Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin

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[Translation/transcription]

19 August 1970

My very dear Pepik,

I think it was just about high time that we saw one another again. Just like old times, though the time we had together was unfortunately very short, seeing you and Pam again and meeting you (forgive me) your daughter was more than lovely, and this simple word has to say so much, and we get along as we always did! But in future we really mustn't let so many years pass without being in touch and seeing one another, and quite aside from all that we really don't know how many years we even have left on this restless, nerve-racking world (forgive my typing).

Many thanks for your book and the friendly words. I'm reading it now in Locarno, where I'm spending some of my holiday, and I can see you as I read and think, and everything seems so close, almost as though the time of our youth were just yesterday. You have made me very happy with it. Shortly before I left I received from friends the little book by Urzidil, Väterliches aus Prag und Handwerkliches aus New York [Prague Paternals and New York Craft]. I'm sure you know of it. In case you haven't already read it, he writes a great deal about REEDER. You know of course that Reeder died in New York just a couple of years ago.

I don't know whether these lines will find you at home or whether you're in Canada. Hopefully you were satisfied by your trip. Meanwhile I've had a letter from Irma. Not particularly good news, as you can imagine. She was ill, and the turbulence of life in Israel never gives anyone's nerves a moment's peace.

Now I have another request: I can't find your book or catalogue (or both) about Manzù anywhere. Would you be so kind as to get me a copy, in English of course, because it probably hasn't been translated yet. I then want to get it for Maria Wallenstein and let her read it, because she's a particularly ardent admirer.

All [illegible] love to you and Pam, kisses for the children.

Yours,

Oskar K

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