Letter from Oskar Kokoschka to J.P. Hodin

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[Translation/transcription]

Villeneuve

10 April 1965

My dear Master Pepi,

An ink blot even before I start my reply. I'm very keen to hear the result of your visits to Faber & Faber.

You mention an American publisher. Is this a fantasy of yours or does it exist?

I haven't read Edith's review, could you send it to me? She probably thinks she has some exclusive right to me and that no-one else could possibly know me better than she does. What came of your approach to XXe Siècle with that Italian? I haven't heard anything more about it. But many thanks for the Sappho, which I've always loved. Hopefully she wasn't as 'ugly as an owl'. Why would so many beauties have flocked to her otherwise!

I wouldn't print anything with Malot; they've gone over to mass production. As for how and how many lithos are needed, I'd have to give it some thought. Also, an American publisher would be better because even the Sappho translations (just like my Odyssey!) were taken so much more seriously and done so much better. Many thanks for the book! It seems '[illegible] and the [illegible]' will never be finished, so I can't give Kalman a date with any certainty. I'm also longing ardently for my beautyfull one! Tell her so. I have to do a half-hour lecture for Bayerische Rundfunk on 27 April unfortunately. I don't have any ideas and it's already getting me down. On 29 April I have to go to Hamburg, Hotel Atlantik, for a week for the exhibition, which is going to be very good. Hugs and much love at easter.

Yours,

OK

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