V. I.   Lenin

183

To:   V. A. KARPINSKY

Written: Written in the first half of October 1909
Published: First published in 1930 in Lenin Miscellany XIII. Sent from Paris to Geneva. Printed from the original.
Source: Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, [1977], Moscow, Volume 43, pages 225^c-226^a.
Translated: Martin Parker and Bernard Isaacs
Transcription\Markup: R. Cymbala
Public Domain: Lenin Internet Archive (2005). You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet Archive” as your source. • README

Dear K.,

Please let us know what you have decided to do with the library.^[1] Is it true that the talks with the students’ society are not yet over?

Or is it true that you have finally decided not to go?

Was it Victor who dissuaded you? I am a little angry with him for going away alone, depriving us here of the assistance of a most useful administrator, which I consider him to be. He is now “for Geneva”. I believe this is a mistake: we shall not go to Geneva.

Do you have a catalogue of the Bolshevik (Bonch) library?^[2] If so, kindly send it to us.

I am awaiting more definite news about your moving. There is talk here in the Editorial Board about transfer ring only the Bonch library. We must know definitely, and as soon as possible.

Regards to Olga, Nik. Iv. and other friends.

All the best,
Yours,
Lenin

Notes

[1] A reference to the transfer from Geneva to Paris of the Russian Proletarian Library collected by the Social-Democrat G. A. Kuklin, who sided with the Bolsheviks in 1905, and presented by him to the C.C., R.S.D.L.P., in July 1905. A Statement by Kuklin announcing that the library was now the full property of the C.C., R.S.D.L.P., was published in Proletary No. 7, July 10 (June 27), 1905.

In his reply of October 18, 1909, V. A. Karpinsky, who was in charge of the library, agreed to the transfer to Paris on condition   that the library remained independent and would not function under the auspices of the Editorial Board of the Central Organ, Sotsial-Demokrat, but would merge with one of the existing libraries in Paris.

[2] A reference to a Bolshevik library organised by V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich. In July 1905 Lenin presented it with over 400 titles from his own personal library.