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Lily Batthyany
Lilly Batthyany was the wife of the Hungarian aristocrat Count Ervin Batthyany, a friend of Edward Carpenter’s who first stayed at Millthorpe in 1901. According to Rowbotham, after this visit Count Batthyany took a copy of Carpenter’s Towards Democracy back to Hungary with him and began to translate it into German with the help of a friend, Lilly Nadler-Nuellens; “In the process the couple fell in love.” (Rowbotham 2008: 345). When Count Batthyany tried to set up schools and workshops for the peasants living on his family estates, his appalled family placed him in an asylum. Lilly Nadler-Nuellens campaigned for his release and the couple eventually moved to Britain, where, after a protracted legal battle, Batthyany’s inheritance was eventually restored. The Batthyanys became close friends of Carpenter’s, and Olive Schreiner stayed in their London home Alexi in Hampstead for some months in 1916 while they were away. It is likely that some letters were exchanged between Schreiner and the Batthyanys, although none have been traced. Schreiner shared the Batthyanys’ pacifist ideals, and in a letter to Betty Molteno she referred to “my dear friend the Countess Batthyany”, suggesting that a friendship had developed between them independent of their mutual connection with Edward Carpenter.
For further information see:
Sheila Rowbotham (2008) Edward Carpenter: A Life of Liberty and Love London: Verso
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Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin: The HRC, Austin, is one of the world leading locations for archival papers pertaining to literary life and manuscripts across... Show/Hide Collection Letters
HRC/CAT/OS/5b-v:Alexi, 31 The Park, Hampstead , Saturday , Dear old Havelock , I do wish you & Edith could let or sell your house at Carb...- HRC/CAT/OS/5b-xvi:Monday , Dear Havelock When I came home I found the enclosed letter from Count Batthyany & this wire from Edith., I have ...
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- National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown: The National English Literary Museum is the leading location for collections pertaining to the imaginative and creative writi... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/s:30 St Mary Abbotts Terrace, Monday, My dear Edward, I'm writing to you just to give myself a little pleasure. It was so fine ...
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- Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/u:Alexi, Hampstead , March 16th 1916, Dear Edward, It was nice to get your letter. Oh it is so good being here. I wrote another...
- National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: E.B. Lloyd MSC 26/2.4.4:Alexi, 31 The Park, Hampstead , Monday, Dear Mr Lloyd, Thank you for your letter. The reason I was so anxious to see you, apa...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold2/1916/11:Alexi , 31 The Park , Hampstead , March 17th 1916, Dear Betty, I enclose two cuttings. Please let Mr Balmsforth see them., I ...