Mar. 27, 1969

Dr Elias Canetti

8, Thurlow Road

London, N. W. 3

Dear Doctor Canetti,

Dr Theodor Sapper was kind enough to give me your address. You may know me by name, but I would like to give you a brief profile.

I am the director of the Jewish Documentation Center in Vienna and have already published several books, including "The Murderers Among Us". I used to be an architect in Poland and the Soviet Union; I am one of the few survivors from Lviv. After the war, I did not return to my profession, but believed that I could rediscover my lost faith if I put myself at the service of justice.

I could not have imagined at the time that this would become an activity that would last for the rest of my life.

I have now finished a new manuscript dedicated to the problem of forgiveness. The manuscript is only 120 pages long and contains a true experience that evokes the whole issue.

I would like to follow up this book with statements by prominent personalities who have something to say both in their capacity as theologians of various denominations and as writers.

So far I have statements from Herbert Marcuse, Carl Zuckmayer, Friedrich Torberg, Christopher Hollis, Golo Mann, Bishop Bluyssen and Stefan Andres; Heinrich Böll, Rolf Hochhuth, Erich Maria Remarque, Milo Dor and Arthur Koestler have promised statements.

I am taking the liberty of sending you the manuscript with this letter and asking you, if your time permits, to read it and send me your comments.

I am aware that, since I lack the routine of a writer, you may be disappointed by the way I have described it, but I hope you will nevertheless fulfil my request.

Yours sincerely

Dr. E. Canetti

8 Thurlow Road

London N.W.3.

Apr. 28, 1969

Dear Mr Wiesenthal,

On my belated return to London I found your letter and your manuscript.

I have now read your manuscript, and if the decision I have made about it will disappoint you, I beg you to consider that it only speaks in favour of the profound effect on me of what I have read.

After some doubts, I have come to the conclusion that it is quite impossible for me to comment on it. It would be presumptuous and who could take it seriously. I have not experienced what you describe; I was not in your situation. I was living in safety in England at the same time and perhaps I should be ashamed of that. That's all I can say. I can only ask the question of forgiveness for what I have experienced myself. Otherwise I can just remain silent.

I know very well that this does not serve you. But any other response to your enquiry after reading your manuscript would strike me – and of course this only applies to me – as conscienceless.

Best regards from

Your

Elias Canetti