What now? Paris is more expensive than ever, I have a terrific reputation, which makes it impossible for me to hawk myself around — hence no prospects.
What are you up to? And Sasha?7 It costs me a lot to write these sorry lines — if I had any better news, I’d have written long ago.
Greetings from your old
Joseph Roth
1. Ludwig Marcuse (1894–1971), German Jewish biographer, essayist, theater critic for the Frankfurter Generalanzeiger. Went into exile in March 1933 to Paris, and Sanary-sur-Mer, in 1938 on to Los Angeles, where he became professor of German literature and philosophy at USC.
2. Vossische Zeitung: elegantly described by Hermann Kesten as having been started by Lessing and ended by Hitler.
3. On 13 May 1927 prices on the Berlin stock market suffered precipitous declines.
4. Kaliski: worked in the Ullstein Verlag.
5. Lania: Leo Lania (1896–1961), journalist, biographer, novelist. Went into exile in 1933. Wrote an account of Willy Brandt’s coming to power.
6. I.e., the BBC.
7. The later Mrs. Marcuse. Bronsen tells the lovely story of how they met: Marcuse was upset after being dumped by some other flame, Roth reminded him that the world was full of attractive women, and pointed to the waitress in the bar in Berlin where they were sitting. This was Erna, who, a little later, became Sasha when Marcuse told Roth that he loved her dearly, but found her Berlin speech full of embarrassing solecisms. Roth’s solution was to dub her Sasha and claim she was a Russian princess; his policy with Friedl, his own wife, was not dissimilar, but much less successful.
44. To Bernard von Brentano
Paris, 19 June 1927
Dear friend,
thank you for your letter and review.1 You shouldn’t worry: there is nothing finer than being bribed, I’ve long prided myself on that condition. It’s the height of morality. More than for your review, though, I’m grateful for your letter. If it weren’t that the book was with Schmiede, it might be a great success. Stefan Zweig, Toller, Meier-Graefe2 have all written to me. Do you have an address for Emil Ludwig,3 by any chance? I’d like to send him a copy. He was here, and I would have tried to meet him if I’d been well. As it is, I read an interview with him in the Nouvelles Littéraires4—and for the first time felt something like respect for him. He’s the only one who tells the truth about Germany, literature, his preferences and opinions. What’s your opinion of Keyserling?5 Absurd and completely unimportant figure! I’ve yet to hear a German talk the way he does — twerp. Of course, it’s easy for L. to be brave. But some people can’t be prevented from being deceitful or polite (as people call it), so consumed are they with the task of “representing” Germany.
The paper has treated me shabbily. Reifenberg will tell you about it, though you’ll have to make allowance for his conciliatory manner. You don’t see the paper anywhere, I think it must have a smaller readership than even the Hamburger Fremdenblatt! Ullstein has written to me again.
I’ll probably be better in two weeks, go to Frankfurt, then Berlin. It’s not so awful that you’re in Frankfurt. The closer to the epicenter of the disaster, the calmer it probably feels. Renew a couple of old friendships, move in a society that impresses the snobs, go to a dinner club where the saddest knights in the world flank the saddest king.
Where is your wife? I send you my regards, and thank you for your kind words — I’m afraid I can’t reply in kind, because I haven’t read anything of yours for a while. I remain, as ever your old
Joseph Roth
1. review: a review of JR’s book The Wandering Jews.
2. Meier-Graefe: Julius Meier-Graefe (1867–1935), art critic, novelist. Co-founder of the journal Pan. Supposedly matched Roth’s royalty of one mark per line at the FZ, and the only other writer to do so.
3. Ludwig: Emil Ludwig (1881–1948), journalist, biographer, novelist.
4. Nouvelles Littéraires: a literary weekly in Paris, founded in 1922.
5. Keyserling: Count Hermann Keyserling (1880–1946), popular philosopher.
45. To Ludwig Marcuse
Paris, 22 June 1927
Dearest Dr. Marcuse,
thank you for your letter, your touching anxiety on my behalf, your friendly offer. You have no idea how little Reifenberg is able to accomplish for someone like me. Some resent me because of my talent, and others — the bosses — because I’m ornery and intractable. Even so, I will try Ullstein once more. (Keep it under your hat.) Reifenberg has written to say this and that. Then the company goes and does the opposite. At any rate, they still haven’t sent me any money. If and when they do, I’ll be in Frankfurt on July 2 or 3. You know exactly how things stand, and there’s nothing to be done about S.1 He doesn’t like me, and takes the worse state of the newspaper as a pretext to get rid of me. I can stand it.
Will you be in Frankfurt?
Till when can I wire you for the fare to Frankfurt, if the need arises?
My wife is well. She sends her best to you both. Drop me a line. I’m feeling a bit better.
In old comradeship your old
Joseph Roth
1. I.e., Heinrich Simon.
46. To Ludwig Marcuse
Paris, 28 June 1927
Dear Marcuse,
I have to go to Deauville for 3 days for the Bäderblatt,1 because it will bring in a little money. Unfortunately, my dear fellow, it means I won’t be able to see you in Frankfurt. I’ll stay there a week, and then Berlin, or else perhaps go on a tour of Germany. The business with the Foreign Ministry is awful. I’m afraid it kept several of the articles. We’ll see each other after your return. I take it you’ll be going via Berlin? I’ll be able to tell you personally what I’m not really able to write. Your friendship, let me say this, almost frightens me. Your comradeship goes to a point I’m sure I’ll never reach — and there’s no point in thanking you any more, because that’s not enough. Suffice to say, I won’t forget it — if that does.
I hope you and Sasha have a good trip, and offer you my warmest greetings — from your grateful
Joseph Roth
Bye!
1. Cf. “A Couple of Days in Deauville,” in Report from a Parisian Paradise.