"Thrown away 10 years of my life to prevent inevitable" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | Letters/557 |
| Archive | |
| Epistolary Type | |
| Letter Date | March 1915 |
| Address From | Kensington Palace Mansions, De Vere Gardens, Kensington, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Emily Hobhouse |
| Other Versions | Cronwright-Schreiner 1924: 347-8 |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
When Cronwright-Schreiner prepared The Letters of Olive Schreiner, with few exceptions he then destroyed her originals. However, some people gave him copies and kept the originals or demanded the return of these; and when actual Schreiner letters can be compared with his versions, his have omissions, distortions and bowdlerisations. Where Schreiner originals have survived, these will be found in the relevant collections across the OSLO website. There is however a residue of some 587 items in The Letters for which no originals are extant. They are included here for sake of completeness. However, their relationship to Schreiners actual letters cannot now be gauged, and so they should be read with caution for the reasons given.
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1To Miss E. Hobhouse,
2Kensington Palace Mansions (? Mar.).
3
4I can imagine a "peace," quite as hideous and unjust, taking place in
5Europe which would plunge us lower than we have been into the depths
6of international hatred and bloody strifes. I have studied European
7problems as I deeply as my ability has allowed me for many many years,
8I have read all I could on the Eastern question, I have done little
9else for the last few months, and yet I am far from feeling I can pour
10light and guidance out on the human race by speaking my thoughts on a
11platform. If war is ever to be stopped on earth it will be only by the
12passing away of the ideals of empire, national supremacy, and the
13search after national wealth as the first object in life.
14
2Kensington Palace Mansions (? Mar.).
3
4I can imagine a "peace," quite as hideous and unjust, taking place in
5Europe which would plunge us lower than we have been into the depths
6of international hatred and bloody strifes. I have studied European
7problems as I deeply as my ability has allowed me for many many years,
8I have read all I could on the Eastern question, I have done little
9else for the last few months, and yet I am far from feeling I can pour
10light and guidance out on the human race by speaking my thoughts on a
11platform. If war is ever to be stopped on earth it will be only by the
12passing away of the ideals of empire, national supremacy, and the
13search after national wealth as the first object in life.
14