study. For such escapades look for a nice nom de guerre, for example Max Giwa.

  Here we enjoy Jimka's children, they are all three lovely; for Anita, who is getting on very well and also has talent for drawing, it is tiring - for mother they are huge grandmother's joys.

  The situation is very serious and I fear for Lausanne. The switch was wrong, the train is on the wrong track. Nevertheless, we must try to stop it. Bruening has a hard time, he is still too much a union secretary, too hesitant for this time.

  Embraces you

  your Father

• May 26, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  May 26, 1932

  Dearest Family,

  I think, I could again write a book to you, especially looking at how booked up my next few days are, because Nancy, her brother and Bunty are coming for the weekend.

  My first “book” was my last Saturday letter to you, and in the meantime I got 2 huge letters from you, one with a big check in it, and I did not cash it yet despite my gratitude to you. Deepest thanks!

  I told Mr. H about your love for Lloyd George, and he was so happy to hear it. It seems he placed me in his heart, after the report by Kenneth Bell (the person from Balliol College, who lives opposite Lionel). But SHE has recently upset me, because, when I was deep in my own thoughts, I took a piece of sugar with my fingers, and she said “BUT Gisela, with your fingers!.”

  Many many thanks for Mother’s sweet letter from Sunday, The kids of [illegible] seem to be so sweet, too bad I will not see them.

  Sunday morning I was writing an essay - really the hours that I spend on such tasks are the darkest hours in Oxford! I thought my last one was the last before graduation, but I have to give birth to new ones every week one or two! Therefore I know that to whine about is harmful and I have no time to whine anyway.

  Sunday we went for a tea to a country house outside of Oxford, where we were invited by one actress friend.

  I had supper with Lionel and we went to a very nice piano recital in Balliol Hall.

  Monday afternoon we watched a rowing competition with Bunty’s brother.

  One more gorgeous day, so I let myself stand on the beach near the boats, just resting.

  In the evening I was mending the stockings and begged Mrs. H. to play piano, which she loves but does very badly, she plays mainly Bach, whom I luckily prefer anyway.

  Tuesday afternoon I ate at the League of Nations, they have lunch like that every week, where someone speaks.

  Then 2 hours of translating Rilke, unfortunately, very slow, but it is a lot of fun.

  Then tea at Peter’s, where we stayed and did not go to see the rowing. In the evening, we had dinner with Ingrid and Lionel and then we went to see a film “Camaraderie” that is a great success here. You MUST see it, when it shows in Hamburg. The action is on the German-French border, in the coal mines, right after the war. In the French mine, something breaks and the Germans from the German mine volunteer to help. Very pacifist film. It would be probably even stronger, if the French saved the Germans, not the other way, but the Nazis would probably look unpatriotic in this case. The actors speak partly German, partly French, really the best film I have seen so far.

  Then I was with Yates' family (whom I met at the God-feast), on the last day of the 8 days of the Christ-Church celebration. In the evening, at 6, we ate together with Ingrid and a Canadian Rhode-scholar, whom Lionel found for Ingrid, and then we went to Rhode Dance. So, after all this exhausting writing work, now the “change partners” thing, Lionel wanted to dance with another girl, so I was mercilessly sold to another partner, and then the opposite way. (she continues to describe the game of dancing that way, I am not sure what exactly she is saying). Despite all these complicated circumstances, I really enjoyed myself anyway. Exactly at 1:45 it was over, and everyone hopped to the college, where they had to be at exactly 2. Poor college girls did not get a leave longer than just 12 hours.

  I actually made a big stain on my favorite blue dress, which I seem not to be able to clean up. But the blue suit arrived and there were also Douglas-blouses there.

  Tomorrow there will still be 3 weeks left, horrifying thought.

  So here is the week-report, my dears. It is already 10 (pm) and no essay has been yet born…

  You are loved very very much!

  Max is a gorgeous name, I did not yet have time to look at the article, but next week I surely will!

  What do you think about the fact that Einstein wanted to have an effect during the Disarmament Conference and went there? I cannot imagine that he can have any effect or influence on disarmament. I think he hopes to achieve something, what do you think, father?

• June 1, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  Wednesday, June 1, 1932

  Today is finally Student Day, when you can give me your usual call. Also your letter, with all enclosures, has arrived. Many thanks! Forgive me that I am so confusing in my description of people, so you lose your way in them all, but many people are just not worthy of longer descriptions. You wanted to know more about Lionel, that I mention so often. He is one Canadian Rhode- scholar, whom I met at L.S.E. in London, through a friend of mine.

  He is doing some research work here, because he wants to write a book “Anglo-American relations before the War.” He is very nice, perhaps so far my biggest flirt from Oxford. Well, not so much from Oxford, but he is a lot into me, and I like him a lot, but do not be afraid, I am definitely not in love.

  Last time I wrote to you on Thursday, so on Friday I went to prof. Lindsay, that Master of Ballolam, who I was referred to by Mendelsohn-B.

  They have a beautiful house in Ballolam. Afternoon - one hour at Catliff, then tea with Miss Sutherland, from the girls’ college (through Nancy).

  Dinner with Thiely, a very nice lad who Ingrid is after, and with Lionel. And then to the movies…

  Saturday Nancy dropped by at 12:30. We went to Kenny’s Hall, one self-service cafe. That is, you take a plate, fill it up in the buffet, get a bill, on another table you take the utensils, then pay the bill when you exit.

  Then we went to Nancy’s house where we met with (Bunty?) and Lucy, it was so good to see the friends again!

  Went home with them and gave them the sport suits and stockings, which they loved a lot.

  In the evening we went to a tiny place with Nancy, Scott (a friend of hers, also from L.S.E.), Ingrid and Lionel and had supper. After that, we went to a hotel, because otherwise there is nowhere to stay in Oxford at night. After 7:30 girls are not allowed into College for Boys. Lucy and Bunty came to this hotel and we had a great time, then Nancy’s brother Zinn came at 10, too. Exhausted, we went to sleep at 11:30.

  Sunday morning we had breakfast in the hotel with Lucy, Bunty, her brother , Nancy and Ingrid. We had lunch at noon at another friend’s place at Merton College, with Nancy and Zinn, all 8 or us. I hold off from any further reporting, I am afraid it will only confuse you even more. Anyway, after that we all went to the water and stayed there till 4 pm, then Tony Goldschmidt, Nancy’s friend, drove us all back home in his car, and I slept, Nancy went for tea with Tony. At 6 pm there was a Cocktail party at Alpert’s, but I do not find much in common with him or the people there, because he stands for a revolution and was to end British hegemony. At 7, we had another big hang in Ken t 's Hall, with Peter and his 3 friends, Lucy, Thielly, Bunty, Nancy, Zinn, etc. After that, at the film society, we saw a Soviet Russian film, propaganda, of course, but because of its tragedy, it had the opposite effect on me. Nancy, Zinn, Lucy and Bunty rushed to catch their train. So, as you see, a rather active weekend…

  I did not get much of Nancy, she was focused on her brother who also did not say much at all, somewhat abnormal. Perhaps like a lovers’ couple, and she is obsessively jealous over every girl. I could not talk to her one to one almost at all.

  Bunty invited me to come with her to her house for one or two weeks, which I will probably do, because I want to prolong my stay here as much as possible. It is ok with you, if I go to Lucy and Bunty’s house in August, isn’t it?

  Monday morning I went for a walk with Lionel, then to Peter, who faces his upcoming tests, poor guy. In the evening, German club, nothing new.

  What do you think about Brunings Fall , father? We got very excited. Do you think Hitler has chances? Who will go to Lausanne? Do you think Geplerschaucen is good? Do you think that Hindenburg landed right?

  Yesterday I was translating for 2 hours, then met with Lionel who gave me the needed materials and articles, now I am right on it!

  In the evening, there is a show at the Lady Marguerite’s Hall, very funny.

  Chaim came to London yesterday, but I won’t see him before the end-semester.

  Forgive me this silly letter, it’s just nothing coming out today.

  With love, your kid.

• June 5, 1932 | Gisela to her family

  Sunday, June 5,

  My thoughts are with my father today!

  Dearest family,

  Two weeks from today the semester is over! I simply cannot believe it!

  My vacation plans are as follows: I want to finish translating Rilke’s letters before I leave Oxford. That will take at least 3 weeks. That means, I will have to stay here a bit longer. After that, go camping with Nancy and Nadin Hamburgh, after that I will stay with Nancy in London for 1 week.

  Besides, also go to Bunty to Lancashire where she invited me to come, and be there till August 1, with Lucy and Bunty, is that OK with you?

  Friday night there were Presidential Debates in the Union, to which came Herbert Sammel, and he gave a speech.

  After that, Ingrid and I were taken to the Presidential Supper, which is an incredible honor.

  Thursday a concert with Mrs. Hutchinson, Wednesday theater with Peter: Constant Nymph.

  So far my days are all under the star of Rilke, it is a lot of fun but it is awfully hard.

  I have made 2 for Giesel and have to run to Peter now. Have to tell him that I am going to tee with Kenneth Bell. With that I conclude my whiny Sunday letter,

  always your child.

• June 15, 1932 (partial letter) | Gisela to her family

  15 June 1932

  3 Church Walk

  She is writing, dearest Family,

  The more plans I have to do things, the less I can write to you, and it is a bit sad.

  Thank you for the lovely letter from Maudi, a thousand times thanks for the support money for my Birthday that I by no means want to spend on myself - I have a Birthday here every day! in relation to food, so it is really good (honestly and truly) - and, as my skirts prove to me, I am still as fat as before, as I was when I left you!

  Here we have salad every day, meat and potatoes, but they make very diverse evening meals that I like a lot and even muffins with butter. Besides, we do go out in the evenings, and I can then order whatever I want. I consume tea in great volume. For breakfast, I eat fruit.

  So you see, everything is alright!

  Yesterday early I got a call from Erich and Rudo, unfortunately Rudo cannot come to Oxford, but called me again today from Birmingham, that’s where he was about to come from today, but he called to tell me that he was in a meeting and cannot come.

  Erich is coming on Sunday eve to stay with me, Sunday night there is a ball of the League Of Nations, and as much as I tried and ran around, I could not get a ticket up till now. If we don’t get a ticket, at least he has one.

  Maybe Hans is coming this weekend, too. If yes, I will then send Erich to go out with one very neat Swedish girl and will do something else with Hans. Everything is a bit hysterically entangled.

  The plans after the end of the semester are vague and multifaceted… It can resolve itself today in the afternoon, I don’t want to boast to you, otherwise bad omen and it might not happen.

  Mandi, regarding your fears that I won’t come to work anymore, it isn’t that bad. I just did not tell you, mornings I am reading for Mrs. Hutchinson. Then I am busy translating Rilke (minimum 2 hours a day, as I decided), or studying for the course, on which I will have a test Sunday eve, 2.5 hours. From 11-12 (except Wednesday and Thursday), the course and then work again, till lunch. Then, from 2 to 4, either translating time 2-3 times a week or I just study for myself.

  By the way, Ingrid suddenly claimed that we probably know 100 students already, I said no, probably max 30. So we started counting who we know, so we met them at least twice and spoke to them, or whom we just passed by on the street, and easily counted 50! And that only boys, plus about 15 girls.

  Now, to my reporting about a colorful week, which was marked by blissful weather.

  Friday, translating time, 2-4 pm. Tea with Lionel, something different for a change! Dinner with George Baks and then off to a Labour Club meeting where XXX spoke. But the speech was nothing new and nothing constructive, so we left after 30 min. On Saturday, my H’s were invited for breakfast, so they asked me if I wanted them to bring something for me, but no sweets? Peter and his friend visited after breakfast, I brought them coffee, and then Madame H appeared from the window, because I apparently shut the backdoor.

  Tomorrow church at 7 am… then tea at the New College’ Dean’s place, with Pat (the actress who was my roommate in London, I wrote to you about her). A lot of new people, nothing special though.

  At 5 pm at the Sherry Party, at the Labour Club, many people I know, very nice.

  After that, Schumacher, Peter, Lionel, Ruth Reinstroem, Ingrid and I had a picnic on the river in Pennt and stayed there till 10 PM! Then we all went to Ingrid, where Max Kesselstein and Prinz August von Braunschweig (and also a nephew of the King of Britain and Kaiser’s uncle!) Salenar also came for a weekend. Sunday early morning, I worked till 10:30, then I showed all 10 people Oxford, at noon we bumped into - guess who? Hohenenser! All together we had lunch and had some tea outdoors, had dinner with Lionel and I went to bed early, on Monday I did translations from 2 to 4

  […]

  Schweizer studied philosophy first, then theology, and wanted to go to Africa as a missioner, but that did not quite work out, but then he studied medicine, founded a hospital in Africa and collected money for it. At 6:15 I met with Hilda Kohn-Speyer and her friend, and with them - Oxford spring again (grotesque that I had to show THEM Oxford!) and together had a meal at the Kemp Hall. Then off to Diana Habbock (Nancy’s friend). That’s it!

  Today I had some tea by Michel Hutelinsen in Ballhof and met another “bookworm,” the boy never had tea with a girl and asked me if it was against the rules! Tonight, an organ concert.

  Papers and essays are due by the end of semester, after that I will have more time, hopefully.

  Do not forget

  your someone who is loving you!

  All the best!

• June 5, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  June 5, 1932

  Miss Gisela Warburg,

  Oxford

  Dearest Gisi,

  Thank you very much for your congratulations and the impeccably typed letter, so you have a chance to be hired as a secretary!

  Today Lola is here, just for one day. I'm going back to Berlin with her tomorrow morning.

  The family has made a great effort, Mother gave me Anita's picture, which turned out very well, Renate painted a colorful festive tablet, Anita gave a really exceptionally well done drawing and verses about life in Koesterberg.

  I am enjoying this day as a jubilant should, only I am sorry that you are not with us.

  You ask some questions concerning the political situation, but they are not easy to answer. Certainly, the abrupt dismissal of Bruening was very ugly. Whether one or the other political direction will prevail in Germany in the long run is very difficult to judge. What is certain is that a man like Hindenburg, who owes his position to his high human qualities, should never have dismissed so abruptly a man of such merit as Bruening. I am not such a great admirer of Hindenburg, because I think that he often failed in decisive moments. (I write this as intended only for you. One can learn from the English that one should not reveal any politician in office to the outside world. “Right or wrong my country” is correct in this respect. So I would not get involved in discussions with the gentlemen in Oxford. ) Hindenburg's great moral deed was to lead the defeated Herres home, and his willingness to make himself available for office despite his advanced age. He failed, however, when it came to ending the war in time, failed when it came to dismissing Ludendorff in time, failed - and only he could - to solve the vexed flag question. Finally, he did not properly unite the military associations, the S.A. formations, the Reichsbanner, the Stahlhelm, which would not have been easy for him, but possible, because, after all, all troops - regardless of party and denomination - were needed in the war. On the other hand, Bruening also failed very often in the last six months.

  The activism of the S.A. formations should never have been allowed to develop in this way, but if they were to be banned, the ban had to affect the other, ordinary military associations as well. This injustice was rightly reproached to Hindenburg as an old military man and he did not forgive Bruening for it. Besides, in Neudeck he was worked so hard by his generals, grand-agrarians and so on, that in his old age he was no longer able to cope with these influences. The whole step was, if one wants to be mild towards Hindenburg, a sign of old age.

  Bruening had become more and more Cunctator, for years I have preached to all those who have sympathy with Bruening to take more care of the our people's soul and to finish a series of actions more quickly, but he did it only in the last months. He made the big mistake of wanting to do everything himself, working on the files himself, and thus did not have the decisiveness at the important moment. Coming from the career of a trade union secretary, he has not become a high-ranking statesman, no matter how distinguished he is, he could not free himself from the interests of the employees and has done many things that directly prepared the ruin of the employers.

  So, in assessing the whole situation, one cannot say that one or the other is wrong, they have all made an extraordinary number of mistakes, and what is happening now are the consequences of this.

  I know von Papen, he is an amiable, shrewd man, but of no great importance. He is only an advance man; the head of the new cabinet is Schleicher. There are a number of capable people in the cabinet, whether they will be able to master the situation is very difficult to say.

  As for Hitler, it is extremely difficult to say how the man will maneuver. For the time being, the Nazis are capitalizing on the desperate mood of the Germans with all possible promises and by arousing the lowest passions. I do not think it impossible, however, that agreements have been made between Schleicher and Hitler, and that if in the new elections the Nazis will become very important, the cabinet will be reshaped and some Nazis will be included. Historically perhaps correct, from the human point of view I do not need to tell you what I think.

  What will become of Lausanne is also difficult to predict. The result depends on the will of the other powers more than on Germany. One should not expect much.

  Gessler is a clever and skillful man. However, he is out of the question for the time being because he is too liberal for the right-wing circles.

  You can give Ingrid knowledge of this wisdom of mine. She has often asked this about politics, but I can only repeat that outwardly, however serious it may look in one's own country, one must always have confidence in the government and not disrespect the political opponent. You can do that at home if you want to be absolutely honest.

  I hug you,

  Your father

• June 25, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Blankenese, June 25, 1932

  Dear Gisi kid,

  I am pleased to see from your letter from Buttermere what beauty and freedom you all enjoy!

  Your English months will always be of use to you and a beautiful memory. However, I would like you to look for further jobs not in the island kingdom, but in Germany, so take up your activity here as soon as possible. I telegraph you to Oxford, as requested by you, that I would first like to know the names of the Irish family, but never got an answer. But no matter how the information is, I find on further consideration that one has no right to extend one's stay so long without a special reason, it is not so special, and here it is getting worse from day to day, so that one must finally think of serious work. You know how much I don't like to be asked for extension, because I don't like to say no, but when you have such time behind you, you have to digest it first. I generally have the feeling that you are always overburdening yourself with too much. You have already enjoyed your storm and urge period in some squares, well - but finally there has to come collection, inner peace and fundamental work. I am almost convinced that you could have passed your so-called exams with a little less fuss! A good lesson. It is not a misfortune, but I am sorry, because nowadays one needs also a stamp or several, for his activity. I will send you 500 marks, and hope it will be enough to get you to Koesterberg, where we are all eagerly awaiting you.

  Mother, Anni and Erich are doing very well, Trixi is also here, we have quite a few visitors. Monday I will be in Berlin, Dr. Melchior is in Lausanne, where there is a fierce struggle. I don't see a solution yet, I hope you will bring it.

  I hug you warmly,

  Your father

• July 1, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  July 1, 1932,

  Ferdinandstrasse, 75

  Dearest Gisi,

  I am glad to see from your next letter that you have grasped the situation correctly, which is the main thing in life. You can do the Nancy tour, we expect you here at the end of July and you can bring your two companions.

  I think of your work as an assistant to Miss Victor and Miss Haase, so that you can practice shorthand and typing, but at the same time work in the various departments. We will decide that definitively when you are here.

  Still no progress on Lausanne.

  With best regards,

  Your father

  Who is so looking forward to your return!

• November 11, 1932 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela and siblings

  ROYAL HOTEL

  SAN REMO

  November 11, 1932

  Dear children,

  The first letter that reached us here was of course from you, Gisi. A thousand thanks! Pontiset - economic entertainments on the railroad and divergences and invitation - all sorts! We arrived unhindered, not until about 8 o'clock in the evening. We had ordered bedroom and bath, the price from Hamburg was still pressing, Erich, and were nevertheless accommodated befitting our status. A small apartment with anteroom, small salon, and room for Margarethe - all included. With a view of the sea, on all sides free on exotic trees and palms. It reminds one of Cairo. It is fantastically beautiful. At the same time, it is mild and warm, and you live with the windows open. Everything is in summer bloom. The mighty palms move their long fronds majestically in the gentle breeze, the orange trees full of heavy fruit, bougainvillea on every wall, mimosa trees, roses, everything what we usually need a lot of work to grow in a greenhouse. The landscape of southern charm bathed in blue, even with gray skies. The first day yesterday was a jubilation. We walked exultantly along the coast and drove to the Gulf already in the afternoon. A quiet, hilly valley, sea view, with lots of draping olive and fig trees, hard land, but well kept and horticultural caddies. One feels like in wonderland.

  This morning in the old town, the houses connected with stone arches against earthquakes. Goats and children, displays and mighty bellowing criers, in the narrow pass in which only sparse light falls, remind of Jerusalem. Father has led us wonderfully, showing a sense of place that amazes even himself. He sleeps like s child without schoolwork, but distinguishes himself by scurrying to the desk as soon as he gets home. We could not have found a more beautiful spot on earth and one forgets November.

  I am very pleased that Aunt Frieda is coming to us. Are you ready, dear Erich, to give her your room? Of course, Louise would have to sleep in the air-conditioned room upstairs, and there would be no room for you. What do we do? Please let me know, then I will make specific arrangements.

  Have you had time to look in “Vogue,” Tuschen? You must order your things now, not wait. I will come home to.… Also buy pants and stockings, so Louise has nothing to do. Also buy shoes, in pair more than absolutely necessary and not have all heels put in order. Do not forgetl sippers for the ship and in the afternoon invitations in Jerusalem! Please do everything in Maudi's style! Aunt Frieda can do it!

  More soon, dear children, lunch time, we want to go to the Gulf already at 2 o'clock!

  What do you have to tell me? How did the election go?

  loves you,

  Your Maudi

  (Please ask Fräulein Portin to send the x-rays that I took there in the summer to Prof. Plesch, Budapesterstr. The number can be found in the Berlin telephone book.)

• November 15, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  San Remo Hotel Royal, 15 November 1932

  Dearest Gisi,

  we were very pleased with your detailed letter. Mother already wrote to you yesterday, so you are informed about our busy life. Anyway, the place is very well chosen and we lead a happy shepherd life.

  Your office experiences are very significant, they are all good-willed and hard-working people with few exceptions and I only regret that I have lost the feeling with them so much; in former times there was also a lot of humor in the office and there were games, plays, etc. The time is not completely gone, but one should keep up the “smiling,” even if it is sometimes difficult.

  I would appreciate it very much if you would take as a program in the office: How can I make the customer's life easier? Make it understandable? make it simpler? That's what I've wanted for decades, but I've always met with passive resistance. Hic Rhodus - hic salta! (what you can do, here and now)

  I read and write a lot, but I'm in the fresh air a lot, too.

  Here embraces you

  your father

• November 19, 1932 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  San Remo,

  November 19, 1932

  Beloved children,

  First of all, to the point. If you measure your foot for me, in German size, little Gisi, and tell me your many-sided special wishes, I can easily bring you what you want from the land of lemons and small feet. Otherwise, I urgently advise Anite to order you shoes from Kindler in Berlin. He has your size. The expense is worth it, you will not regret wearing them.

  True to my hint “everything in peace', I do not want to arrive at the last moment before Aunt Frieda's arrival. Therefore, we will probably be in Hamburg Friday, Dec. 2 in the evening. I also want to have your things packed before her arrival. I now hope that Fräulein Blohen will be with us on Dec. 1. Jürgen's leave was granted until Monday, Dec. 5. Please tell him that I will give him the two missing days later, and immediately inform everyone in the house of the day of our return home.

  I wish you, Gisi, that you will soon come closer to the sun. When it shines and warms you as it does here, you know what you are missing. Father exhausted himself on the golf course and immersed himself in the bathtub. Yesterday I played wearing a thin sleeveless jumper. In the afternoon we go by bus via Ospedaletti, Bordighera, Ventimiglia to the most beautiful garden of the whole Riviera: “La Mortela,” created by an Englishman - hanging on the sea like the monastery mountain. An indulgence! The coast is so varied and the paths so tempting that father's need to move, besides being satisfied, always gives us new and beautiful impressions.

  I had hoped to show Lola all the splendor, but she can not leave, as she writes today. Your good news received with joy.

  Cordially kisses you

  Your Maudi

• November 26, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  November 26, 1932

  San Remo Hotel Royal

  Dearest Gisi,

  your letters always please us very much. We have both really recovered here a lot, so we are ready for the joys of winter. I would like to suggest that you and Miss Haase meet us on Saturday. We leave Frankfurt at about 1 PM and arrive in Hamburg at 11 PM. Since Mother will see you only a short time before Palestine, you can have a good talk then. I won't tell Mother, so that when you arrive, it will be a surprise. But if you have a party that you can't postpone, then never mind.

  Embracing you,

  Your father

• November 27, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Monaco, Saturday,

  November 27, 1932

  Dearest Gisela,

  so far a woman (and your mother at that!) can bring one down! She plays while I, virtuous one, sit in the anteroom of the Blessed Sacrament and wait. Poverrino! (Poor thing!)

  Fortunately, mother is not familiar with the exchange rates and so she found 100 francs already much too much, so the misfortune can cost me no more than 16 marks and it can not be long before she has pulled out her otherwise so well-groomed hair.

  The audience reminds one of Aunt Malchen in her old age, more than of Gabi from Frankfurt am Main. But nature here is so beautiful that one forgives her the mistake she made by creating such people. One believes, one is in the madhouse, and if Hitler, Thalmann and all the radicals would eliminate this system once and for all, they would have at least a justification for their existence! But enough of the philosophy, a charming Frenchwoman wishes to meet a Poeseldorfer grandfather! I cannot deprive myself of that!

  Embracing you,

  Your father

• December 11, 1932 | Alice (Maudi) Warburg to Gisela

  Sunday, December 11, 1932

  Dear child,

  Dad could not believe that you had taken his remark seriously and was quite sad about it. That’s why he wrote his lines to you.

  Now you are already swimming and I wish all the sun and warmth down on you. Aunt Frieda needs warm weather rest as much as you do.

  I saw the Berga film yesterday. Very talented and charming, one thinks of “Sous les toits de Paris” which must have been in his mind.

  We are going for a walk with Raedly this morning, lecture at Jacques Meyer's this afternoon. Erich is playing field hockey in Brandenburg and has a party tonight at his place.

  It is so cold here too that we can't golf.

  I have thrown myself into Christmas preparations and feel like a young woman without children!

  More soon - enjoy your life and kiss Auntie Frieda.

  Yours faithfully,

  Maudi

• December 11, 1932 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  December 11, 1932

  Neue Rabenstrasse, 24

  I received your letter from Munich. You are even thinner than you look, and that is a lot. The remarks of Erich and Jimmie are inappropriate and wrong, I have never taken such comments seriously. (They still don’t know their husband/father!) You have been working very hard in the office and can carry out some relaxation, but don't overdo it because it should be a rest and not an effort! The reunion with Palestine is a rare opportunity, such opportunities must be taken; in addition to this, there is the joy of Aunt Frieda to be with you (incomprehensible to me), which I heartily honor to this faithful soul.

  So, do not let your conscience bite you on this!

  When Mrs. Weizmann turns 80, send her flowers from me with an inserted card.

  I embrace you both,

  Your father

• December 15, 1932 - January 10, 1933

  See Gisela’s Second Trip to Palestine.

• May 5, 1933 (poem) | Gisela to Max Warburg

  May 5, 1933

  My feet are small,
  Big is my heart,
  Into my heart
  Everybody goes!
  
  

  In the East, in the West,
  In the North or South
  I love the best ones,
  Christians or Jews!
  
  

  Is the world also mighty,
  I believe in my luck.
  I see everything favorably
  And so it shines back!

  I should actually be a servant!
  I plead and load things on my back.
  My saying was until now: Only always yes to all!
  Now it's different, because I'm tired.

• October 15, 1933 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Hamburg, October 15, 1933

  Dearest Gisi,

  Please secure up the 700 marks carefully, after you have secured yourself up, think of your virtuous Vera E! I will send you the money in cash.

  Yesterday Ross was here, he looks like a Gaspar from St. Pauli, he is enthusiastic and can therefore be useful. I doused him with the necessary amount of alcohol.

  Leaving the Folksunion is very clever, to hide the otherwise certain embarrassment; but basically the blame also lies with the others.

  I hope you are all well, especially Oscar. I am not expected to arrive until Friday. I ask Lola to find out if H. will also be there Friday and Saturday.

   hugs you with a kiss on your bald head

  Your father

• October 17, 1933 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Hamburg,

  October 17,1933

  Messrs M Warburg and Co. take the liberty of reminding Fraeulein Gisela Warburg of the cheerfulness of her vacation. A prolongation is excluded and requests in this regard will not be accepted. It is possible that the boss will bring home this precious jewel himself on Saturday or Sunday. (Salary payment starts on the day of arrival!).

• August 30, 1934 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  Bodenbach, Karlsbad,

  August 30, 1934

  Dearest Gisi,

  Anita will have told you about our very nice get-together, we got along very well, which a father must always be especially happy about. Anita will also have told you why it is very important to me that you also finish your studies at W. & Co. I have no objection to your continuing to garden as soon as Lola is back, but as soon as this is over - in mid-October - I would really like to see you abroad. I will see you in Hamburg for Yom Kippur and will certainly stay until the beginning of October, but I wanted to give you this one (except for this, .... I must also tell you that the good Edward is NOT fit to give valuable advice… (he says Edward is mediocre, is rather Poor Yorick, but no Pied Piper, cannot become a leader … not sure who it is about, hard to read what it says)

  The idea to HAVE to have a job, in addition in a time like now, is an escape from itself. Man is there to educate himself and help others, and, if you are female, to marry, provided that the right one comes along. But to be professionally classified under any circumstances, if one is as disciplined as you are, and occupies his day not once but twice, would be sacrilege, if there were not a very special talent that one has not yet discovered. So don't be fooled, but go your way as before, it is a right way! If the general situation gets clearer, you will also see clearer.

  Embraces you

  Your father

• September 6, 1934 | Max Warburg to Gisela

  September 6, 1934

  Karlsbad,

  Park Hotel Richmond

  Dearest Gisi kid,

  I have received your report. There was no need to defend E., he struggled honestly, he also got his mistakes along the way; whether he could develop more energy in the work, more thoroughness in everything out of himself? Where does the free will, the own “culpa” begin? I do not count on him, I only say: this one is not a judge! And the desire to teach you etiquette is absolutely wrong. You learn daily, you serve, you help daily, THE task of life comes when the task, you, AND the time are ripe! This self-dissecting is poison, address what and wherever you can help!

  The purpose of these lines is to wish you and Anchen all the best for the New Year. Health! I'm so glad that Marthos is happy. Learning every day thoroughly! Helping others every day!

  We are doing well,

  Hugs you both, Rudo and the children,

  Father

• September 6, 1934 (second letter) | Max Warburg to Gisela

  September 6, 1934

  Karlsbad,

  Park Hotel Richmond

  Dearest Gisi child,

  You want an answer quickly, la voila! (Uncle Jacques has arrived and will appear shortly, I do not want to miss anything from him and must therefore be brief!)

  The next few months will probably be nomadic for you, short time Hamburg, then Amsterdam? then Oxford? besides also in general and so on even right now? Occasions are always there, I can therefore only advise you against, in any case we wait until we see each other, also so that we have a topic!

  Embraces you cordially,

  your uncomfortable father

• February 20, 1935 - April 5, 1935

  See Gisela’s Third Trip to Palestine.