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British Psycho-Analytical Society
22 July 1921
London
Dear Professor,
First my best thanks for your letter and the copy of Massenpsychologie which I am devouring with the greatest interest. If I can find [time] to write a paper for the Edinburgh meeting of the Brit. Assoc., which is very doubtful, it will be an exposition of your book, entitled “The Psychology of the Herd Instinct”.1 It is, by the way, curious how steadily Le Bon has deteriorated in the 25 years since he wrote his interesting work.2 Each successive one has been weaker, till he is now a pure journalist. I enclose a review of his last production,3 a harsh one, it is true. I also enclose a cutting that will interest you in regard to the Jenseits.
The Stracheys came to lunch here yesterday. They have greatly improved since their analysis and should prove to be valuable people. I will of course bear well in mind what you say in regard to them. I could give them enough work to keep them fully occupied, but have a hesitation about overdoing this, as I imagine they also want to earn a livelihood and do work that is remunerative. Later on, when they settle in London, I hope to be able to help them in this respect. In the meantime I gave them an interesting book to review (a Psa of Strindberg).4 They are both very attractive and cultured people, and I expect to see something of them still this month.
I had most satisfactory interviews with Frink, and we have arranged all manner of details about the Journal. He seems very easy to work with, and if only he keeps his promises we shall get great assistance. I suggested that he should be, practically if not officially, the chief American editor, acting as a centre to arrange the abstracting and reviewing of the American literature. I am keeping in good touch with America, and have had the latest news from some Americans passing through London, people interested in Psa. But all this takes time, as does everything else. If only H. G. Well's Time Machine were available