26th January 1939

26th January 1939

Leutstetten to 27 Queen Square, Bath

Dear Madeleine!

Many thanks for your letter. I am feeling very lonely at present. Muck is gone for a week with Baby. Deidi is not here. I am so used to have all my sisters and brothers around here, that I feel quite queer at present. Rasso is taking lessons in his own room. And Ludwig – poor boy!- he is laying in the nursing home in Munich. He went skiing with Muck and me a week ago to Garmisch. He pushed a skiing stick right through his leg. At first we hoped that it would heal quietly, but it got inflamed and one had to cut through. Now his fever is going down and we are hoping to take him home in a fortnight or so. Today it is snowing hard. I am glad it does, as then I will be able to practice skiing again. We have had such warm weather lately, just as if it were April. I am still waiting for balls and parties, but until now, nothing seems to happen. I was at the opera and saw Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss. It is very beautiful once you get used to the music. One of the nicest operas is the “Barber of Sevilla” by Rossini. I saw it the third time the other day. Tomorrow I want to see “Salome” by Richard Strauss. I think it must be very well done here in Munich as we have got a famous singer Hildegard Ranczak to do the title role. She was a great success in London when she sang Salome there one or two years ago. I am very excited about the Spanish War. I do hope Franco is going to take Barcelona soon.

Fondest love.

Loll

(also part of the letter and originally written in German)

Dear Madeleine!

You told me that you can already speak a lot of German. Therefore, please let me know if you can understand this letter - as it would be a lot more comfortable for myself if I could write in German only. Poetry is hard to understand in every language. I still understand all words from Shakespeare. I love Schiller's poetry more that the ones from Goethe. But I think Goethe is easier to understand for a non-native speaker as his wording is more natural. Schiller's in the opposite are rather classic and more than just an art. I admire your patience that you are translating all words with a dictionary. I never used to do it when I read something.

Best regards,

Loll

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