Letter from John Lehmann to Ahmed Ali (06/06/1940)

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[[1]]

 

[[MS 2750/2/1/16]]

 

Ahmed Ali, Esq., 
56, Eardley Crescent, 
SW.5.

 

6th June, 1940.

 

Dear Ali,

 

I am sending you your manuscript together with two sets of galley proofs. Will you correct it at your leisure, and let us have it back.

 

I expect you realise that the whole position about books which contain political critisism such as yours is a little more difficult these days. We have had a not had a not from our printer to say that there are several passages in your book which he feels might give the chance to an overzealous Goverment department to take action. Under the Law, it is the printer as well as the publisher who has to bear the brunt of any action, and therefore I think some concessions will have to be made to him. Leonard Woolf and I will both be in town the week after next, and would like you to come and discuss these points with us in person. Leonard Woolf would also very much like the opportunity of meeting you.

 

Yours sincerely, | p.p. John Lehmann.

 

Encs. [Enclosed]

Rights Statement:

Reproduced with permission from the estate of the author, courtesy of Penguin Random House UK archive and library. This item has not been made available with a CC BY-NC-ND licence.

Source: MS 2750/2/1/16

Letter from John Lehmann to Ahmed Ali (06/06/1940)

Library:

University of Reading, Special Collections

Archival Folder:

Lehmann encloses proofs for correction and advises Ali that concessions will have to be made regarding potentially objectionable content in MS, according to printer.

Typescript letter signed by Lehmann