Record of a friendship

RC339.52.R44 A46 198

the corresponde
18068

lllillililillllliil
Reich, Wilhelm,
NEW COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA (SF)

RC

339.52

Reich, Wilhelm.
Record of a friendship.

R44*

#7398

1982

#7398

FC
339.52
R44
A46
1982

Reich, Wilhelm, 18 97-195 7.

Record of a frie ndship i the
correspondence bet ween Wil helm Reich
and A.S, Neill, 19 36-1957 / edited and
with an intrcdiicti en, by B everley R.
Placzek*
London : Golla ncz, 1982.
xviii, 429 p. ; 24 cm.
Includes biblicg raphical references
and index*
#73 98 Moe's $5.0 0.
ISBN 0-575-03054 -2
1. Peich, Wilhel tn, 1897- 1957.
2. Neill, A.lexande r Suther land, 18831973.
3. Psychcan ily s ts
United States
Correspondence
4. Teac hers
Scotland Correspo ndence.
I. Neill,
Alexander Sut
h erland, 1883-1973.
II. Placzek,
B everley R.
III. Title
28 JUL 87
8192149 NEWCxc

NEW C
SAN FRANc
U15) 626-4212

Record of a Friendshi

RECORD OF

VICTOR GOLLANCZ LTD

FRIENDSHIP
The Correspondence Between

AVilhelm Reich and

A.

S. Neill
,v

1936-1957

Edited,

and with an

BEVERLEY

R.

Introduction, by

PLACZEK

LONDON

1982

*'

'^^

l^

09

by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc.

1981 by Mary Boyd Higgins
as Trustee of The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust Fund; the letters of A. S.
Neill copyright
1981 by Ena Neill; the letters of Use Ollendorff Reich
copyright
1981 by Use Ollendorff Reich
Copyright

The

letters

1981

of Wilhelm Reich copyright

ISBN o 575 03054

Printed in the United States of America

DESIGNED BY HERBERT

H.

JOHNSON

Introduction

Wilhelm Reich and A.

Neill

S.

first

mained friends for over twenty

Though they were separated

and

by the

later

change of

letters,

These

alive.

for

met

years,

in

Norway

most of those

travel restrictions of the

years,

McCarthy

first

1957.

by the war

era, a steady ex-

back and forth across the ocean, kept

letters

1936; they re-

in

Reich's death in

until

their friendship

stand as the record of a friendship between two

remarkable men.
Neill

was a Scotsman, a schoolmaster and

for his radical views

on

iconoclastic psychoanalyst

who had been

known

child psychologist

was an Austrian, an

child education. Reich

blackballed by his Freudian

colleagues for his unorthodox theories about society and sexuality.

When

they met, Neill was fifty-three, Reich thirty-nine. Reich, an exile from

Nazi Germany, had been

Neill

had been invited

over, he

living

and working

to lecture at

Oslo for two years;

in

On

Oslo University.

the boat

coming

had by coincidence been reading Reich's Die Massenpsychologie

des Faschismus {The Mass Psychology of Fascism; there was as yet no

English translation) and after his lecture learned with delight that

author had been in his audience.

dinner.

"We

He

its

telephoned and was invited to

talked far into the night," Neill recalls. That was the be-

ginning.

What

grounds. They were half a generation apart

could talk to each other as to no one

often, since

"Forgive

On

else.

you are one of the very few

my

grumble, but you

the face of

attract,

The two men came

held this friendship together for so long?

from opposite ends of Europe and from vastly

it, it

was a most unlikely

and certainly two more

to

in age.

And

yet these

two

Reich: "Please write more

whom

are the only

different social back-

one

to

can talk"; and Neill:

whom

can write."

friendship. Opposites are said to

different

men can

scarcely be imagined:

Reich, the Central European intellectual, highly educated, enormously

and of driving energy, who moved, thought, and worked always

high gear; Neill, the Scot, intelligent to be sure, even wise, but no

gifted,

in

INTRODUCTION
intellectual,

To

canny, humorous, patient, and pragmatic.

was unstinting

in his love for

always mattered
adults they

VI

humanity

To

than his work.

less

would become

were

in general,

Neill,

people

the very stuff of his

Reich,

who

individual people

children and the

life.

Reich, like a

magnet, attracted disciples and sycophants, but none could long keep

pace with

new

his

single-minded intensity or follow his leaping shifts to ever

areas of exploration; time after time, he found himself standing

alone at the center of a swathe he himself had carved. Neill had neither
disciples nor sycophants,

some two hundred and

friends

shared

nor did

his central

people

fifty

concerns ever vary, but

pupils, past pupils, parents,

in celebrating his seventieth birthday,

had been children

and

and those who

Summerhill entrusted their own children to him.

at

Reich liked skiing and hiking, and he also played the piano, but
greatest joy

was

schaftskonversation"
things, jokes,

good

and puttering

in his

his

work; he could not stand what he called "Gesell-

in his

(small

talk

talk).

Neill

took pleasure in everyday

preferably over a glass of whiskey

workshop. Golf was

children intuitively because

all

his life

his great treat.

gardening

He

understood

he himself retained something of

the child.

Not only were they unlike

too,

were

in taste

and temperament;

their origins,

utterly dissimilar: rooted Scots-Presbyterian versus

uprooted

Austrian-Jewish. Wilhelm Reich was the brilliant son of a well-to-do

landowner. Born in 1897, he grew up on the family estate in the

Bukovina,

on the easternmost confines of the Austro-

province

Hungarian monarchy, a region where German-speaking Jews were a

minority.

have

his

The

tiny

and non-religious, was determined

father, assimilated

to

son brought up within the German culture: the boy was for-

bidden to play with either the local Ukrainian-speaking peasant children

or the Yiddish-speaking children of the poorer Jews; private tutors were

imported

until

he was old enough to be sent away to the German-

speaking Gymnasium. Reich lost his adored mother by suicide

was

thirteen.

sick father,

Four years

and upon

later

he had to leave school to care for his

his father's death, the seventeen-year-old

over the management of the property.

break of World

War

the

when he
boy took

was 19 14, and with the outBukovina became contested territory. By

19 1 6 young Reich, forced to

flee

It

before the advancing Russians, had

become an officer in the Austrian army. When, in 1918, Austria and

Germany were defeated, the Bukovina passed to Romania; with it went
all

that

remained of the

he arrived

in

life

Reich had known. Alone and impoverished,

Vienna intending to study law, but soon found that

INTRODUCTION

Vll

medicine was his real vocation. Throughout

years as a student,

his

he endured cold and even hunger, but he learned quickly, and managed

meager

to scrape a

living as a tutor to less talented classmates.

He

dis-

covered Freud and the new science of psychoanalysis, married a fellow

student with

whom

in

due course he had two daughters, and by the age

of twenty-five was himself a practicing physician and psychoanalyst,

much

devoting

time to work in the free mental-health clinics he had

helped to establish

came

know

to

in the

at first

poorer sections of the

hand the

city. It

was here

crippling psychological effects

class people of the sexual hypocrisies

that

he

on working-

and suppressions under which they

The theories on sexuality and society that grew out of this experience made him increasingly suspect to his psychoanalytic colleagues.
In 1927 he joined the Communist Party. Three years later he moved to

lived.

where he hoped

Berlin,

to find support for the social reforms he felt

necessary to achieve sexual

At

first

and hence mental

Com-

he was welcomed. Under the aegis of the powerful Berlin

munists, he consolidated

were

health for the workers.

and expanded the various Sexual

Politics

groups into a unified movement that soon counted more than forty

thousand members. As time went on, however, the party organizers,

embarrassed by a success that undercut their authority, became more

and more antagonistic. Then, early in 1933, the Nazis came to power,
the

German Communist

once again forced to

He

Party was outlawed, and Reich himself was

flee.

returned to Vienna.

By now he had moved

a long

way from

the

mainstream of Freudian psychoanalytic thinking, a divergence that together with other, personal, factors led to divorce from his orthodox

Freudian wife and, ultimately, brought about

his expulsion

from the

International Psycho-Analytical Association. Isolated both professionally

and personally, he found the situation

accepted an invitation to

move

to

in

Vienna untenable and

Denmark. Within

a year, in

Copen-

hagen, he had created a circle of students, was busy with numerous

patients,

When
on,

and had generated a Danish movement for sexual

politics.

the authorities refused to renew his residency permit, he

first

to

Sweden, and thence

to

Norway. Here

diminished courage, he assembled a group to share

his living

his

by teaching and practicing vegeto-therapy,

again,

work.
a

moved

with

un-

He made

treatment of

neuroses that combined verbal character analysis with a direct physical

attack

on the nodes of muscular tension

in which,

he held, neuroses are

expressed and preserved. Leaving active sexual politics to others, he

now devoted

all his

free time

and energy

to research in biophysics.

INTRODUCTION
how

In contrast,

VUl

straightforward Neill's

bom

years older than Reich, he was

life

appears! Nearly fourteen

middle child of a large

in 1883, the

family that was barely emerging from the working class; his grandfather

and

many

his

uncles on his father's side had

miners, "in the pits." His father

two-room

village

was a

spent their lives as

all

teacher, the stern dominie of a

school in the north of Scotland; his indefatigable

mother, herself also originally a schoolteacher, saw to

spoke proper English

they

"kirk"

sat

scrubbed and

through

stiffly

starched.

"Allie"; he tripped over his

interminable

the

No

own

one

it

that her children

was broad Scots

the local dialect

in the

and

that in

sermons freshly

hell-fire

much

family expected

of

forgot his errands, and preferred

feet,

larking with the village boys to the Latin that his father, implacably

ambitious for his numerous children, insisted they learn. Secondary

school,

was decided, would be wasted on him;

it

so,

when he was

seventeen, having failed at a couple of rather menial jobs, young Neill

was taken on

as an apprentice teacher in his father's school. After four

years, he progressed to various

when he was

minor paid teaching

twenty-four, he passed

positions. Finally,

entrance examinations to

the

Edinburgh University. Having acquired a very honorable degree

English, he set off for

war broke out

in

London

to

work

19 14, a severe phlebitis prevented

become

Instead, he went back to Scotland to

him from

by

A Dominie in
A Dominie's

Dominie Dismissed, 1916;

Abroad, 1922, and

A Dominie

artillery in

practices

and the

Dominie's Log,

Doubt, 1920; followed

Five,

Though he was

of the experiences of those years.)

enlisting.

the master of a small school.

Here he first began to question accepted educational

wisdom of authority. (His charming Dominie books
1915;

in

When

in a small publishing firm.

1924

grew out

recruited into the

19 17, he never saw action. After his discharge, he taught for

a while in a "progressive" school, but even there his views proved too
radical

and he soon

left.

During

this

period he

came

to

know Homer Lane,

an American social reformer whose remarkable success with delinquent

who had

children Neill had long admired, and

psychoanalyst in London. Asserting that

Lane

offered to take Neill

on

all

my

and reinforce

Neill's

own developing

fortune, he soon found a

Era, the journal of the pioneering

he became co-editor. In

as a

analysis as
I

Lane helped

wonder

if

to clarify

ideas about freedom for children.

forum for these

New

this capacity,

The

emotions and

got anything from it"), but the contact with

By good

up

teachers should be analyzed.

Neill accepted.

free.

such was unsuccessful ("It did not touch

I

recently set

ideas in

The

New

Education Fellowship, of which

he also began traveling to Europe

INTRODUCTION

iX

to report on advances in European education. On one of these trips he

met and became friends with a German architect, Dr. Otto Neustatter,
and his Australian-born wife, a woman some years older than Neill.

For Neill the year 1921 was the watershed. He gave up

The

New Era

his job with

and, with the Neustatters and two other friends, opened

a school near Dresden which was to offer

its

pupils that freedom and

"creative self-expression" in which the founders

For three

believed.

all

years, in spite of the growing disapproval of the authorities, the school

managed

to maintain a foothold,

Germany and

first in

later in Austria.

In the course of those years Dr. Neustatter and his wife were divorced

and Neill and she were married.

Tired of constant battles with bigoted

1924 Neill and

and

settled

his wife

them

in a

a year later they

brought their

officials

their

back

England

to

named Summerhill. When

growing school to a large rambling red

brick building in Suffolk, they took the

became

hostile villagers, in

five British pupils

rented house in Dorset

moved

and

the Summerhill School.

name

was here

It

with them.

that,

And

so

it

except for the four

years of wartime evacuation to the safety of Wales, Neill was to spend

the rest of his long active

life.

In the winter of 1937-38, almost two years after that

into the night," Neill traveled to Oslo for a

first

talk "far

few weeks of study and

therapy with Reich. In the long vacation of the following

summer he
make a

went again, and during the Easter holidays of 1939 was able to
before Reich

final trip

left

Norway

the war they wrote to each other.

journeyed from Summerhill

for the United States. All through

And when

in Suffolk to

at last

peace came, Neill

spend ten days with Reich

at

his new summer place, Orgonon, in Maine. They found that the old
friendship was still very much alive. Two days after Neill's arrival, Reich

records in his diary: "Several hours of talk with Neill.

as ever.

could joke with him and be simple.''

He

is still

the

same

year later Neill re-

young second wife and their small

daughter. He stayed for over a month and, when it was over, wrote to
Reich: "Hated to leave you"; and Reich, noting that "when you left
there was quite a gap at Orgonon," consoled himself and Neill with the
promise that "we shall have it again." But in this he was wrong. Two
turned,

this

time

bringing

his

years later Neill's application for a visa was refused without explanation.

The McCarthy era had begun. When the ban was finally lifted and Neill
could once more enter the United States, Reich had been dead for over
twelve years.

For

all

their differences

of origin, of education, of age, of tempera-

INTRODUCTION
ment

Reich and

Neill

were

alike in

one way: both were dedicated men.

Reich, dominated by a passion to discover the single underlying principle

from which

all

phenomena could be

biophysical

spare dollar and every spare hour on research

up a

lucrative practice to

derived, spent his every

work. Neill lived his whole

life

financial worry, fighting cagily

as a

1950, giving

finally, in

immerse himself wholly

in

his

orgonomic

poor man, constantly plagued by

and stubbornly

to

keep

so that "a few hundred children be allowed to

his school afloat

grow

freely." Their

dedication was based on an assumption which they shared, an almost

religious faith in the redemptive

power of unconstricted, natural develop-

ment, in what Reich saw as "the inherent decency and honesty of the
process

life

if it is

been

millennia

not disturbed."

"armoring," as they called

attributed

human

all

by

distorted

it.

To

failings,

Human

beings, they believed,

conditioning

social

made

had

for

"structuring"

or

such "anti-life character molding" they

all

human

woes.

necessary and certain triumph of "unarmored"

that

Their trust

man was

the

in

the lode star

present disappointments bearable and justified every sacrifice.

In this sense, Neill's

work was important

to Reich.

By

entrusting real

children with real freedom, both social and sexual, in "that dreadful

school," Neill was bringing into actuality tenets in which both believed.

"The only hope," Reich wrote, "is, I firmly believe, establishment of

rationality in children and adolescents," and demanded: "Why should I
go into child biology
A.

S.

Neill

if

there are such marvellous child educators as

?" Also, he appreciated the childlike quality in Neill,

noting about Neill's Problem Family in his diary:

written

by a child 64 years

"A

very good book

old; honest, playful; frank; full of love for

children."
Neill held Reich to

be a genius whose work was bringing humanity

closer to the goal of self-understanding

and freedom: "Reich, you are

one of the great men of our time;

it

meaning of

flattery

say

as a simple fact without

central fact in his relation to him, even

when Reich went beyond what

Neill himself could accept or understand.

orgone work

really;

any

or worship." Neill's sense of Reich's greatness was a

too old, too

set,

"I never understood

your

too conditioned," he wrote in 1956,

and on reading the account of UFO's

in Reich's journal,

CORE:

"If I

had never heard of Reich and had read CORE for the first time, I would
have concluded that the author was either meschugge [crazy] or the
greatest discoverer in centuries. Since

know you

aren't

meschugge

have to accept the alternative."

Neill's belief in

Reich had been

laid

down

in the

Norway

years;

work

INTRODUCTION

XI

new

with Reich, as his patient and student, had given him a whole
of confidence;

it

had

also, incidentally, freed

aches that had plagued him

important

in the

much

of his

him from the

life.

fierce

sense

head-

Furthermore, and more

long run, Reich's teachings on sex-economy had pro-

vided Neill with a firm theoretical underpinning for ideas he had arrived
at

him

you have given me for years," and shortly after his

refused: "For two years I had looked forward to great
Maine, and when

talk to,

whole world

a sense of sharing in a

and discovery; he writes of "the inspiration

of intellectual excitement

in

The con-

pragmatically and been practicing at Summerhill for years.

tinued contact with Reich gave

that anticipation

was shattered,

no one who could give me anything new." And

"How

very simply, extremely fond of Reich:

could

had been

visa

talks with

you

had no one

was

Neill

ever

to

also,

come back

to

was no dear warm friend Reich to greet me?" In

again
on his visits to the States, he had come to know at
Norway, and
something Reich's
first hand Reich's enormous warmth and charm
the States

if

there

when I asked her about

She had met him only during that one

convey. (Thirty years

letters often fail to

Reich, Mrs. Neill's face

lit

up.

later,

1948 and yet she still remembers with affection his

friendly welcome, his directness, and how "easy" it was to be with him.)

summer
It

is

visit in

to this

never

warm and

"easy"

lost sight, in spite of

man

that Neill wrote,

whom

and of

he

Reich's frequent scoldings, his diatribes, and

the general mistrust that darkened his final years. But for

all

Neill's

loving admiration and his self-deprecatory view of himself as Reich's

"good John the Baptist,"

never got caught

in

Neill,

absorbed as he was

Reich's orbit; he

knew

that there

own work,

in his

were two sides

to

He was distressed by
because "I know you need

their relationship, that he gave as well as received.

the refusal of the visa not just for himself but

me

and we are separated by a futile suspicion."

in some way
Did Reich indeed need Neill? The continuing flow of letters

itself

an answer: Reich could so easily have

let

it

is

in

lapse, unless for him,

was important. Far from doing so, he tells Neill that "it is always
a great thing to have a letter from you," and adjures him over and over
to "keep writing please." He depended on Neill's unswerving friendship,
writing at one point: "I hope you don't mind that I am pouring out my
too,

it

doctrine

heart to you." Also, that Neill was preaching Rcichian

to

audiences three thousand miles away gave Reich a sense of enlarged

reach and impact. Though he often scolded Neill: "I

don't follow
is

my

advice

."

or

"Why

of the utmost importance that

you

can't

you

am

see, Neill

cross that you

.

?" or "It

revise your basic attitude

."
.

INTRODUCTION
he respected

one

in

Xll

independence of mind and

Neill's

Europe who could

listen better

know no

his honesty: "I

and understand better what

is at

stake at the present time in the development of our work," and wrote
appreciatively of Neill's "unique position, being in the orgone fold but
at the

same time independent."

During the 1950's, as the pressures on Reich increased, he became

mistrustful even of Neill, but
late as 1956, the

it is

measure of

his real affection that, as

year before his death, he wrote to Neill: "It would be

splendid if you came to the U.S.A. this summer. You could stay at my
summer house as my guest. Though things have greatly changed since
1950, and much new has happened, I am certain we would get along."

But the ban

stood; Neill could not come.

still

Even had he been

whether, for

able to accept Reich's invitation,

all Neill's

could have influenced the course of events that

friend.

doubtful

is

it

steady good sense and even-tempered realism, he

Reich's passionate intransigence

finally

destroyed his

made him unable

accept

to

him perilously exposed to his enemies.

For a number of years after his move to the States, things had gone
well with Reich: he had remarried, had established the Orgone Institute
and the semi-independent Orgone Institute Press, which put out a
advice and

left

journal and published his books; he had acquired a beautiful tract of

land in Maine, intended as the future center of orgonomic research

and teaching;

his

practice flourished

siderable following of student-physicians

and he had attracted a conand supporters. Then,

the hostility which, time and again throughout his

had aroused came

life,

his

in 1947,

theories

An article by a freelance
"The Strange Case of Wilhelm
a respected periodical, The New Republic. Widely

to the surface in America.

reporter, Mildred Edie Brady, entitled

Reich," appeared in

quoted and repeated,

this clever

mixture of half truths, snide distortions,

and suggestive misrepresentations came

to

be accepted as

who found Reich's views on the primacy of

objectionable. Some righteous citizens alerted the
those

Drug Administration
article

alleged,

fact

by

all

orgastic fulfillment

Federal

Food and

to the possibility of fraud in the claims which, the

Reich had made for the orgone accumulator.

then on, for ten years, the

FDA

pursued

its

investigation

From

of Reich

with relentless zeal. Finally, in 1954, having failed to uncover the vice
ring for

which the Orgone

Institute

was purportedly

a front, the agency

succeeded in persuading the attorney general of the federal court

Maine

to

issue

Foundation, as a

in

complaint against Reich and the Wilhelm Reich

first

step to banning the sale or rental of accumulators.

INTRODUCTION

XIU

Reich, arguing that no jurist was competent to judge matters of science,

refused

appear

to

court

in

challenge

to

complaint;

the

FDA

terms of the injunction obtained by the

the

thus,

were extremely broad:

accumulators on hand were to be destroyed and, on the grounds that

the literature of the

Orgone

of these devices,

publications were also ordered destroyed. Having

its

Institute Press constituted "false labeling"

FDA,

procured the injunction, the

Some months

temporarily,

left

Reich

in peace.

however, an event occurred that was to be

later,

outcome of the agency's dogged resolve to get Reich.

During the winter of 1954-55 Reich spent some time in Arizona on a
research project. A young associate, Michael Silvert, was left in New
decisive for the

York

to deal with routine administrative matters. In Reich's absence,

and without his knowledge, Silvert had some books and accumulator
parts sent

from Maine

to

New

York. The questing agents of the

got wind of this shipment and, asserting that

commerce" and hence

FDA

constituted "interstate

it

demanded

violated the terms of the injunction,

that Reich be indicted for contempt of court. In the spring of 1956,

and this time Reich did appear to present his
hearings were held

views.

However,

in the trial that followed, a jury

he was sentenced to two years

in prison.

pending appeal. In the interim, the

Orgone

Institute journals

under the supervision of

tion of the

same

on the shelves

FDA

sort took

journals, pamphlets,

and

number

the relatively small

at

Orgonon were duly burned

which a much larger opera-

agents, after

place in

guilty,

to the destruction ordered

saw

The few accumulators and

in the injunction.

of

FDA

found him

The sentence was postponed

New

York. Huge quantities of

and books were removed from the Foundation's

off to the incinerators of the

warehouse, loaded onto a truck, and carted

City Sanitation Department, where they were burned.

By

the following spring,

it

was

clear that Reich's year-long effort to

have the verdict of the Maine court overturned had

failed.

On March

11,

1957, in Portland, Maine, after a last desperate effort to have the sentence reduced or suspended, he was led out of the courthouse in handcuffs to begin serving his prison term.

November

3,

Less than eight months

1957, in the federal prison

died of heart failure. "I

came

written to Neill, "that almost

in

to think in

all

later,

on

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, he
earnest," he

all

had once

heart diseases are originally heartbreak

diseases."

Reich kept
tions, Neill

all

Neill's letters,

typed

all

and copies of

his letters,

his

but he never

own. With rare excep-

made carbons and

quently repeats some piece of news or asks "Did

I tell

you

fre-

?" this

INTRODUCTION

Xiv

or that. Usually, Reich noted the point he intended to take up

may

be, his reactions to

what

had written

Neill

directly

on the

or,

it

letters

themselves: passages are underscored, vivid exclamation marks dot the

"NO"

page, and here and there, particularly in later years, a large

"LIARS," "SCOUNDRELS," or

or

the like, will be scrawled in the margin,

the very vigor of the marking suggesting a shout.

In

there are close to five hundred letters. Spread over the twenty

all,

man

years of their friendship, this would average a letter from each

every month. But that, of course,

until

when

1938,

men knew

went

Neill

to

is

how

not

war was coming, and there

that

was. There are few letters

it

Oslo to study with Reich.

is

much

By

then both

discussion about the

protection of Reich's microscope slides and the possibility of his moving

to England.

crucial letters are missing, the

they did

good

letters

read those

first

We know
was

"It

saying you had arrived"; and again, in October,

letter

letter";

and

finally,

by the same post."

first

some

here

he wrote from the States.

because in September of that year Neill writes:

your

your long

"I got

two

exist,

to get

And

1939, Reich emigrated to America.

In

impressions!

How

on January
fascinating

Though through

it

5,

1940, "I got your

would have been

to

the war the mails must

have been uncertain, the flow continues with seldom a pause of more
than a few weeks. Plans for Neill's
of those years; then, in 1950,

thwarted by the ban, more

year:

more than one

letters

a week!

of 1947 and 1948

fill

the letters

his expectation of joining

Reich was

visits

when

went back and forth than

(It

is

Maine

quickly a letter could get from Rangeley in

some

letters are

1950 on,

answered a mere three days

as the realization

grew

in Neill's

never see Reich again, the number of

find only

one

letter of Reich's,

in

any other

quite startling, incidentally,

letters

though from

to Leiston in Suffolk

after they

mind

how

were

that he

From

sent.)

would probably

diminished. In 1955

Neill's responses,

we

clear

it is

he wrote more often.

Despite the enormous differences in background and outlook between
the two men. despite separation and the pressures of a censorious society

and

their

own

sharply defined personalities, the letters they wrote to each

other through the years glow with their affection and the enrichment

each brought to the

thoughts

other's

both.

Discussions

life

of the other.

Each was

about the things that

of

how

the

intensely interested in the

seemed important

to

world should be run recur:

them
Reich

believed that the world of the future would be governed by what

he called "work democracy"; although Neill agreed with the

doubted

its

practicability. Surprisingly, they

ideal,

he

seldom comment on actual

INTRODUCTION

XV
events except in personal terms

only as

it

even

end of the war

the

is

mentioned

allows Neill to return from Wales to his beloved Suffolk. In

men became

the 1940's, both

fathers

and thereafter exchanged constant

bulletins on the progress of their children: Reich's son, Peter, born in

bom

1944, and Neill's daughter, Zoe,

The tone and content

men

themselves.

He
He

and deeply depressed

them with everyday

fills

England, always responds

and

is

often

these simultaneously.

all

Reich's

news of friends.
work known in

at length to the publications

Reich sends him,

make

may

passes on any comments he

faithfully

school

things, concrete activities,

of his unceasing efforts to

talks

later.

humorous, speculative, pene-

variously

are

Neill's

tratingly realistic,

two years

of each man's letters are as different as the

When

have gleaned.

the

evacuated to Wales during the war, he writes about the narrow-

ness, the overcrowding, the cold,

Reich's advice about psychology,

and the damp. He frequently asks

how he might

what he has

best use

learned on behalf of individual children. In later years he confides his

worries
his

over

the nuclear threat, the school's financial situation,

daughter Zoe's future: "Well, Reich, bless you,

especially

when

And

listen."

am

work and

curiously impersonal.

who

his ideas

on

He

social

his

In contrast,

life.

speaks, always in general terms, of the

and academic standing

literature here

and

deride him

someone who will

him with
Reich's letters seem

to talk to

many

believe in him, of the growing success and acceptance of

"My

and "Our
theories

and want

and

think of you often

always he wants to hear of Reich's doings, plying

questions about his

people

in trouble

interests.

or,

his efforts.

worse

As

still

sells like

in the U.S.

warm bread"

is

and

very strong";
of his current

Frequently he inveighs against the scoundrels

still,

who

the years went by, he

the right politically: the

meaning and

distort his

moved

who

ride to wealth

further and further to

hand of Moscow was behind every disappointFDA and McCarthy. Occa-

ment, every harassment, behind even the

sionally, his

proud optimism

is

shot through by a premonition of his

1946 that "there is only one

thing I still fear. That is, some crooked frameup, some abysmal Gemeinheit [meanness] which may hit me in the back and destroy my work";

coming tragedy: writing

to Neill as early as

and elsewhere, comparing himself

enjoying a sunny morning

to a "fiery horse racing over

fall.

Sometimes there were arguments,

attempts to justify the United

you have appeared

to

me

how

in the spring," describes

of 20 inches brings the horse to a

as

It

breaks

when

its

Neill

neck."

demurred

States' refusal of travel visas

pretty close to the

meadows

"a small stick

Reich's
"of

Americans who

at

late

are witch

INTRODUCTION
hunting"

XVi

or took exception to Reich's growing tendency to attach the

any person or action of which he disapproved.

label of "red fascist" to

But these disputes were always ultimately

increasingly discordant exchange,

Neill

between us never gets us anywhere.

It just tires

when Reich

affectionately suggests that

soda would

suffice to clear

autumn

bom

when,

set aside, as

writes

that

"all

after

an

dispute

this

us and saddens us"; or

"two glasses of good whiskey

up our disagreement." Only once,

him

of 1956, did Reich allow suspicion to blind

the

in

to Neill's stub-

During the preceding summer Reich's son, Peter, had

loyalty.

stayed for a while at Summerhill.

Some

of his talks with Neill,

when

later

reported to Reich, led the latter to believe that finally Neill, too, had
failed him.

Reich expressed

mutual

his feelings of betrayal to a

friend.

This was more than even Neill could bear: "So our long friendship has

come

to an

me

end because you consider

"Goodbye, Reich, and

bless you."

unreliable"

ending

his letter:

But the friendship did not end. Reich

disregarded the reproach and the farewell, only telling Neill not to

"worry," and a few weeks

keep

silent or

later

begging him to "be patient, please,

do not reply promptly.

am

extremely busy."

And

if

Neill

responded, damning "this 3000 miles separation," and then, writing of

his

concern

at the turn

events were taking: "Reich

love you.

cannot

bear to think of your being punished by an insane prison sentence.

couldn't do

How
months

it

and you know

right Neill was:

later

it."

though Reich had committed no crime, a few

he died of the punishment.

Sixteen years later, just before his

summed up

Neill

You

his feelings in his

died in vile captivity.

own

death in September 1973,

autobiography:

think that Reich will not

"A

come

great

into his

man had
own as a

genius until at least three generations from now. I was most lucky to

know him and

We

learn

from him, and love him."

too are fortunate that now, with the publication of this eloquent

record of their friendship,

men

in their full

we can come

to

know

these two extraordinary

humanity.

BEVERLEY

R.

PLACZEK

New York
December 1980

EDITOR

NOTE

All the letters published here are taken from Reich's

Very few of

Neill's letters

contained only carbon copies of Reich's

A remark

are missing.
that

file.

appear to be missing, but the

may

of Neill's

Use has gone, you seem

have

to

letters,

"Now

explain this:
to write

file

and many
by hand";

when that was the case, Reich would, of course, have made
no carbon. Neill signed all his letters just plain "Neill."
None of Reich's carbon copies are signed, but Mrs. Neill
tells

me

"Reich signed his

that

WR

sometimes

just

REICH or

W.Reich."

As

far as possible, Reich

speak each

in his

letters in

a variety of ways:

or Wilh. Reich and sometimes just

own

voice.

and Neill have been left to

At the start, Reich's English

was uncertain, but I have altered it only where the sense

was unclear; and in translating the few letters he still wrote
in German, I have tried to maintain their flavor. Though
Reich never

and

lost his accent,

command

his

he was always highly

the

of

written

language

articulate,

improved
he used

steadily. Neill talked directly into his typewriter:

slang

when

it

suited

words and phrases;

him and dotted

his letters with

German

his abbreviations are idiosyncratic

his

punctuation and capitalization irregular, and, of course, his

spelling

is

British. All this

has been

In preparing so large a body of

some abridgment was

abrupt,

it

is

essential.

left

unchanged.

letters for publication,

If

some

appear

letters

for this reason. I have deleted repetitions,

redundancies, and passing allusions to people

part in the story. I have also

who

play no

somewhat reduced

Neill's

descriptions of his health problems: Reich, as well as being

his friend,

had also been

his doctor.

have retained every sentence

aspect of the

life,

the other hand, I

might shed

light

on any

the thought, or the personality of either

man, even such as perhaps

or

that

On

in

themselves seem unimportant

trivial.

The people mentioned

in the letters, unless identified in

the text, are identified in footnotes, as are events, current

and important
context.

at the time, that

may

not be clear from the

EDITORS NOTE
/

am most

XVIU

grateful to Mrs.

generously allowing

me

Use Ollendorff Reich for

to include a long, important letter

she wrote to Neill in 1952, which contains a description of

an event not covered elsewhere.

My

very

warm

thanks go to Miss

Mary Higgins

unfailing help in elucidating obscure points

and

for her

tirelessly

searching out relevant material.

B.R.P.

Record of a Friendshi

I936-I939
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

1936

22,

Dear Reich,

You remember
come

to you? I

She

analysis.

is

mentioned a Mrs. Tracey who wanted

would be very

grateful

a parent here and

you would take her on

if

to

for

tried to analyse her myself, but

me made it impossible. She wants if

possible to go to Oslo about May loth, and as she is very unhappy
and having ghastly dreams I am hoping you can find time to analyse her.

found her emotional attitude to

She has a dream of dealing with children analytically

Let

me know

Oslo,

Norway

Dear

Neill!

as

later on.

soon as you can. Best Wishes.

March
Before
Tracey,
self

would

about her

can decide myself to

like to

26,

1936

an analysis with Mrs.

start

have entire information through you or by her-

difficulties,

her age

have to reserve an hour for

etc. I

am

rather occupied and

her. Besides I

means my circumstances don't admit

to take

am

would

rather expensive, that

low

prices.

My minimum

would be too much a character

analysis with a lower price, about ten norv.Kr. would be possible by one
of my pupils. I could guarantee for a very good one.
fee

is

20 norv.Kr. for the hour.

Please

let

me know

If that

about what Mrs. Tracey

is

going zu decide.

1936-1939

hope you are doing

You

well.

Kulturkampi* very soon. Best

Oslo,

my new book

will get

Sexualitdt

Norway
December

My

im

greetings.

1936

17,

dear Neill!
I

did not write you so long, that

go through a

lot of

have

work. There happened a very lucky turn

in

my

investigations:

ceeded to compose microscopic thingsf which behave just

zoa.

It

was demonstrated the

last

week

and Albert Fischer the

feller-Institut

but then

when

serious. I

have to do

had to

to apologise. I

very hard accomplishments personally and in

made

in

Copenhagen

biologist,

took

it

the experiment before his eyes, he

my
suc-

like proto-

in the
first

Rocke-

with fun,

became

rather

now a lot about it, to prove it to the most compulsion-

neurotic scientists.
It will interest

you

to hear that Mrs.

Tracey has made a big step

forward: She succeeds really to solve her tremendous muscular tensions

especially in her face. I think she will write

Please

let

me know

if

you

herself.

you are doing well and how you are

getting

along with your fine work.

You

will get

soon a reprint about the

mental work. Please send

With

my

me

reprints

if

first

part of

my

latest experi-

you got some new ones.

kindest greetings.

Die Sexualitdt im Kulturkampf, 1936 {The Sexual Revolution, 1945;

in a

new

1974). Reich's critique of prevailing socio-sexual conditions, based

on his studies of sexology and on his experience as a physician working in the
translation,

free mental-health clinics he

t

Reich later came to

had founded

in

call these vesicular

Vienna and Berlin.

forms "bions."

1936-1939

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

Dear Constance *
I am coming

me

asks

me

be her guest but

to

I'll

am

be able to have a fortnight

is

a chance of a few

me

so difficult for

Mrs Linst
but

said

stale also,

is

Year.

Ask R.

if

a few talks at of course paying rate. Elsaf

telling her

want

own, with no feeling of duty or responsibility

case there

New

Oslo probably about the

to

he can find time to give

1937

4,

to read that

in

Oslo and

falls.
I

to

will

to get

my

is

my

boots in

ski

fascinating, but

English from him.

in

it

be entirely on

bring

book

R.'s latest

want

to

anyone except myself.

also fascinated with R.'s book; she

wanted

to

come too

must get away alone to get some perspective. She has gone
and we carry on with too much

effort.

Both

get so

dis-

couraged by setbacks. Uphill work pioneering.

Arrange with R. I'm not writing him because he has

P.S.

for letters as

as little time

have.

Norway

Oslo,

November

My

9,

1937

dear Neill,

Constance gave
shall reserve

be guaranteed that
is it

sure that

But

your

me

your

one hour for you

my

hope we

I shall

letter

accomplish

permission

[to

which you wrote to

Of course

after Christmas.

much

remain]

in

Norway

difficulties entirely. I believe I

know where

will

Neither

in this short time.

shall find the opportunity to discuss

her.

cannot

it

be prolonged.

through a few of

they are rooted

in the

contradiction between the tremendous pioneer needs and the complete

Constance Tracey.

Elsa

(also

Else)

Lindenberg.

Although never

legally,

she

was

effectively

They had met in Berlin, where she was a dancer with the
Berlin State Opera. When he moved to Copenhagen in 1933, she joined him; they
lived together until Reich left Norway in the summer of 1939whence the nickname
t Neill's first wife, an Australian, born Lilly Lindesay

Reich's second wife.

"Mrs. Lins," by which she was generally known.

That is, one hour each day. During his two-week stay
had ten or twelve psychiatric sessions with Reich.

in Oslo, Neill

probably

1936-1939

we are suffering. That works

human
upon
the
poor
mistreated
structure.
Don't mind my being
hard
busy. I shall surely have time enough for you.

hopelessness of our great time under which

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

21,

1937

Dear Dr. Reich,

Sorry for delay in answering;

my

old father.

even

if

am

for so short a time with you.

in

scious. I

they are

is

in

Scotland burying

coming over

to study

growing body of opinion

you have made the

greatest ad-

psychology since Freud began the psychology of the Uncon-

am

taking steps to get your books translated into English, for

full of

know

ably

have been

There

in scientific circles in this country that

vance

delighted at the prospect of

am

country, but

new

ideas and a completely

most advanced

called the

realise that

new

can learn

splendid that you are giving

me

technique.

As you prob-

child psychologist in the

much from

you, and

think

come and do
have come across

the opportunity to

Your Character- Analyse* is the finest

many years.
I shall come as soon after Christmas

thing

as possible

and can stay

it

so.

for

until

the middle of January.

Oslo,

Norway

Dear

Neillfi

November
I

grateful to

shall expect

you

a great support in the

the

analytic

you sometime around Christmas.

for the things

fight.

you

say.

Freud once

In

this terrible

am most

time you are

said to me, in connection with

concept of "cultural repression":

Charakteranalyse,

24, 1937

"Either you

are

on

1933 {Character Analysis, revised English edition, 1945;

A psychoanalytic investigation of the various character structures that grow out of the need to preserve repressions against release
and recognition, and of the socio-economic forces that promote them.

expanded

edition, 1949, 1972).

Translated from the original German.

entirely the

wrong track or you

Do

please

let

[In the three

As

also

came

in

good time the day of your

months between

wish he had

this letter

arrival.

and the one

that follows,

Norway as planned and worked with Reich. He

know some

to

to the latter,

right.

me know

Neill traveled to

have to carry the dreadful burden

will

of psychoanalysis completely alone."

not been proven so

1936-1939

of the people

who were working and

studying with Reich.]

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 22, 1938

My

dear Reich,

So
dull

far I

am

dead.

No

no

sex,

interest in

work or

and depressed with frequent headaches. But already

play, just

change

I feel

coming, and hope to give you a more cheerful report soon. Depressed

about
are

my

stifT,*

able to

work. The boy bedwetters

but

all

hold back their abdomens and

can only observe that and

do anything

for them.

feel

depressed

Habe Sehnsucht nach Oslo

at
[I

not being

am

yearn-

ing for Oslo].

Helgat was on the boat but

Geschichte\ [What a business!]

had no

Am

interest in her at

all.

So eine

reading BioneX slowly but again de-

pressed because too scientific for me.

But there are good

about making up
able to smile at

Thanks

for

its

signs.

my

mind. Very conscious of the Narcism

signs

much.

Less afraid of the wife, and more decided

when they

[5-/<:],

and

appear.

long to return again.

* While in Oslo, Neill had learned from Reich to see this as a sign of repression
and tension.
tThis is not the lady's true name; we have used the pseudonym Neill himself

used

in his

autobiography.

Die Bione, 1938 (The Bion Experiments, 1979). Reich here documents the
series of experiments he carried out in Oslo. These, ht held, opened the way to an
understanding of the origin of life and provided the basis for all his later work with
cancer and orgone biophysics.
X

Oslo,

1936-1939

Norway
March

5,

1938

Dear NeilU*
Please forgive

me

for answering your letter only today, but

you know, my time is always far too full.

The things you tell me are on the whole encouraging. I remind
you again of what I have said to you repeatedly, namely that in four
weeks I cannot effect a cure. I also told you in advance that at first
you would be depressed by what you experienced with me. It is not
as

pleasant to

come back

children have

stiff

and suddenly

to the school

stomachs. But what

is

give yourself time and rest to digest the

Please write again. Let

to resume, as

With warm

me know

one

whole

to see that all the

do about

to

it?

Do

please

thing.

in plenty of

time

when you want

have to arrange the hour.

greetings.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

16,

1938

Dear Reich,
Austria and Spain seem so terribly important! that
silly to

more

write about myself.

know how you

nationality. I

great

are

war

wrote

isn't far off

last,

all

furious about Austria

Co who

sounds

and

are really Fascists, t

still

don't

German you have no

One thing is sure, that the

stand now, but unless you are

hope your

Apart from
I

We

furious at Chamberlain and

it

my

girls

got out in time.

now.

pessimism about world events,

more Arbeitsjdhig

[able to

I feel

better than

work] but not enough

when

yet.

No

* Translated

from the original German.

week Austria had been annexed by Nazi Germany, while in Spain
Franco, with the help of Hitler's Germans and Mussolini's Italians, was clearly
winning the Civil War.
% Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, had made no attempt to
t Just that

intervene.

Eva (born 1924) and Lore (bom 1928). After Reich

were divorced, the girls had remained in Vienna with their
mother. Mother and daughters did in fact emigrate to the United States some
months before Reich himself.

and

Reich's two daughters,

his wife, Annie,

1936-1939

sex at

The

all.

people.

I still

chief difference

get

more

is

positive attitude to

bad headaches. Nearly always beginning on

life

and

a Friday,

Gott weiss warum Freitag [God knows why Friday].

Tell me, can

down and

lie

do any harm

breathe?

they are both as

the
I

stiff

if I

with

reread

just

the bedwetters, boys of 8 and 9,

can't think that there

is

any danger

Bauch [stomach],

as Hell in the

Orgasmus Reflex would be

have

make

am

in

it,

and

sure that

the cure.

and

pleasure

Kulturkampf. But the Bione book

your Sexualitdt im

profit

so difficult for me, not

is

knowing

any science.
I'll

come over

in July

if

Europe

isn't

by that time a

wise to take the whole school to Norway, but since

of British Capitalism,

general opinion here

My

Oslo,

is

suppose she
that

war

will

will

hell. It

Norway

might be
is

a part

be brought into any war. The

come very

soon.

regards to Elsa.

Norway
March

24,

1938

Dear NeilU*
I

mad, and

it

can write to you today only very

is

reflext in children with

anything certain, because

means,

try,

The

situation

is

quite impossible to foresee the outcome.

In answer to your question whether

orgasm

briefly.

stiff

it

can do any harm to release the

stomachs,

it

is

hard for

me

have no experience with children.

to say

By

all

but please be very cautious. Don't force anything; one can

easily bring about serious vegetative reactions. Also,

it

is

not easy to

do such work without involving the natural reactions such as defiance

etc.
I

which then
shall

again,

set in.

probably not be here

would advise you

to take

in July. If

May

you wish

or June or,

if

to

that

work with me
is

not possible,

September.

Translated from the original German.

Reich described this as "a series of involuntary total body contractions,"
fundamental to the full "discharge of biophysical energy" in the orgasm, and
possible only where no muscular rigidities are present. Neill often abbreviates the
*
t

term to

"o. reflex."

1936-1939

10

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 24, 1938

Dear Reich,
I

in July.

We

have been to Scotland motoring.

May

You

say you will be away

or June are impossible for me, for the school

close end of July, so that

weeks of Sept

in Oslo.

am

Geht

and without much

two

interest in anything.

never hear from Constance now, but suppose she

Oslo,

first

es? [Is that all right?]

hope

still

in session.

could spend August and the

so, for I

is

dull

is still

with you.

Norway
April 29, 1938

Dear NeilU*

am

agreeable to having you

work here

in

August and the

weeks of September. Only we must be prepared that at this very

time the official International Commission to check on the bion re-

first

search will probably be working here. But that will not disturb our

work.
Please do write again with news. Very warmly yours.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

6,

1938

Dear Reich,
Gut, Anfang August [Good, beginning of August]. Helga has

been down here for a holiday and

her as ever, and she with me.

band and a
I

know

myself as

that

if

much

in

love with

have a wife and a school: she has a hus-

Was kann man machen? [What can one

were free inside I should know was zu machen,

child. Hell!

[what to do, but]

Saw

I find

do?]

aber

Stekelf last night.

He

said:

"Reich

is

the most brilliant analyst

from the original German.

Wilhelm Stekel, Viennese physician and early adherent of Freud, who had
moved to England when Hitler took over Austria. Some years earlier, Neill had
been his patient for a few weeks.
* Translated
t

II

Freud has produced."

He

is

coming here

1936-1939

weekend soon, and

for a

He

ask him what he thinks of the Orgasmus Reflex.

goes

in

I'll

two months

to settle in California.

my stay with you this time will get me much

my stomach isn't now so loose as you made it.*

hope

fear that

Oslo,

farther on.

Norway

May

i6,

1938

DearNeiim
I

should like to ask you to plan for the middle of August,

not for the beginning, because probably in the

there will be a public demonstration here of

which

will take

up my

first

my

two weeks of August

bion experiments

time.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

22,

1938

Dear Reich,
All right, middle August. That will give

weeks

when
do

to

in Oslo, for

my

wife

is

only about four

going to America and won't be back

the school reopens middle September, and

it.

me

But of course what Europe

will

be

I'll

have to be there

like in

August no one

knows. Today's news of Henlein and Cot might mean war

ment, and in that case

minor things

my

at

any mo-

breathing and orgasmus reflex become very

in society.

Reich held that parents force their children to repress their natural sexuality
in so doing incur the hatred of the children, which is also repressed. These
repressions create anxiety, which is held at bay by a stiffening primarily of the
stomach muscles. These in turn remain stiff until the repressions and the concomitant anxiety are removed. Reich explained in The Function of the Orgasm that
it is by holding their breath that children are in the habit of fighting against continual and tormenting conditions of anxiety which they sense in the upper ab*

and

domen; they do the same thing when they sense pleasurable sensations in the
abdomen or in the genitals and are afraid of these sensations.
t Translated from the original German.
t Konrad Henlein, leader of the Sudeten-Germans in Czechoslovakia; his escalating demands eventually led to the Munich crisis.

1936-1939

12

Your enemies

read your typed ntwsblatt [sheet].

ever

pressed

ja,

und diimmer

itself in

and stupider].

[yes,

inventing an explosive

you would have been received

material dynamite

more powerful than any

other,

To

invent

allowed, but your moral dynamite

is

my

have had an attack of

gone physical). Not believing

five days.

food

is

know

poor

more

far

is

it.

old pyelitis again (the psychic conflict

in drugs

and doctors

went on a

fast for

Result a complete cure. Interesting that after a fast ordinary

On

disgusting.

and food.

man Reich

I
.

hand a fast increases sex desire greatly.

you all this, for you aren't interested in

the other

know why

don't

fasting

are fiercer than

your genius had ex-

as a national hero long ago.

dangerous, and your diehard psychiatrists

I

If

tell

can only guess

.

is

it

my

old trick of patronising that

"Yes, yes, Reich, but your orgasmus reflex

isn't

everything."

At the same time

know

that

fast cures all the

lack of food cure

same.
it?

my reflex were working properly

am really curious to know why

if

wouldn't be getting pyelitis again.

old Neill

why should
questions! Which

caused by lack of sex

If pyelitis is

Same

always asking

Reich never thinks of answering.

Cheerio. If Oslo does

you

safe in

Oslo,

make

it

too hot for you we'll

England or America. Freud

is

also

coming

work hard
to

to get

London.

Norway

May

26, 1938

Dear NeilU*

Thank you very much

to

England or America.

am

for your offer to help

taking advantage of

the danger that I shall have to leave here

that I

must already

start preparations.

is

it

me

in

at once,

not acute.

Still,

moving

although
I

believe

Please initiate whatever steps

may be necessary to get recommendations and support, and let me

know to whom you have turned. My move to America would be inseparable from moving
assistants.

The main

my

point

is

laboratory equipment and two or three

that I

am

not a poor emigrant soliciting

entry into America as a favor; rather, that

reasonable people that

* Translated

from the

my work

original

is

it

is

the honest opinion of

necessary and that pity would here

German.

13

1936-1939

be entirely out of place.

am

also writing to

Malinowski* on

this

same matter. In August an American physician, Wolfe,t will be here

from New York, whom in fact you will probably get to know. He is
coming here

to study vegeto-therapy.J

ready be able to take you

touch about that

It

possible that

is

beginning of August, but

at the

we

shall

shall

al-

be

in

later.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

I,

1938

impossible to

make

Dear Reich,
It is difficult to

any application
of

Norway.

to the

vorbereiten [prepare].

It is

government unless you are certain

for

It is useless

me

to tell people that

Reich

to

is

a genius

ought to be allowed to come to England (or America).

government department would care a damn what Neill

never heard of me. The only way

known

here. I

Bione book.

am

It is

is

for

me

to try to get

asking Professor Haldane

possible that

if

you could

if

be put out

No

and

English

said.

They

your work

he would read your

get an article in English

on the Bione and their possible application to disease, I could get it

published in The Lancet,** for the editor has a problem son at my
school. To be invited to a country you must be known, and because
your books aren't translated into English you are known only to a few.
I dined with Stekel last week at Flugel'stt house. I asked him what he
*

Bronislaw Malinowski, the social anthropologist.

P. Wolfe, Swiss psychiatrist now established in the United States.
year later, he was instrumental in bringing Reich to New York and thenceforth
remained closely associated with Reich and his work. Although English was not
his native language, he became Reich's first translator; he helped set up the Orgone
t

Theodore

and
method of

Institute Press
t

edited

its

journals.

neurosis by direct physical attack on the nodes of

according to Reich, represented and sustained early,

treating

muscular tension which,

primarily sexual repressions.

The

repressed material set free

when

these tensions

were broken down was then analyzed in terms of character structure. "Vegeto"
abbreviation for "vegetative"; i.e., pertaining to the autonomic nervous
is an
system.
J. B. S.

**

Haldane

(i

892-1 964), British biologist and

British medical journal.

geneticist.

The most important

tt J. C. Flugel, Freudian psychoanalyst and friend of Neill's; an early member

of the British Psycho-Analytical Society and for some years co-editor of the
International Journal of P^cho- Analysis.

1936-1939

14

He

thought of your theories.

replied:

"I don't understand them."

found that Fiugel knew scarcely anything about your

and

work,

another psychoanalyst there, [Millais] Culpin, had never heard of you.

Hence

say that the

first

thing necessary in England

is

present

moment

with

your instruments, but to bring your assistants

all

think

would be possible for you

it

would possibly be impossible. That could be done

work was

university said your

essential for them.

At

publicity.

at the

same time

fancy only
That's

the

England

to enter

if

why

some
I

am

approaching Haldane now.

It will

Oslo,

be good

if

you can take me

at the

beginning of August.

Norway
June

4,

1938

Dear NeilU*
I

do beg you

to

be extremely cautious

ganda for the bion book as far as "authorities

cerned. Imagine

if

would achieve

making any propa-

in the field" are

by way of propaganda.

the exact opposite.

For the time being, there

is

my

no question here of

residence permit

being refused. So give yourself plenty of time to look around.

will

con-

were to send one of your excellent books, for

instance, to William Stern or Charlotte Buhlerf

I

in

be possible for

me

to take

you already

at the

think

it

beginning of August.

So make your plans accordingly.

That the psychoanalysts do not understand
story that

is

them. Please write again as soon as you

my

basic concept

is

already 16 years old. Please don't even try to persuade

know more.

Translated from the original German.

t Stern,

of the

a well-known

first

psychology.

women

German

"authority" on youth psychology; Biihler, one

professors at the University of Vienna, lecturing on child

15

1936-1939

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

8,

1938

Dear Reich,

You
that

we

are

man to help. You seem to think

You mention Stern and Buhler, but

are really a most difficult

a lot of

all

damn

fools.

so far as you are concerned, most people here are Sterns and Buhlers.
Until you do something to have your ideas translated into English you
are unknown here.
The old-fashioned

It is

useless to approach the Freudians in

psychiatrists

are

worse.

London.

There only remains the

Haldane-Bernal*

They

younger group of

scientists of the

modem

and more open-minded than the psycho-analysts

here.

ignorance of science

can't

in politics

my

grant that

grasp

is this:

a scientist like

if

is

class.

a handicap, but what

are

all

Haldane cannot read and understand Die

who can? Where can one find a scientist who is a specialist in

biology and also in psychology? You seem to me to have a phobia that
you will always be misunderstood, but why then write books if everyone
is to misunderstand them? I feel that one of your main aims now should

Bione,

be to have Die Bione and your Orgasmus Reflex translated into English.

But as

say,

know how

you are so

to help you.

indefinite
It

may

and

fearful of publicity that

be that living

among

crowd of

don't
little

Norwegian enemies you are out of touch with the English world. The
arrival of all the

very important,
I

hope

Oslo,

Viennese analysts

and now

to be in

is

in

London

make psychology
known in England.

will

the time for Reich to be

Oslo Anjang August [beginning of August].

Norway
June

10.

1938

Dear Neilin

You
believe in the

are right,

good

to let that influence

publication of

* J.
t

will of

am

an incorrigible pessimist, since

academic

you, and

The Bions or

its

if

authorities.

Still,

do not

do beg you not

you can do something toward the

distribution, I

would be

D. Bernal, British biologist and teacher, friend of

Translated from the original German.

grateful to you.

Neill's.

1936-1939

My book,

The Orgasm Reflex* has already been

by Constance and

[Neill

i6

was

is

available for publication at any time.

Oslo between June and September and worked with

in

Reich as planned. The following

letter

answer

is

one from Neill that

to

translated into English

was written by Reich

missing.

The

original

is

in
in

German.]
Oslo,

Norway
September

i6,

1938

Dear Neill!

Now

an urgent request:

ready for the evacuation of

my

primary concern

is

my

am

at

present getting everything

laboratory and

its

safekeeping. In this,

to ensure that the only existing proof of the

soundness of the bion research, namely the cultures

have on hand, be

taken permanent care of in the event of war and disaster, so that they

can reemerge unchanged.

the French

Academy and

whether there

am

writing in this matter to Stockholm, to

to you. Please ask

a biological or bacteriological institute that

is

willing to take care of the bion cultures; I

description of

Bemal or whomever

how

else

would be

would include an exact

they are to be cared for. Only

some

ten glasses

[i.e.,

retorts] are involved,

do beg you

possible and to

to

let

comply with

me know who

this

in

request of mine as quickly as

England might be considered

for

this.
I

this

am

I really

do believe that

time you have accomplished a great deal.

With

very glad that you are feeling so well.

my very warmest greetings

Orgasmus

Reflex,

originally

to

you and your

friends.

published as a monograph; later included as

chapter 8 in The Function of the Orgasm.

1936-1939

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

19,

1938

Dear Reich,

You

could send the glasses direct to

lab for them, either through Bernal or

there

me and

someone

could find a safe

else.

would be the Customs people, who might suspect

smuggling

who might

cocaine or drugs, and

in

The difficulty
new way of

play hell by trying to

analyse the stuff themselves.

One

here

difficulty

may

be that Bernal

is

a prominent

know may be

member

of the

Communist Party and for all I

But I am sure that he would arrange the safety of your glasses.
Looks as if Chamberlain and Co are to throw C. Slovakia to the
wolves. The people here are only concerned in not going to war. But
C.S. will fight, and everyone will be in

Best wishes to

self

prejudiced against you.*

it.

and Elsa.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

3,

1938

Dear Reich,
Bernal writes that

Spooner, The

if

you send your cultures

Pathological Laboratory,

they will be taken care

of. I

don't

make

worse than those of Oslo.

He

myself.

be safe here? Chamberlain's

books

this

am

us

seeing the

man

[Barnes]

who wrote about

week. Constance thought him a good man.

has an Austrian wife.

In the great Angst [anxiety] f of last

During

leaders,

his

who

luring people

years in Berlin,

felt

week

was surprised

The

Reich had become suspect to the Communist

for Proletarian Sex Politics he was

away from the single-minded

from the party in 1934.

threat of

to find that

that with his Association

pursuit of the party's goals.

finally expelled
t

Cambridge,

more easy to attack in the future

Cambridge or London being bombed to hell are

criminality to C. Slovakia will

translating your

will

to Dr. E. T. C.

University,

know Spooner

But why think that your work

and the chances of

The

imminent war, postponed by the Munich Pact.

He was

1936-1939

had none. Reich's

the big question of

18

was the cause. But

veg. Therapie

have not

Constance sends her love to you and Elsa. Ich auch [Me,

Oslo,

too].

Norway
October

Dear

settled

my sex life yet.

6,

1938

Neill,

Cambridge would

the Pathological Laboratory in

If

the Bion-Cultures,

would mean

it

thank you very much.

you had with

it.

am

Please

doing

it

really take

would have

to

now for all the troubles

am now preparing everything

already

Bernal that

tell

and

a great help,

Academic of Science in
The reason to transport and
depose the cultures is not, as you seem to believe, that London would
be safer from bombs than Oslo. But London has no fantastic
to send over the cultures. Also that the French

my

Paris had proposed to publish

fremmedkontor

moment

results.

[alien registration office]

to get rid of

Chamberlain

which only waits for the

right

me, whatever the way would be.

cost us

will

all

tremendously much. But as long as

people allow the Chamberlains to take care of them, the matter will

remain unchanged. There

is

only one hope: that

pletely clear to everybody that there

and "Fascism." There

suffer

is

only a third

can decide!! All right

an

I'll

much

write
I

can

you when
tell

am

we

interesting time

That your Angst was gone was a good thing

shall also settle all the rest of

it

will

become com-

no choice between "Democracy"

way out: only those who work and
is

are living through.

to tell about. I

hope we

it.

sending off the Cultures.

If I

only

knew how

about them without being choked.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

16,

1938

Dear Reich,
If

place
ist

it is

you simply want your cultures

easy.

But

if

you want Spooner

etwas anders [bions, that

is

asking him to investigate them.

to

be stowed away

to investigate

another matter].

in a safe

your Bione, das

think you should risk

19

1936-1939

On

second thought

have a better

today and sound him on whether he

you have

his reply in a

idea.

Spooner myself

write to

I'll

and

interested or not,

is

shall let

few days.

Everything points to England's going Fascist now, and

soon freedom of the press

will go.

Then

there will be

fear that

no country worth

living in.

P.S. Stekel writes

want

am coming down next weekend to see you. I

Reich. No man should be too old to learn from

me:

to hear about

"I

another, and none of us have

Oslo,

the truth."

all

Norway
October

1938

19,

My dear Neill,
Many
Spooner

for Dr.
it

would be

it

are

all

will

pay you back.

as a first orientation.

You

at the idea that living

simple as

it is,

very

to

They

stuff.

same time

kill

never expected

The

it.

it

so-called vegeto-therapy,

needed nearly 20 years of hard work and

strict

theory

of

life

biologically as well as sociologically.

few technical principles and

test

and

To

sex

let

them on

fame. Furthermore, the technique needs

don't want to

harm

patients

much

Stekel, but

The vegeto-therapy cannot simply be added

fight, is

based

and

psychologically,

anybody simply take up

could only harm

a
its

study and improvement.

Stekel never could wait for the results research

I

deny and

it.

upon

and by.

them could

got

forbidden, against God. Meanwhile those cultures prove to

please also cautious with Stekel.

substance could arise from dead

be identical with products of the cancer process.

simply met

how dangerous

officially to

waiting for proof of this simple fact, but at the

It is strictly

Be

send you a few fotos

understand

who have

scientists

and the way

to believe that those cultures

be understood instantly by
laugh

my

thanks for the troubles which you are taking about

hope someday

cultures. I

work

brings only by

want to protect

my

work.

to the usual psychoanalytic

theory and technic. Mostly they are opposite.

I

hope you

feel all right.

are getting along privately.

Let

me

hear please about

it,

and how you

1936-1939

Oslo,

Norway

Dear

Neill,

2o

October 22, 1938

You
I

am

don't

see, I

much

be interested
I

feeling about Dr. Spooner.

my work

concerned. But

is

most of the so-

trust the loyalty or scientific reliability of

called scientists.

Well,

had a good and correct

not in despair as far as the future of

did not appear probable that a bacteriologist would

It

Bione. Meanwhile

in the

could wait,

the fascists

if

get cancer after cancer

on mice.

would not press on. What are you

going to do in England? Is there some sincere countermovement?

Did you
said

no?

get the pictures

Now

which

before

I sent

knew

can

Spooner

and preparata as

cultures] to the States. I shall flood tTiem with pictures

long as

that

send pictures and preparata [microscope slides or

have to

until they

listen

and to look.

How are you? Let me hear please from you very soon.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 24, 1938

Dear Reich,
I

am

enquiring about the Lister Institute before

for information about storing bacteria.

without

write to

fear that they also will

Had Stekel und Frau [and wife] for the weekend. He didn't
much about you, but spoke about your books in a very

mentary manner. His one criticism was that he does not

afraid that

in a

ashamed

shall give a

wrong impression

bad mood myself. Full of

older Problemkinder

murderous, for

my

say very

don't settle

it

soon.

junctivitis of the right

need more Reich

and then

my

me

and

[problem children] make

my

little.

wife and feeling

ashamed. Then one or two of

attitude to her.

We

feel

saw Helga

were on the

hateful
in

London

streets all the

me if
am constipated and for weeks have had coneye. And I haven't any enthusiasm for my work.

time and had to talk only. But this sexless

of your work.

hate, hating

never get away from them.

and wasn't sure of

compli-

your imitat-

to introduce her to visitors because she looks so old,

feeling angry at myself for feeling

like

after all

no reason. Don't be

ing patients in your Characteranalyse, but gave

am

be

interest.

ask

them

yet, I

know.

life is

going to destroy

"

1936-1939

shall store the photos and the table you sent

P.S.

see nothing before us

fear this generation

before

now

doomed,

is

than a Fascist France and England.

that

will

it

becomes conscious of what

it

meantime.

in the

going on

is

have to go through fascism

in society.

about workers being castrated; they are oxen with no

right

You were

life in

their

eyes and souls.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

20, 1938

Dear Reich,
got the slides and

am

decent fellow and will help us

Bernal group

more

if

is

he can. The general attitude of the

that your discoveries are nonsense.

is

daren't try any

of them.

me

Barnes has sent

the

[German]

is

that

often that

can say

you

write

all

in a

no merit of mine:

is

chapter of your S. im Kulturkampf in

first

English. Quite well translated.

that

trying to see a friend, Prof. Wright of

Department of Guy's Hospital about them. He

the Pathology

One

difficulty in translating

more

fully than

we

do.

from Deutsch
have told you

page what you take three pages to say, and

it

is

the difference between the two languages

mostly.

Have
for

been reading your Charakteranalyse, and

just

my own

about

work.

You

feel

depressed

never trying to analyse anyone again,

have no system as you have. Yet

wonder why most

of

my

past

you

this

improved so much.

patients

me

ask

to

tell

and you don't seem

and am going
I

I feel like

wish

to

to

you how
have read

London

am, but

it.

my

last letter told

can't get rid of

my

conjunctivitis,

to see an oculist.

could give up the school for a year and come back to you.

have no sex

life

and

feel

damned discontented and

often hateful.

have

whose parents send them here because of me,

took even three months off duty they would object strongly.

a dozen problem children

and

if

Eine schwere Lage [A

I

am
Last

sending Elsa

Man

difficult situation],

my new book,

Reich.

the children's story I wrote in Oslo.*

Alive (London: Herbert Jenkins, 1938).

1936-1939

It is in

22

easy English and will be good for her English study.

study of

my

Sadism disguised

in

It is

good

humour.

Your stomach theory is completely proved by the stomachs of the

The repressed ones have stomachs like wooden boards,
but children begin to loosen up very quickly, and at once begin to be
hateful and savage. They kill off their enemies (family ones) eagerly in
children here.

the form of cushions and dolls,

and

feel sure that their analysis

be only the active one of doing things without any attempt by

make unconscious

Some

the school's control.

is

The

things conscious.

kids

should

me

to

things that matter are outside

can do nothing with because the

home

impossible.

Now

don't get alarmed that

Reichism.
learn yet.

Now

here,

war with

back

to

you

that

am

dangerously experimenting with

much from you

have learned

Chamberlain

being beaten slowly by the elections

is

Hitler seems nearer, and

in

summer.

but have a million things to

dare not even think of coming

you can have

If

me

Easter

at

have four

weeks then.

Oslo,

Norway

Dear

Neill,

November
I

who

got your

me

letter.

Hope

Wright

Prof.

23, 1938

not the physiologist

is

I was crazy, because I said that skin surface

phenomena which it may be possible to measure. I
thank you very much for all the things you are doing for me. Now I have

told

shows

1934 that

in

electrical

sent off slides to five different places in the world.

happen now

my

declaring

investigations
slides I sent

they are.
will see,

which

my

certainly

will

become

my

oppose

fail

distrust

While great men are

cannot keep up with the

me

cancer mice compel

you are a few which cannot

You
it

at least contradictory statements.

thoughts to be nonsense,

Something must

to

to.

But among the

be recognized for what

toward

scientists.

But you

worse. Did you read the history of the

still

Curies?

Why
therapy

should reading
is

my

Character Analysis disturb you? Psycho-

a rotten business,

as

parents and other circumstances.

to hold

on

to.

you

My

state

"system"

yourself,
is

mentioning the

nothing but something

23

1936-1939

Of course

and therefore

to change,
I

read your letter entirely. But

was very glad

Here

children.

would

be

like to

grown-ups.

in

sure

discover that

your statements about the stomach attitude of

is

the future of

Therapy and Prophylaxis.

please write

of the Institute?

It

down your

to believe that everybody always knew about

Write please again. At Easter

about 8 days.

observations for our

would mean much.

am

If that will

shall

ceasing

it.

probably interrupt

not disturb you,

starting to

am

have discovered something important, and

matters tend

your place, to work with children and not with

Would you

Communication

know how

asked again.

to hear

am

my work

for

should like to go on with you.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

1938

26,

Dear Reich,
Failure again.

looked

at the slides

The

professor asked

"They show some inflammation by

were doing, he said

bacteria,"

interested in science.

will get

in

This

politics

told

men are
man Wright

and

was

him

what Bernal said

atmosphere. God, Reich, these

broad-minded

dinner and then

to

under the microscope, obviously without

never heard of your work and when

what you

me

in

all

my

in
.

children.
is

a very

he

said.

no help from the orthodox

Zu

He had
way

unscientific

infection

from the

They

aren't

really

nice

fellow,

kind,

everything except science.

scientists.

interest.

klein

fear

you

[Too small].

They all seem terrified to commit themselves to an opinion. Til try once
more with Haldane this time. Next time I go to London Til ask him to
see me, and will keep the slides

Today I have a
they would like to

am

me.

then, unless

you give up English

me to send the box back.

from the big publishers John Lane saying
see the translation of the 5. im Kulturkampf, and
sending on the introduction and the first chapter that Barnes sent
told Lane that you were the only man who had given us something

scientists in despair

till

and ask
letter

new and valuable since Freud. I am not entirely pleased with the translation. One phrase, "disorganisations of the vegetative harmony," means
nothing to most people. You should really make some sort of explanation of your terms, for the word vegetative is unknown to most readers.

1936-1939

Most people unconsciously

simplifications

24

associate

would have a

it

you'll let Charakteranalyse

with vegetarianism. With a few

it

better chance. If this

book

is

taken

be the next one to be translated.

hope

It

is

lovely book, full of the most important things to any analyst.

am

Lane now warning him that he must not ask any

Freudian for an opinion on your book. The biggest medical publisher,
Kegan Paul, has Freudian readers who refuse to pass books that aren't
I

writing

according to the Verein [Society].*

About myself ...

is

impossible. She has

am

now

want only Helga but

[Nothing to be done, but

life

for

me

is

ist

sehr sehr leer

very, very empty].

Norway
November

My

that

got a sense of loyalty to her husband and

zu machen, aber das Leben fur mich

child. Nichts

Oslo,

always depressed.

29,

1938

dear Neill,

am

answering your

letter

immediately to prevent great

mishaps. Those "scientific" chaps are as you say: without any interest
in science and,

now perhaps

would add, without

Your Wright

responsibility.

run around saying that he has "controlled"

my

will

cancer

was nothing but "infection." Among the slides which

I sent you are three which have as much to do with infection as I with
Hitler. It's all nonsense. But with their "authority" they can spoil every-

work and

thing for

Your

that

me

it

perhaps for ever.

depression

situation has to

support

it

gets

is

make

from

apparently not completely irrational.

for depression.

irrational things

real situations without disturbing

The

and how

The

far

is

only

you succeed

Your

real

how much
in fighting

your work. Don't please forget that we

cannot give certainty of pleasure, only the

happens

question

ability to

enjoy

it

when

it

to offer itself.

British Psycho-Analytical Society,

in general,

whom

and orthodox Freudian psychoanalysts

Neill sees as forming a closed society.

25

1936-1939

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

14,

1938

Dear Reich,
I

hear that you have got your visa for America and are going

this Spring.

This alarms me, for

[hours for me]. Tell

me

For your sake

going.

about

hope

it,

it

true, for

is

it

means no more Stunden fur mich

true and if so when you will be

if it is

America

wide and has a

is

future.
I

haven't had the chance to do anything

Very busy with plays

Oslo,

Norway

Dear

Neill!

for the

more about

the slides.

end of the term dramatic evening.

December
true that

It is

got the visa for the States. But

before July or August. So you

How

will

am

19,

1938

not leaving

have the opportunity to continue.

long would you like to stay and when?

have

know

to

in

time to

arrange the hours.

Don't worry about the

slides.

Send them back

got a cancer diagnosis in one of them.

They

please. I

will give

have already

more when

the

time passes on.

Oslo,

Norway
January

19,

1939

My dear Neill,
Please don't take on

Communication*
copy

as

the

into English. It

is

burden of translating the Bionalready done.

shall

send you a

soon as possible. Meanwhile there happened something imknowing it I had microscoped for about four weeks a

portant. Without

new bion
like

culture which apparently

radium.

It

makes

is

radioactive, that means,

it

behaves

the skin red through glass and penetrates the

* Bion Experiments on the Cancer Problem: Abstracts of a Lecture given to the

Norwegian Society of Medical Students in Oslo, June, 1938 (Sexpol-Verlag, I939)-

1936-1939

26

cover of foto-plates and darkens them.

my

eyes started to ache.

the doctor says nothing serious

am

and

paid attention to

They became very

is

to

it

when

first

sensitive against light, but

be seen

continue the

yet. I

tests

trying to get in touch with Niels Bohr, the physicist. If the

matter holds, then there will be radium to be had for nearly nothing

These Bions

for everybody.

cancer

kill

had

my work now

to stop

me

Write

please

if

am

and

is

dirty tricks.

promptly.
to

You

my

can see

it

have

eyes. I

waiting until the eyes get better.

you made sure the

medical magazine [The Lancet].

enough of those

cells

bad has happened

in the microscope. If only nothing

possibility to publish in this

would not

had

like to get a rebuff. I

you again when the matter

shall write

definitely affirmed.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

Dear Reich,
The

my

Chairman.

didn't like

it.

went

lecture
I

off quite easily. Stekel

spoke quite a

He

up

got

lot

later

was

about Reich and

there.
I

1939

8,

Haire* was

could see Stekel

and spoke, saying that

it

was pure

phantasy to say that capitalism had anything to do with sex repression.

Later

we

all

went

truth about Reich!

complex

that

to Flugel's

house for supper. Then

Oh, Haire was

bitter

about you

I
.

learned the real

you have a

compels you to destroy everything you touch

[for instance] the

Nasty man, Norman,

the other

lecture

isn't

hand

and asked

rebel
.

zB.

Freudian Verein, Communism, Sex Reform League.

"Reich has done more to destroy sex reform than any

On

man

living."

he?

number

quite a

me where

of people

came

to

me

my

after

they could get your books, and

if

they

were translated into English.

am

to

have lunch with H. G. Wells soon.

books?

He

man

English science.

in

Reich, can't you send

I feel

me

he would be interested

a clear account of

suggest something short

Norman

how Bione

in the Bione.

Bione so that

explain them to Wells without of course giving

I

You know him and

his

wrote the History of Science. Possibly the most powerful

are made,

Haire, British sexologist, headed the Sex

can

away the inner

how

Now,

at least

secrets?

they react to

Reform League.

27

1936-1939

make cancer or destroy it, also the mice

Geschichte [business], what happens when mice are geimpjt [inoculated], what they die of when they do die after inoculation, etc. I want

other organisms,

enough

if

they can

man

to interest a

like Wells.

tried to interest Prof.

London University Biometry Dept. "Too unorthodox," he

knew before how little these great scientists are.

Now
pages

Oslo,

me

do send

knew

if I

the short history of the Bione.

the facts.

German

Haldane of

said.

never

could do

it

February

lo,

in

two

will do.

Norway
1939

My dear Neill,
had never expected a better and nicer compliment than this
I only hope that he is right in saying that I destroyed

Haire gave me.

the Sex Reform. Just that

it

10 years ago.

we Germans used

as

was the purpose when

And what

started to fight against

Stekel said are very old Kamellen [tales]

to say. I

am

glad that people

came

to

you and

confirmed the conviction that there are other reasonable people

We

world.

process since Hitler

About
which

came

the Bione:

to victory.

it

summed

in the archive.)

up.

You

ism

it

you

it

but will

will find the latest general results

can give him [Wells] a copy of the Bionbook too.

is

to

be found

in the

And

pamphlet Der

Materialismus in der Lebensforschung [Dialectical Material-

in Biological

Orgasm

have to carry on.

Academy. (They won't publish

In

a general review of the Bion field

dialektische

We

send you a copy of the communication

shall

sent to the French

deposit

in the

are flowing in a stream, which took hold of the whole social

Reflex.

Research], which was printed in the same issue as the

You have

got

it.

have had a few copies of books sent

to you.
It's fine

that

you

feel

good.

am

glad about

it.

Write again please. Also about Wells. Very soon you'll get the
English translation of the
tion der

new pamphlet about

die natUrliche Organisa-

Arbeit*

Die natUrliche Organisation der Arbeit

Natural Organization of
in English.

Work

in

in

der Arbeitsdemokratie, 1939 (The

This was never published

Work Democracy).

1936-1939

28

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

Dear Reich,
Thanks

for description. I

am

trying to translate

help of an Austrian teacher. Even he cannot translate

must get a science dictionary Eng-Deutsch,

for

it

1939

13,

with the

the terms.

all

your words are not

in

the ordinary dictionary.

I

could easily get what you sent published in The Lancet, but you

don't want that, do you? In your place

should do

printed proof that the Bione was your discovery.

men

other

Lancet

your ideas and publish them.

will steal

publication would very likely be of great value to you

seek entrance into England, or even to America.

Overcome

will find

that anti-publicity

you

told

And

medical journal of England.

the high-class

is

so as to have

it,

You

if

that

that the

such

you were

to

What do you

say?

complex of yours.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 25, 1939

My dear Reich,
Congratulations on your latest discovery, but

about your eyes.

Is

no protection

there

on the microscope? You must

that will

am

worried

keep out radium rays

find one.

me to come and see the

when in London. I shall be going up next week for I must consult
someone about my eyes. The conjunctivitis gets worse and worse daily.
Wells has been in Australia and has just come home. I hope to see
him next week too.
I

got an answer from the Lancet asking

editor

can find no English translation for Zeitraffung. Slow motion photo

isn't

the translation

Rasenformig
or lawn."
I'll

is

unknown

It is hell

be able

depends on

here.

is

My

no word

soon

eyes. I

if I

for

Also

like turf

German.

can come over to Oslo

have no

opposite.

the

Austrian lad says "shaped

trying to translate scientific

to say

my

and there

faith in specialists

at Easter.

who

Much

simply give

29

1936-1939

drops to suppress the disease, and

hope

to hear

may

eyes by exercises, blinking etc. Only

who

consult the people

cure

hate doing exercises of any kind,

from you that your eyes are O.K. by now.

[With the previous

Neill

letter,

translation of the paper

had enclosed a

on bions.

draft of

It is to this that

an English

Reich now

al-

ludes.]

Oslo,

Norway
March

3,

1939

Dear Neill,
don't believe that they will take the Bion paper, but

sending

[back] to you anyway.

it

ms. as well as
portant.

My

The

translation seems

eyes are better, but

am

luck.

am

corrected the

could and enclose some pictures. They are very im-

on the microscope.
now.

Maybe you have

all right.

aches immediately.

It

work with those bions

don't dare do any

trying to get a physicist to

The

measure

radioactivity
out.

it

is

quite sure

But what

is

wrong

with your eyes?

Rasenformig means growing like

means taking up only one picture
becomes very quick.

grass
in

on earth

naturally. Zeitraffung

movement

a while, so that the

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

4,

1939

My dear Reich,
Once more
I

have nothing to report but

was arranging

the novelist

Suddenly

for her

and

me

to

failures. Ethel

Mannin

go to Wells for lunch.

got a letter from her saying she had had a violent quarrel

with him because she had criticised him in a book. So the lunch never

came off.
Then I went
"Before you

to see

tell

me

my

friend the editor of the Lancet.

about Reich

let

me show you

He began

a letter

thus:

had from

1936-1939

3o

in Paris to whom I wrote

He handed me the letter. It

he knew anything

our correspondent

asking

about Reich."

said in effect that

mad,

your discoveries are nonsense: the writer

that

the Bione were worthless,

The

letter

said: "I

you are

asked three

what they thought of Bione and they said

of the best biologists in Paris

analysis.

if

stick to his own subject

who he was and was told

and that R. should

was signed

J.L.

asked

he was a doctor of broad mind.

I

handed back the

discuss."
it is

them

now

is

you

main

in

in this position, yet

you has reached England.

point.

dare to even talk of biology? That

broad enough

nothing more to

is

going on behind the scenes.

is

America. Europe

that's the

all:

scientist

there

is

dead

to

new

approach any other person in England.

to try to
to

know what

that the fight against

only chance

"Then

said:

so angry with myself for putting

I feel

of value to

know

and

letter

What
is

mind even

good

It is

ideas. I fear

You

to

fear that your

now

are an outsider

right has a psychoanalyst to

their attitude. I can't find

to try to find out

if

one

you are a

fool or not.
I

hate to have to write thus: I thought at last

the Lancet. I feel that

calling

want

them the narrowest men

Thanks

for

all

could help you in

to write a bitter article

on

British scientists

in the world.

the literature.

The booklet on Die Arbeit [Work]

is

brilliant.

Tell

Oslo,

me how your

eyes are.

Norway
March

13,

1939

Dear NeilH*
I

am

the radiating bions

examined

in

summary of my observations on
your own use only. The matter is now being

sending you herewith a

for

Holland, quantitatively and qualitatively.

Please write whether you were successful with the

work [presumably

the translated bion paper].

Then

should also like to

Easter, so that

* Translated
letter

of

March

from the
4.

know whether you

are

coming over

can reserve an hour for you in good time.

original

German. Reich had not

at

shall

yet received Neill's

31

1936-1939

probably be away shortly before Easter, but only for a day or two,
I

if

have the money.

With warm

greetings.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

17,

1939

Dear Reich,
I shall arrive in

Norway by

taken

bulletin

here, for

is

if

Hitler hasn't

glad your eyes are better.

have stopped trying

Your

to interest

latest

anyone

so sickening always being rebuffed by the narrow fools.

me know if you
my coming if you

[Neill

am

of great interest.

it is

Let

good

Oslo by boat on the 6th April

that date.

made

will

are

his last trip

be back in Oslo by the 6th, for there

still

left

Norway

is

no

in the country.

from England

weeks working with Reich

^939' Reich

away

in Oslo.

to

Norway and

summer

of

On September

3,

September

1939

Then, in the

for the United States.

spent a few

late

war was declared.]

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
19,

My dear Reich,
It was good to get your letter saying you had arrived.* You got
away from Oslo just in time. You ask if we have evacuated the school.
No, we are going to stay here. Our children are not afraid. I was glad

to note that

have had no sign of any neurotic attitude

tiont or the war. But

it

isn't

to the opera-

easy to concentrate on psychology at a

* Neither that letter nor any other from Reich to Neill between March 1939
and April 1940 survives.
t Neill had recently undergone minor surgery.

1936-1939

when one

time like this

things like eating

You were

apt to concentrate

is

and safety and

on

essential primitive

sex.

so right about Stalinism,* but the future does not

you

Stalin or Hitler; as

work. In

32

said

country there

this

with the people

lies

it

is

who do

lie

with

the world's

a pretty grim determination that Hitlerism

must be destroyed.

From now on

guess

I shall

have to devote more time to planting

and digging than psychology. Also

a subject

so

I like

much

am

going to teach mathematics

many hours

that I spent

in hospital

working

out problems.
It

doesn't seem likely that

a long time.

daydreams

You

My

be able

financial laws in

abroad. But

paid into a
if

it

came

me until you
me from time

American

England

you

for

must remain

in

my

made

don't

know

made months ago can be

name. In such a case

are sure of a
to time,

you.

are, only that one can't send

to study further with you. In

not repay

Write

to visit

in the States

possible that a debt

is

New York bank

later I

come

meantime.

ask what you shall do about the loan

money

to

daydreams of a lecture tour

in the

what the new

useful

I shall

it

would be very

any case, you need

good income from your work

and for God's sake don't develop an

accent.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 23, 1939

My dear Reich,
I
it

in

got your long

letter.

About

monthly instalments because

that

the money, you should not pay

is

too complicated for me.

No, we are not overworried about the war so far. God knows what
the end will be, for history is doing in a week what it took many years
to do long ago. There never was such a tempo. I can't write about the

war because
any case

am

don't

know what

the censor passes or blacks out, and in

tired of discussing

it.

One

during such a time one lives fully and

*The

Hitler-Stalin Pact

is

clear,

however, that

My

regret

is

thing

alertly.

had allowed Hitler to invade Poland.

war against Germany.

triggered England's declaration of

that I can't

This, in turn,

33

1936-1939

come back

in

loo years to see what a damned fool humanity has made

of things.

My own

go

affairs

fairly well.

possibly mainly because

censorship

diflficult

is

his psychologist,

he

wish

could

reflex

not so good as

is

was,

it

Here again

it.

man wants to write about himself to

much as he would say in ordinary

hesitates to say so

peace time. All the same

unfortunately

when

My

have not "love" to perfect

do not

feel

one

bit neurotic: I

can work, but

prefer digging and building bricks to analysis.

come over

to

Gott,

you and have some more therapy

all

the same.
I get

no news from Oslo.

wrote to Elsa Backer* and the

letter

took

14 days to reach her.

When I was in hospital my surgeon took your booklet on Cancer to

read. He said he could not follow it because he was not a pathologist,
and could he lend

The
was

it

to the pathologist at Ipswich Hospital? I said yes.

pathologist returned
all

wrong\ They

are

it

all

saying that he did not understand

schoolboys

The school is full, although we are

money I do not worry about so long as
Tell

you

me what

print

is

it

but

it

really.

money now. But

getting less

can work.

happening with you, and send

or stylograph [mimeograph]. Take twenty

me

every paper

dollars off

your debt

as a subscription to Sex Pol.

Well, well, Reich, enough for the present.

your

letters,

and

if

and when peace comes

it

Norwegian friend and Summerhill parent.

will

am

always glad to get

be great

to

meet again.

1940
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January

My

three

got your two letters by the

weeks

to

come

to

1940

They had taken over

found an

my

appointing. So with
to see the

a world

war

how

the

my

operation

my

attractive friend, but

never good enough, usually too early and unsatisfying.

you

work.

that I

I realise

It is

my

reflex

very dis-

was not long enough with

end of the treatment. With the war

see no chance of ever completing

likely to spread to

my

analysis with you.

my poorness in reflexes is due to the exhaustion after

And I know that I am infinitely more relaxed and less

keep hoping that

the operation.

went

afraid than I

was before

completely.

believe completely in your

it till

post.

say about myself. After

Reflex seemed to disappear.

same

over. But in neither letter did you say

work was progressing.

I don't know what

is

5,

dear Reich,

come back

to you.

to the great feeling of

My

headaches have gone away

method and

will carry

power and potency

on with

had when

returned from Oslo in summer.

Is

anything Sex Pol* being published

in

U.S.A.?

long to see some-

thing new. Juditht says they are to publish a magazine twice yearly in

Oslo, but as

it

will

be

in

Norwegian

it

won't help me.

politics, Reich's term for the effects of political pressures on sexual

and behavior and hence for any examination of the interconnection
between the political structures of society and sexual-mental health.
t Judith Bogen, a kindergarten teacher who had been studying and working
*

Sexual

attitudes

with Reich in Norway.

35

1940

My

36

school goes on as usual. Finances so bad that

back and take

in real

am

having to go

problem children who can pay enough

the school going, thieves etc. That

given up that kind of pupil.

makes me

sad, for

had many years of having

keep

to

had almost

my money

and

and clothes stolen by young crooks, and to begin all that again
makes me tired and hopeless. However I'll see what Vegeto-Therapy

tools

do for young crooks.

will

often think

that

how

lucky you were to get away from Europe. Oslo

seemed so peaceful

not easy

in

now

getting towards the danger centre. It

own line which each member

many Left Wing people who looked

of course has

but the

is

is

England for those who supported Communism. The Party

it

accepts without thought,

new

to Russia as to a

world, are very depressed now. Left papers like the

New

Statesman

now

say more bitter things about Russia than the old Conservative ones say.

But
life's

won't discuss

politics:

want

work. Write again soon and

to forget

them and

get

on with

SAY WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 10, 1940

My dear Reich,
I

well

known

have interesting news about your books. Herbert Read, a

writer

on

art

and philosophy,

is

a director of

Kegan Paul

and Co, the best psychology and medical publishers in England. He

read my Problem Teacher* and wrote asking me if your Kampf der
Jugendi was to be published
I

ested in

what

my

book.

and he replied that he was

inter-

in English as I

wrote to him and told him not

yet,

had written about Reich and

if

had hoped

in

could lend him a few

* The Problem Teacher (Lx)ndon: Herbert Jenkins, 1940). Describes the problem teacher as one who hates the child in himself and loves the hateful disciplines
that rob the child of freedom and happiness. Children, Neill writes, must be entrusted only to those who believe in life; the problem teacher believes in subject

matter.
t Der Sexuelle Kampf der Jugend (Berlin: Verlag fiir Sexual-Politik, 1932) (The
Sexual Struggle of Youth). Addressing himself primarily to the young, Reich discusses the processes of maturation and the socio-political purposes of sex repres-

sion.

He

sees social revolution as a prerequisite to sexual liberation. This

was never published

in English.

work

37

would read them himself with a view

of your books he

him

suggested to

that

it

would be best

his opinion.

to get

him

told

them

that

approached

guilty

about not writing you

my

war has changed

gist:

occupation, for

my back

seeing what

aches.

I still

etc.,

very disappointing, and

it

Today

have dug for seven

difficulty is

they breathe and fight and bite

is,

feel that

my

cramps and complexes without

come out

to

because the

is

as they did with me.

That

must be something wrong with

it

technique.

distress

is

alive

and happy. She telephoned

about our friends in Oslo.

Judith wrote

me

at the

invite Philipsonf to

did not write the

much

invaded, so

It

is

me

tonight in great

unbearable to think about.

time of the Finland

asking

crisis

know how
about

letter. I feel

so that in

bad about

my dream

it

now

that

Where

did

is it all

sent you

if

it

him
to

would

Norway has been

was

last night P.

at

Summerhill.

say,

could have got him over with wife and child.

because

it

better than

if

England. Then the Russo-Finnish peace came and

thought the danger to Scandinavia was over, and as

have a

longer a child psycholo-

have a few "cases," but

happening. That

is

but no memories seem

Constance

to

It is fine

Perhaps

am no

that through the therapy they lose their

hear

two years ago trying

his firm

earlier.
I

teach maths and dig in the garden.

hours and

my

like to

of Read's importance taking an interest anyway.

I feel

my
me

your Fascismus* book, but had no success because

to take

then their advisers on publication were the Freudians.

man

to publication.

would

Charakteranalyse

to bring out

with an appendix of the O. reflex, but said

first

is

1940

had been Elsa L[indenberg] or someone

I

would have

end? Holland

my book.t

got.

liked

wanting to

know

tried all ways.

will

be next

I fear.

Several people have written

where your books can be

don't

feel guilty

me

have great hopes of launching the

Reich ship on the English public.

I

won't be so long in writing next time.

I feel

well and good, and any

* Die Massenpsychologie des Faschismus,

1933 (The Mass Psychology of
Fascism, 1946, 1970). Discusses fascism as an expression of the unsatisfied orgastic
longings of the masses, which for millennia have been suppressed and distorted
by authoritarian social structures. Reich argues further that people whose characters were formed by an authoritarian society would be incapable of creating a
free society. This contention led to his expulsion from the Communist Party in

1934t

Tage

Philipson, Swedish psychiatrist, student of Reich,

of the Reich group in Scandinavia after Reich

t

The Problem Teacher.

left

Norway.

who became

the leader

1940

again.

now

have

stiffness I

often

38

due

is

wonder

we

if

to digging

fear. I

meet again

shall ever

would love
in this

you

to see

weary world of

today. I'd like to live to see the better world that must follow this

present insane one.

New York

Forest Hills,

April 28, 1940

My

dear Neill!

Your
Read.

yesterday together with the offer of Mr.

letter arrived

send a copy of the Jugendbuch [youth book], but

shall

doubt

would be wise to have it published at first in England. Dr.

Theodore Wolfe from Columbia [University], whom you remember, is
whether

it

translating another
It

book

of

mine which had not been published before.*

deals with the fundamental problems of

them according

to their

Sex-Economy, t presenting

development within the IPVt beginning

in

up to the present. It is much more simply written than my other books,

and I think it would suit the purpose of introducing my work into
English countries best.

It

contains in the

first

part the controversy with

Freud, and in the second the autonomous development of

work.
first,

If

you

I shall

Jugendbuch
I

get clear whether

Kegan would be

send you a copy as soon as

will

was glad

be accepted much more

to hear

was invaded, and are

from you.
still

saying that "friends here

We

it

is

my

clinical

interested in this

book

available. After this the

easily.

had

terrible

days when

Norway

worried in spite of a telegram from Raknes

all

well."

try

hard to find out

manage to get Else and some others out and over here. I
Could you help somehow? I am afraid not. But how
touch with them? It is dreadful. As soon as you hear

how

could

fear the worst.

to get in mail

further details

write please or wire.

The Function of the Orgasm (published

the Orgone, 1942; republished in a

new

as

Volume One

of The Discovery of

translation, 1973). Describes the develop-

ment of Reich's work on sex-economy and

his discovery of the

emotional functions

of biological energy.
t Reich uses "economy" in the sense of management or regulation; hence, "sexeconomy" denotes the regulation of sexual (biological) energy within the organism.
X

Internationale Psychoanalytische Vereinigung [International Psycho-Analytical

Association].

Ola Raknes, Norwegian psychotherapist and lifelong supporter of Reich.

39

1940

Somehow

war

this

be over as the

will

continue. Question

will

is,

who

was, and

first

We

survive.

will

are

and work

life

informed here

very well about the main events.

have read your book, and gave

The only

thing

difficulties

may mention

which would

arise

is

you don't show

that

is

to Wolfe. It

it

immediately

think very good.

clearly

enough the

rational thinking

if

were to

get hold of affairs.

wish you

the best and hope to hear from you soon.

all

Summerhill School,

North Wales

Festiniog,

August

My

dear Reich,

What

evacuating the school from the

we have had

a time

East Coast to the mountains.

We

are

all

delighted with the scenery.

have read your Biography* with joy;

ing thing you have written, and

it

1940

2,

into English. I

may do

it

in the

it is

to

me

the most fascinat-

in better times I'd myself translate

dark nights of winter.

Herbert Read wrote again saying that his firm couldn't bring out

your books

in

war time with the shortage of paper. Later perhaps

hope we have from

the

in Stockholm, but

away from Oslo

get

that source.

have no word of our friends

is all

in

Norway. Someone saw

Else's sister

hear that Elsa Backer and family could

in time. I

can get no news

of the others,

not

and fear they

couldn't get away, otherwise they would have written you from Sweden.

Of course

there

is

no way of

getting

news out

Norway now

of

that

it

is

under the brutal heel of the Nazis.

We

carry on with the school and will carry on as long as

played with the idea of trying to take

me was

side

danger

it

to

America, but something

some objection

to running

him.

in-

away from

my

wife about having a free

life

and thanks

you and your treatment have ways and means of having

with

can.

suppose.

arranged things with

to

against the idea,

we

full satisfaction, although, alas,

not with

The German version of The Function of

full

love as

the Orgasm,

a full life

could have

which Reich had sent

1940

40

had with Helga. I am continuing my Vegeto work this winter, but have
so much to do teaching EngUsh and mathematics that the analysis
will have to be done in the evenings. As this is an isolated place with no
temptations to go out

Did you know

a soft spot in

my

I shall find

pleasant.

Poor old

had

heart for him, for behind his childish egoism there

was

warm about

something very

work

that Stekel killed himself lately?

Stekel.

him. In these days of war interest and paper

shortage he got hardly any notice from the newspapers, and his final

"Message

to

England" was only published

news

individual isn't

in

in brief in

these times unless he

is

one paper. The

a blackguard

like

Goebbels.

Let

me know

Forest Hills,

you hear about Elsa L[indenberg].

if

New York
September

My

1940

4,

dear Neill,

Your

letter of

August 2nd has

could arrange yourself somehow.

We

just arrived. I

hope

that

are absorbing eagerly every

you

word

of the radio about the success of the English resistance.

had word from our Scandinavian friends which are

Norway and

in

is

is

expected your coming to America, and

not be wise to carry through

Elsa

The

this idea.

wonder whether

struggle for

it

would

new education

many old-fashioned obstacles.

know that Stekel killed himself. Apparently he belonged to
people who were not prepared for taking new disastrous changes.

great in this country in spite of

is

did not

the
I

safe.

married.

did not like his "Message to England."

he

is

talking too

would love

read some of Wells and think

much.
to hear

from you very soon again, and about your

children, etc.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
October

My

2,

1940

dear Reich,
Just

begin

Reich's

had your
English

letter.

still

think

and American

it

would be a mistake to

reputation

with

the

Kampf

41
[struggle]

book.

you

If

known

get

as the serious scientist of the

teranalyse, etc. then

you can come out

have experience.

When my Problem

1940

champion

as the

said

Charak-

Here

of youth.

Child* appeared

(McBride and Co) about 1928 a paper

in

New York

was an obscene book,

it

and McBride got frightened and stopped advertising

that

the

away from the war so

far,

so

it

yearly sales were about two copies.

Little to tell

you about

life

We

here.

using passages for sleeping

much

my

to

sorrow.

religious place

saw a

yet

It isn't

and

in,

for everyone.

Wales

easy for us here, for

community

We

are even

have to refuse new pupils

and we are looked on

religious

are

room

but are in a smaller house and haven't

as atheists

and

is

a very

sinners.

daily,

narrow
never

that wasn't filled with rotten hate

Must be many stiff stomachs round here I fear.

was glad to hear from you that Elsa was safe, but not

and

spite.
I

think that she possibly had to marry for safety.

of the Backers and your group. I expect the

so pleased to

haven't heard a

new Sex Pol

word

society has

been broken up by Hitlerism.

am

my own

all

don't

seem

till

night

troubled because

work now. From morn

secretarial

am

to get

on with any psychological

kept busy teaching maths, doing

work, mending doors, planning for food,

inter-

viewing officials (who never heard of me and bother me about regulations). Add to that that our Central Heating is broken and we can't get
it

repaired.

We

had to wait for 8 weeks to get

with candles. Life

is

so

and clean rooms, that

That
I

is

much more
is

electricity in

and

primitive,

all

do the necessary things

not the whole truth;

much sadder

and lived

of us have to cook

first in

order to

the fact that since the

is

live.

war

haven't been able to concentrate on the individual psychology of any-

The

one.

individual has

become

to

me

relatively unimportant.

come back to me.

how I can come to America.

hope

the interest will

I

can't see

the school here,

for years.

there

may

And

as

America

likely

is

not be too good for

Constance seems
writes saying

how

It

leaving children and staff

to

be

still

in

would mean breaking up

who have been with me

soon to be

new education.
London braving

in the

the

war, conditions

bombs. She always

well she feels since her analysis.

shows how unand maintains that all crimes and

hatreds, and hence all wars, can be traced to unhappiness. Freedom, on the other
hand, "does not make children good, it simply allows them to be good."
*

The Problem Child (London: Herbert

happiness arises from coercive upbringing,

Jenkins, 1926). Neill

1940

You

42

never mention your

away from you? The one

own

Does

kiddies.

mother keep them

the

certainly needs you.

New York

Forest Hills,

November

My

1940

7,

dear Neill:

have your

letter of

October 2nd.

was very glad

to hear

from you.
It is

are

good

still

that

you seem
on

able to carry

watch events over

there.

tremendous importance.

pretty safe in the place

You

the work.

The
I

where you

can imagine

how

re-election of Roosevelt seems to

more and more how

learn

and

are,

we

closely

this

me

of

so-called

bourgeois society, in the course of 7 years under capitalistic rule, has

done more in the field of social security than any communist in Russia

would dream

my

in all

of getting. This

inclined to revise

will

only to indicate that, being quite firm

most of the things

what Socialism should

work

is

scientific convictions, I feel

prevent

be. I can only

me from becoming

myself completely confused and

I

ever learned in Europe about

hope

that the roots of

reactionary. If

my

you hear

special

socialists

and communists who have come over here claiming that Roosevelt
dictator or a fascist, then your
started to hate them.

They seem

stomach simply turns around.

to

me

is

have

a complete nuisance in their lack

of any ability to think a thought to the end or to

do any kind of work.

may be that a part of this feeling is mere disappointment.

You are quite right that the personal matters come more and more
into the background in order to make place for the social matters, but
that should not mean that you forget the personal matters, but that you
But

it

look upon them as expressions of a definite social situation.

Elsa

means
and

is

still

in

Norway and

striving

hard to come over here, that

which she could have had easily a year

comes from the misinterpreted Selbststdndig-

to accomplish a matter

a half ago.*

But

this

keit [independence].

As

to the

new kind

of education,

can only say that the people here

Reich means that she could have come with him, presumably either as his
They broke up shortly before he left Norway for the

assistant or as his wife.

United

States.

43

seem

be

to

much more

in the

1940

dark but also much more open to the

natural point of view.

I

think you will be glad to hear that the mother of

my

children

fails

my
am beginning to pity her. Eva has turned over
to me completely without my doing anything to achieve it except that
I kept quiet and waited and helped her when she began to ask my adso completely in her attempts to pronounce

children

vice.

from

me

fail in

crazy and to detach

that I

Here again was a proof

has to

me

the end

if

real

that

compulsory authoritarian behaviour

freedom

in the

well-understood sense

maintained.
I

want

to hear

from you very soon about many good news.

is

941

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

February

My

got your letter just as

You

Suffolk.

did sound a

had an

Xmas

old school in

many

be a

can't

millionaires.

But

woman

scientist, biologist.

read Die Bione and said she would put her criticisms on paper for
so that

ment

is

that all

the

could send them to you. She has not done so

that your sterilisation

life is killed in

am

which
all

it

at

to

you

so

the time, that

etc. I

me

but her argu-

no one knows

suppose you have had

she sends the criticism

I'll

valuable time teaching maths, but

am

If

my

can get back to

my

other work, for

ready now. Of course the uncertainty of the future makes

difficult.

in

yet,

She

at once.

present spending

I feel

freedom

and

all

incandescent heat,

trying to get a teacher so that

it

weak

is

same argument from many of them.

forward

letter.

a refugee

visitor,

so

my

to

America

reactionary, for

little

not going to write a political

We

went on holiday

many unemployed and

Paradise with so

am

1941

5,

dear Reich,

In the coming world what place will there be for

education?

after the

We

war the middle

are

moving

class

may

to State Control of everything,

not be able to send their children

to private schools. All schools will be State ones,

in a State school with control

Capitalism have

from above.

been able to be a pioneer

It is

and

can't see myself

queer that only under

in education. I

know what

Nazism would have done with me, but what would a Communist State
do with me? I couldn't make children sing the Red Flag or study Marx.
45

1941

46

No, Reich, the future

so as long as

am

am

my

dark for

work, but

carry

on and

it

will

do

to.

glad that you are in touch with the children.* That must be

very comforting.
Hitler

is

allowed

marched

wanted me

how

often think

into Oslo,

my

to bring

news of other folk

in

and

lucky you were to get away before

when I think that Elsa Backer

Norway "for safety." I can get no

smile

school to

Oslo, but fear that

modems

like Sigurd

Hoelt

and Raknes may be having a bad time under the devilish heel of brute
force.

had a most pleasant dream

was most

realistic, for

best sights, but

me

My

wife

Woolworth Building

who

very sad to see one

wish

N.Y. with you and

in

Reich wouldn't waste

that old

done out now, unable

is

was

you took me round N.Y. and showed me

know

to the top of the

last night. I

to

all

it

the

his time taking

in real life.

do anything

in the school. It

is

has been so active become like a child again.

could have a few more hours on your sofa.

Forest Hills,

New York
February 24, 1941

My

dear Neill:

You

are quite right,

wrote you about America, but

find either in Russia,

or in

will

it is

true. I

at things as I

conquer the other

believe

is

that the

in the

true

is

democracy

capitalism nor in state socialism.

the international disaster will

* Reich's daughters,
t

One

of the people

we

have.

is

very well, what

rooted

human
at

much deeper
structure than

knows or would
the same time it

believe neither in state

believe only in the possibility that

swamp up

to the surface deepest natural in-

Eva and Lore.

who

Scandinavia

of the two forces

You know

That sounds very depressing, but

the only hopeful knowledge that

in

efforts to acquire a spirit

politician, socialist, administrator, statesman, etc.

like to believe.

you would not

found here. But, of course,

in history as well as in the biological roots of the

any

sure

nobody knows which

course of time.

problem of

am

government

socialist

Germany such honest and widespread

the evils are here too, and

all

sounded rather "reactionary" what

think

nor under any

and a general way of looking

it

studied with Reich in Oslo.

47

1941

tentions

and ways of thinking

would be

in the

human

beings themselves, which

mean work democracy,

a real basis for a real reconstruction. I

based upon science, work, and natural love.

The

"criticism" of your

often heard.

am

orgone radiation.

was

said

that the

tired of

German
it,

biologist

and prefer

a very usual

is

my

to treat

cancer mice with

met here Einstein, told him the whole

whole thing

is

one and

story.

What he

phantastic, but he did not reject

it

and

understood very well that the connection between the bions and energy
being dissolved from matter

is

the real thing.

Bacteriologists as well as pathologists

and

The

discussions

biologists will,

still

go on.

am

afraid,

have to rebuild their thinking as well as their acting. The

about "Living Matter"*

hope
I

that

it

will

is

first

book

translated completely into English, and I

appear soon.

understand your worries about where your school could find a place

in the future, but

a place in the

do not worry;

new world

if

your school

will

then nothing honest and decent

Write again and more often please, and give

Constance and

not be able to find

my

will.

greetings to Erna,t

the other friends.

all

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

March

My

You may have

noticed in

mentioning psychological matters.

my

letter

Censor's

office,

and

terms and ideas

didn't think

we

how vague

have been

was held back by the thought

it

fair to

who most

me

to send

in

in

that

the

have the strong meat of sex

likely

is

unaccustomed

any such

to the

wrote to the

letter via

him.

have been reading your books again with more and more admira-

tion. I feel,

letters

use in writing and conversation.

Chief Censor and he asked

my

might be read by some conventional young lady

psychology placed before one

1941

4,

dear Reich,

however, that your Orgasm Reflex

The Function of
young refugee

the

had given a home

in

whom

Summerhill.

too egocentric, too

of The Discovery of the Orgone).

Reich had befriended and to whom the Neills

Orgasm (Volume One

pianist

is

1941

Your

individual.

48

point

given freedom from repression

that,

is

muscular cramping, the Reflex should be

you believe

occasions. But perhaps

you hold

My

point

woman

that
is,

it

all

depends on the partner. Yes,

Orgasm Reflex

without love the

and

on

be incomplete.

will

taking the point of view of the man, that unless he meets a

with the power of attracting strongly his sex impulse, his orgasm

be unsatisfying. In other words a

will

sion, but unless

he meets the

man

can be without sex repres-

whose touch

girl

thrills

him, his satisfaction

not be nearly complete.

will
I

that

perfect. I agree, but not

can count on

my

fingers the

number

of girls I have

touch even when shaking hands gave

appeal

isn't

You would

common

nearly so

a tremendous

as the film fans

this sex appeal. I believe

many

conscious hate of sex there are so

gives out, that

majority of

in life

whose
Sex

thrill.

would have us

believe.

say that, given absence of repression and wrong moral ideas,

everyone would have

you always

me

met

is

it

let

but in a world of un-

without the sex appeal that

difficult to find a true

"Give yourself,

said:

it,

mate.

You remember how

go." Sex repression keeps the great

(and boys) from giving out anything.

girls

All this simply amounts to this: that to be sexually free in an unfree

world

isn't

so easy as

it

sounds.

promiscuous sexual intercourse:

You
it

are so right in your attitude to

couldn't live in a free sexual educa-

tion.
I

wonder what you think

of the age question.

At nineteen

could

have been promiscuous. At 57 I wouldn't want to go away for the weekend with the most beautiful film star, unless of course I knew her and

was much

attracted to her.

The temptation

isn't likely to arise,

curious about the effect of years on the sex impulse.

is

that the pleasure does not lessen;

what lessens

My own

but

am

experience

the phantasy side

is

and the frequency.

I

have a theory that

in a

war the

soldiers should

have

their

women

with them at the front. Since starved sex so easily turns into anxiety,

wouldn't an army
old pupil,

crew,

now on

how some

fight

more bravely

a ship,

was

telling

if its

sexual urge

me how

was

satisfied?

An

the lack of sex affected a

got introverted, others irritable and so on. This aspect

men cooped up in barracks with only

The old idea was that women had no place in danger,
but with the bombing of towns that idea no longer holds. Think of what
the clerics would say if some bold man proposed that the army should
of

war

is

their

own

have

its

am

important. Millions of
sex.

women

with

it!

afraid that our friends in Oslo

may be having

bad time under

49

1941

From Sweden

the Nazis.

hear reports that the Norwegians are

fight-

ing hard for their independence.

wish

could have a long talk with you about the war, not the

I feel strongly that the war won't be

means alone, that we can win only if we can get the
Europe on our side. I feel that we aren't doing enough to

military aspect, but the future.

won by

military

millions of
get this.

useless to say that

It is

racy unless

we can

we

men

get the

democ-

are fighting for freedom and

Europe

of

freedom and democracy. Churchill

is

our idea of

to agree with

great

man,

Elizabethan tradition, another Sir Francis Drake, and

man

of

the

Britain relies

all

on him. But do the peasants of France and Germany, Austria and

Poland feel the same about Churchill as we do? They don't want a big

man; they want

and

a big plan,

we

say

haven't got one, at least no

one has published one. Hitler has a plan, a plan of slavery and hate and
death to

decent men.

all

we

If

planes certainly, but an idea

bigger than

Communism

as

is

are to

greater than these.

we know

world run by the workers comes

smash him we need tanks and

in,

it.

We

giving up their

power and

saying that there was

velt,

Having been

making

"There

say:

But

Next

profits. In

more

in

the world. It

can't see the privileged in the world

your

last letter

you praised Roose-

socialism in U.S.A. than in

all

Russia.

I can't say. But so long as anyone in U.S.A. is

armaments and the people's needs, how can you
America? If Churchill or Roosevelt could get up and

to neither

profit out of

talk of socialism in

lions of

a nation, a

meaning by workers every man who

does a job, and excluding every damned politician

would be a new socialism, but

want something

Here your idea of

will

be no

Europe would

could go on on

letter I

hope

to

new world

profit in the

after the

war," the mil-

rise against Hitler.

tell

this

theme

you how

for pages,
I

am

and

getting

have work

on with

to do.

child analysis.

Write soon.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

March

My

dear Reich,

Yours today. The

this:
is

20, 1941

an

workers
inferior

difficulty in that

New World

of yours

is

you and me don't want to govern, because governing

brand of creation, and the second-rate fellows will want

like

1941

5o

Take your

to run our civilisation for us as politicians or bureaucrats.

own

organise

add up
in

moment

of the

line

this;

cancer

and any State

figures,

but

will

know nothing about

how

war

to

cancer; and you will be too busy

I

simply can't see a solution

to run a State without the bureaucrat. After the

probable that there will be no private schools

is

it

want to

State will

men above you who know how

put

your lab to bother about the organising.

of the problem:

Any

research.

Europe. Al-

in

ready the big schools like Eton and Harrow are appealing to the gov-

ernment for support. What hopes, therefore, for small schools

mine? They

will either

and that means that

be closed or

have to

will

come under

like

govt, organisation,

treat children, not as I

know how

they

ought to be treated, but according to the ideas of a Minister of Education or his subordinates.

You

see

new

race

scientist or artist.

science
in

it

That would be death

to free experiment.

am taking men as we know them now; I am not postulating

of men who will be great enough to allow freedom to the
Yes, under your universal natural love and work and

could be done. But, Reich,

which stupidity won't have been

we have

world

to face a post-war

by bombs,

killed

mean an im-

mediate post-war world. The Left people are just as retarded as the
Right. After

all, I

wouldn't ask Karl

Marx

how

or even Einstein

to run

a school.
I

and

am

so glad you met Einstein.

do hope

that his interest

is

aroused

he investigates the thing for himself. Be sure to send

that

me

everything you publish in English; even the smallest pamphlets.

My

letter of a

exactly what
letter is

into

meant

enough

what

few days ago, sent via the Chief Censor, was not

am

it

to be; for

knowing

to inhibit the writer

saying in this

that another

more or

letter, viz.

less.

man

that in a world

read a

will

But what

said

fits

where sex

is

bound it isn't easy to love or rather to find love. So in occupation. You

and I are both ahead of our time (you more than I) and we find so

much

difficulty in a truth-inhibited

world

in

advancing our ideas, for

sex and truth are both badly inhibited.

I still

think you don't give enough credit to the

of their great mistakes.

Maybe

I give

abolition of profit,* of exploitation

that the abolition of profit

out

it

I can't see

was and

how your own

is

too

Communists

much importance

to the

by private employers, but

a

in spite

mere
think

tremendous step forwards. With-

idea of the future State can

In the margin of this letter, Reich wrote:

"Not abolished.

come

about.

51

and Norway.

It

may be

than Oslo because

it

local silly criticism.

is

that

New York more

you are finding

bigger,

Move on

and you are

to a small

left

town

much more

in the

tolerant

free

from

Middle West and

narrowness enough. In East England we were free to do

will find

what we

hear your comparison between the democracies of U.S.A.

I'd like to

you

1941

Last Sunday here we were gardening when a local

came and lectured us on profaning the Lord's Day. New York
versus any Main Street.
Your English is vastly improved, but it hurts me to think you are
possibly talking with an Ammurican accent now: can't think that you
liked.

religionist

call a
I

"bird" a "boid."

my

have got back

interest in analysis again, but

interest in mathematics. Last weekend

have also a great

England

travelled to the east of

to lecture to a big meeting of teachers, a day's journey.

spent the day

working out maths problems.

Well, well, Reich, goodnight.

long to see you again, but in a differ-

way from before, for I have no wish to lie on the sofa and be the
Emperor or anyone else; I just want to see you and hear all about what
you are doing. I am convinced that your name is the successor to that
ent

of Freud.

hear

of the analysts

little

now; most of them are out of

London. Apparently bombing has not made more neurosis. One doctor
wrote that

had lessened

it

it.

Bion-Cancer Research Laboratory

Forest Hills,

New York
April

I, 1

94

My dear Neill:
When

read your letter of

experience which

March

after years of

many people, good,

their own experience get

the problems

is

possible that so

problem
to

my

weeks ago when

followed

was struck again by an

is,

clever, honest people,

in

how

still,

it

only

touch within themselves with

Then for the first time they understand the

details. Then they reread those books and come

describe.

as well as

understand

4, I

have made over years and years, that

my work

10 or II years

its

headaches. Quite a similar thing happened several

received a letter from a physicist in Zurich
since about 1930,

later,

seemed

to

and who now for the

who had
first

time,

have got into contact with the real

1941

52

problem of human

life,

apart from reading

my

He

books.

wrote that

matters are developing quickly and hopefully in Europe and that

my

When

struggle then

know,

am

other hand

all

How

confused.

the

something about
the people
all

ideas

possible,

is it

ask myself, that, as

have given birth to a very great knowledge and that on

many

past 15 or 20 years and

by

the

if

would become of great importance.

read such things and compare them with my everyday life and

great breakthrough comes,

who

it.

whom

people

There

during the

accomplished, do not do

a great gap between the understanding of

is

my work and

encounter

know

learned to

who know what was

the

those people together. Very often

the practical influence exerted

I

phantasy that

if all

those

who

came and have gone or are still there would cooperate and act as usual
political party members do, then I may frankly say, the greatest and
most efficient political movement which the world has ever seen would
be at work and would bring about with perfect certainty all that
Churchill wants, as well as Roosevelt and every

honestly

tries for the best

between the

and

fact that every single living

knows more or

man

more than

[even]

human

less clearly that the real life

in this

millions

politics. Still, the

and millions do not seem

and organization for

I felt

the temptation

that

it,"

gap

means

their

there and

running on a

is

which

somehow

is

called

all

those

be able to find the proper form

knowledge of the

real life process.

Very often

and even the responsibility "to do something about

our knowledge as the

organize

to

organize their nonsense.

always kept

to

is

a gap

is

being in this world

process

quite different line than the apparent official process

diplomacy and

who

world

There

that.

me from

political

parties

definite consideration, or rather a feeling,

doing

so.

The

feeling

was

that the

real step

first

and

into a party-like organization of real knowledge, truth, decency

straightforwardness would

immediately knowledge,

kill

and straightforwardness. That

is

because these

matter are not to be organized, they are

tive,

One

of

heard that

them and so

my

of

forth,

human

and

life

which

is

produc-

terror.

amongst them and

problems.

me once

a story:

"The

devil in Hell

had

beings had found the truth, the real truth. His advisers

But the
let

You

devil told them: 'Don't

them organize the

a very good and true story.

all

activities of the living

cannot be organized.

students here told

were shaken with

is

decency

and swelling and acting and moving and making mistakes and

correcting

there

alive,

truth,

don't

be

afraid,

know any answer

to this greatest

can organize gangs, crooks, profit-makers, a

road, a war-machine industry,

go

truth they found.' " This

you cannot organize

life

and

truth.

rail-

53

1941

The way how my own thoughts and publications have become understandable to others and are affecting them is a very peculiar one. I had
to learn that this

as

knowledge about

and

life

its

laws cannot be conferred,

you confer the knowledge of the technique of an

every one has to refind

cannot learn

it,

he can read and understand what

does not understand

it

really.

Somehow
He

injection.

himself amidst the varying

it

process.

life

written, but he

is

There are very few only

at this

time

have gone through our famous mill and have found themselves
reality that

have found

first

and many

and they know too

You know,

about i8 years ago.

know

others

it

who

in the

for instance,

without being able to

work democracy is going to come. I would

not call it socialism because this word has been dishonored by politicians.
Why not call it "Work Democracy"? But we cannot bring it about; it
will be the task accomplished by those who will have to build up and to

formulate

it

that real true

means: no political party and no special organization

work and the consumers organizations.
I have tried to work out some ideas and phantasies about a possible
outcome of this war into work democracy. But I would like to empha-

secure

that

it,

apart from the

size, as I

often did, that

do not have the ambition, and

the idea of being looked

as

you

call

Now

to

it,

the

new

upon or regarded

even hate
for,

socialism.

You

your questions:

reflex brings

as

that

the one responsible

orgasm

are quite right saying that the

about the problem that so few partners can be found

you are perfectly healthy. But

break through into the

field of

the fact that a sick world

is

was the point

just that

sociology and sex politics in 1927.

fitted for sick

human

if

which made me
It

was

beings and not for

healthy ones; that healthy ones are lost in this world and very often

despised and condemned.

Your

suggestion about the difference in the

sexual structure in the adolescent and the grown-up

problem of women being

in the

army

is

very

also correct.

is

difficult.

It is

The

quite clear

you write and everyone can observe, the army spoils the
character because of sexual starvation and the roughness of the
soldiers. Women in the army would settle the problem, but, on the other

that,

as

hand, every militarist will

a

tell

you

that

women

in the

army could mean

hampering of the most characteristic habit of the army and that

automatic, mechanical discipline. Here again, the incapability of

be mechanized or organized
civilization

which

is

hits against

an institution

based (and by necessity) upon

in the
stiff

life

is

to

mechanized

stomachs, re-

tracted behinds, high chests, rigid musculature.

The

essence of

all

those things

is

a belief that the natural

life

process

1941

54

has broken through

forms of

our age, striving for release and creating new

in

and confusing

life

human

all

The

beings.

old forms have

brought society into the abyss of war and destruction. The new forms

and nobody knows what they

are not yet born

fact

is

to the

clear: the perversities

peak by Hitler can only be conquered by

much

only try to understand and help as

bom
am

yet in this field

afraid a

new

will

look

But one

like.

and lunatic happenings which were brought

as

we

think

life itself. I

can.

There

is

we can

no authority

and should an authority once be created, then

setback would take place.

had very good news from Copenhagen. They are working, and more
to trust them and to help them. Please

and more people are beginning

write again soon.

Bion-Cancer Research Laboratory

New York

Forest Hills,

April

2,

1941

My dear Neill:
Your
your

letter of

first letter.

March 20

was very glad

arrived today, a few days later than

have

to

it.

question based on a very correct statement:

the bureaucrats.

my

It is

human

bureaucrats, and even better so.

my

is

ask a very important

to run a state without

deep conviction that perhaps not the

the usual old sense of the word, but

not necessary, but

You

How

It is

state in

society can be run v^thout

deep

belief that

bureaucracy

is

be compared to a cancerous growth on the body

to

of the society which works, searches for truth, improves living conditions,

and

suffers

from the bureaucrats. Today, the

two ways: by the

which imposes
that the

first,

administrate
I,

working process of

real

itself

upon

its

working process. In the future

this

the working process which exists and

life

personally,

quite

on

call the

run in

it

may be

works today,

would never, happen what may, submit

and does not know more than

What you

is

will

own.

its

of education or any minister of anything

field

social process

own, and by the bureaucracy

who

is

to

any minister

not a specialist in the

do.

immediate post-war world

will

be either a work

democracy, a society based upon the rational working process carried

on and cared

for

by the people who work

necessary for sustaining

life

war within the next 10

to

20

or

it

will

years. I

in all the fields

which are

be a pre-war world with a new

do not think there

is

any other

55

1941

do not believe

possibility. I

nor

any isms any more. This world

in

nor

in state capitalism,

in state socialism,

will crash with all its

nonsense,

hypocrisy, bureaucrats, diplomats, politicians in such a deep abyss that,

order to preserve

in

human

the working

itself,

life

beings of

pro-

all

fessions will simply have to take care of the social process.

I

and

my

do not worry how

wish to state

this,

and

ideas of the future society can

do not want

accessible to any crook or

know

to

any kind of

in

my

hands and
and

exists in the earth

3)1

even want

atmosphere, and nobody but

in the

in the

world can do

to determine the

it.

They

many

need

will

knows

weather before any

it,

and badly

other diseases which devastate social

even bring about wars. Nobody but

4)

and not

limits

and

T
is

so.

possess the secret of cancer, rheumatism, tuberculosis, neurosis,

psychosis and

have

many
many

politicianship,

all

about.

There

it.

dispose of the orgone radiation which

how to handle it.

2)1 have the knowledge how
barometer

beyond

is

come

secret of

it:

have

I )

make any

kind of power which

exists a definite

them

to

proof that

definite

it

can handle

will

and

life

this field at this time.

be possible not only to

fight

of these diseases, not only to direct the radiation, but there are

indications that the radiation which

have discovered

will

be

indispensable for science as well as for every aspect of technique.

And

5)

alone dispose of the formula and the experiments

finally, I

which give mankind power over the raising of

living substance

from

non-living substance.

have known

about

it. I

Einstein.

use

it

this for several years,

My
is

decency.

shall not

will

cooperate

does not mean what

Nothing. Put

know them

who

which

me

it

in jail,

is

going to

human

liberty

and
it

not thoroughly democratic and which

hang me, or what?

I

am

not afraid of them.

have worked with them for many years.

do not dream or phantasy ever doing

my

am

promises or says. What could they do to me?

too well because

beings, to

any way with any organization, be

in

hate them and despise them, to the deepest bottom of

human

word

not prove clearly and unmistakably

ready and willing honestly to secure

political or otherwise,

did not publish a

dear Neill, that means power, and be sure

against every one

that he

and

spoke and have written about the radiation and cancer only to

to

my being.

them what they did

work, to refugees, to Jews,

socialists,

to

children,

1941

56

and so on. But they simply

solely

will

not get what

is in

my

hands and depends

upon my own free decision to do with it what I want. The U.S.A.

some devices to operate the orgone radiation is applied for

patent for

few months.

since a

And

It is

a great thing to fight for and

my

do not worry please,

shall fight for

it.

dear Neill, about whether some bureaucrat

or ignorant politician will try to destroy free research, free education,

individual initiative and happiness.

They

will

need

it

when

war

this

will

begin not only to impose death upon several thousands of people, but

when death and

Then they

millions of people.

And

repeat,

security of

and epidemics,

illness

am

will

need

it,

be sure of

not willing to give

and happiness are granted.

life

it

hundreds of

will harass

etc.

unless

would

that.

human

stress

and

liberty

and repeat what

Roosevelt said the other day, that the administrators of today are to be
the servants of the population and nothing else.

Bion-Cancer Research Laboratory

Forest Hills,

New York
June

My

My

experiments with cancerous

beyond any expectation.

it

2,

1941

dear Neill:

in detail in the

whole story

We

this

human

beings are doing well

think you and your colleagues will hear about

course of next winter.

am

going to write

down

the

summer.

are following here eagerly every bit of

does not mean, of course,

much

news from Europe, This

help, but at least

an important contact

is

there.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
June

6,

94

My dear Reich,
It is

of

some weeks

since

had your most

hope for the future of your work.

and anticipate the day when

writing
I

me

asking

have had a

when you

spell of

it

will all

interesting letter, full

long to hear about

be

in

it all

in detail,

English print. People keep

are going to be read in English.

not very good health. The Welsh air

is

not so

57

bracing as that on the East Coast, even though

country, and none of us feels so energetic as

Reich,

that

is

have completely

my

possible that

we

analysis with you, by giving

with shortage of
is

is

so

find

am

me

wife's

much more

primitive in

do the

food, and so

if I

were keen,

many

children.

ways.

I'd find

It

know

in

trying to cure the

breakdown

in health,
I

know

also

need therapy
I

hear

Two

They

think

have more

are grand and clever and

the only one of any value in the

is

from Sweden, no word

years ago
it

to educate children in such a

had

just

that they won't

at all of

our old friends.

come back from

Oslo. No,

it

wasn't two

was two thousand.

All the best, Reich, and the

P.S.

way

is

later on.

little

years ago;

it

has become

life

world. They don't seem to need any therapy of any kind, and that
the ideal education

it

time for veg.-therapy.

And

And thank God,

that this system

is

freedom in the reflex,

spend hours digging to produce

interest in the children than I ever had.

and

mountainous

happiest in writing, but here again, with paper shortage,

almost impossible to have a book published.

lovable,

appalling thing,

have too many things to do, but

staff etc., I

only a rationalisation, that

I

my

can rationalise that with

is

The

interest in psychology.

lost all

destroyed a complex which had been expressed

other fellow.

it

did.

1941

keep wondering

if

moment you publish

there

is

anything send

it

to me.

any connection between your cure by

Bione and the Naturopath's cure of cancer by

fruit

and raw greens, for

him of cancer of the breast six years

ago. Are the same sun rays in Bione and fresh grown vegetables? Or do
both have a vitamin not yet known? The Nature Cure people talk of a
he cured a lady doctor

cleansing diet

(fruit)

sent to

but they are

all

so moral that their idea of

body has a strong link with their

moral poisons too. They are nearly all very

eliminating the "poisons" from the

wish to eliminate the

anti-sex.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
July

I,

1941

My dear Reich,
I

am

holiday, and

late in replying; felt

now

feel fine.

run

down and went

off for a golfing

1941

58

For some reason

am

all. I

doing, and

cannot trace,

my

of energy in

full

Christ attitude? Is

it

Is

it

more

Or

is

it

don't know, Reich, and

it

all

have an intense interest

what

vitally in

me

my

saving

a satisfaction that

that

didn't go far

troubles me.

at

am

cannot bring

you destroyed

that

that the O. Reflex gave

trying to find in assisting others?

hand

do any psychological work

believe

rejoice to see the result in the children, but

myself to do individual analysis.

with you?

can't

work;

On

was

enough

the other

your work, and long to read your

in

my own language. And the time I had with you has changed
me much. The effect is seen on the school. The atmosphere is happier
because I am happier. I can take decisions easily now, but still can't be
journal in

aggressive.
I feel I

the

have

you down;

let

new psychology.

Reich?

to not really believing in

believe in Reich wouldn't

Adler or anyone else?

Whatever the cause,

that

am

think the answer

am

Like most people here

if

U.S.A. stays out

for even the

now

am

am no

me from

can't

keep down

Germans who voted

any army
things

is

Communism

in '32

thousand years to see what

profit

is

it is

to

come

purely an

and imperialism. The slowness of the masses

man

to

know what

all

it

is

these years of fighting

was leading

to for each

facing destruction, sex starvation, total lack

Yet the Japs

still

follow leaders blindly.

How much

of

conscious? Soldiers complain, but mainly about the small

food

or absence of leave,

world ask the big question: What

the

men who

we

called education, which

matter.

for

longer satisfied with the explanation that

personally, each
life.

any chance to win,

80 million Russians. Look

new war?

China should have demanded

of creative

didn't

the Society.

very disheartening ... the army of Japan after

man

If I

greatly interested in the Russian war.

can't see that Hitler has

feels a desire to live for a

economic war for

apathy due

not worthy to be the representative in England

the five million

or '33 think of this

to pass. I

my

even in Norway where the people are fighting back.

at their difficulties

One

Is

seek the truth in Freud or Jung or Stekel or

German army

And what do

would be:

have no interest in any of these gentlemen now.

of your Veg.-Therapy. Best to expel

Even

not fighting in the front line for

have tried to face the question

will build the

The education

etc.

When

is

all this

new world.

We

will all the soldiers of the

leading to? For they are

see

now

the result of

was mere learning about things

of the emotions

was

what

that didn't

entirely neglected

when

it

wasn't deliberately repressive. Hence the easiness with which a Hitler

can get his millions of emotionally-starved

men

to let out their feelings

59
in

1941

blood and cruelty. What should have come out as love comes out as

hate. In this connection

on

all in it, fighting,

well,

my

old pupils.

army, the navy,

in the air.

interesting to hear

it is

ships, in the

but they are conscious of the inner meaning of

any hate

fighting with

done and we must do

it,

follow the war, and

if

they

feel the tragedy of

to build.

wonder how

live,

all

it

all.

must be

a job that

German

beyond

soldier,

intensely interested in the

having to destroy when

the

is

to

life

they will do well in the reconstruction.

German

all

soldier feels?

How

hope for? Surely not a Gestapo one.

State?

here

but they see beyond the

beyond the war. They are

Hitler,

They

at all; their attitude is:

They are
They do
They are not

they want to do

What

is

future does he

does he see the new

German

wish they would ask one to write the propaganda they drop over

Germany.

When

would

shall

great wish,

get at their hearts not their heads.

be able to cross the Atlantic to see you again?

one that can't be

fulfilled for a

long time,

It is

I fear.

Oquossoc, Maine

August

My

5,

94

dear Neill:
In the

main statement

the letter of July

[in

i]

you

are, of

Your breaking away from psychology and

your turning over to nature is completely in accordance with our own
way of thinking, being and working. I myself am digging more and
more into the field of biology, and we can expect many enlightening
course, completely wrong.

results

for

psychology from

"expelled" from the Society and

more

for the matter of

realm.

this
I

So you don't have

privately believe that

sex-economy than many others

to

be

you have done

in the field.

All your remarks about the slowness of the masses and the expectations of the

young

soldiers are very true.

found who would connect and organize

all

If

only someone could be

those forces, then

many

of

these problems could be easily solved.

Did you receive

I

worked

fine

my latest

now

private pamphlet about

for a few

weeks

in a little

bought a year ago. The experimental work

by working

in the

woods. So you

see, I

am

is

"Work Democracy"?

place on a lake which

counterbalanced properly

not far from where you are.

1941

60

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

October

1941

lo,

My dear Reich,
had your

went up

when

last letter

was

I feel

in analysis is

weak. Constance and

still

better

feeling well.

Edinburgh for

in

and can work

Well, well, Reich,

Not

in Scotland.

Thomson's Nature Cure home

to

better,

weeks.

five

my

although

interest

are translating your Arbeits-

demokratie [Work Democracy].

had a

when

my

to

from Tor Raknes who

letter

this country.

He

writes: "I don't

in the

is

Norwegian Air Force

know much about my

Oslo, January 20th, he had quite a lot of patients and

I left

in

now, but

father

up

departure he didn't have any direct trouble with the Nazis except

for an article

where he was accused of

Reich as

article also referred to Dr.

Tor came here about

May

'spoiling the

Nordic

The

race.'

'a swindler' and so on."

the First, so that

if

he

Oslo

left

he must have come a long roundabout way. Like you,

Norway and now Sweden too is

from. Reich, how are we to get rid

am

in

January

completely

cut off from

impossible to write to or

get letters

of that bloody poisonous

thing Fascism early enough for you and

It

must

it

has strength but no head and brain.

me

to

go on working

in

freedom?

die just as the monsters of primitive times died, for like

am

them

impatient to live to see

it

slain.

Constance

Arbtsdem.

and

Do

talked

about

you want them kept

your opinion of Russia?

than Hitlerism naturally.

your

references

to

Stalinism

as they are, or does the

in

war modify

suppose that to you Stalinism would be better

We

can discuss

this

when

the booklet

is

trans-

lated anyway.
I

long to read of your Bione work and

prevents our being able to meet again.

its

hate the fate that

results. I

God knows when anyone

will

to N.Y. on a pleasure cruise. In the new world it will be

up and there will be no room for pleasure ships I fancy. If
I were young I'd take up architecture as a profession. Think of the
wonderful opportunities there will be to build great cities. The half and

from here

sail
all

building

half

men, the compromise

men who

stick to brick

architects will get the

glass buildings or bakelite [plastic] or rubber or

Well, Reich,

let

me

work

and cement when the future

hear from you again.

what

to do, I fear, the

is

not.

possibly one of

6i

1941

November

3,

99-06 69th Avenue

New York

Forest Hills,

1941

My dear Neill:
Your
good
I

to hear

October loth arrived several days ago.

letter of

was

It

from you.

could not, of course, change

because of what

is

my

opinion about Stalin and Stalinism

going on now. The

not prove that his system

does

fight of Stalin against Hitler

The blame

not a hitlerite one.

is

for the

who betrayed the Czechs in

who opened all doors to
everything that happened since. Of course, he fights now because he has
to, but you don't doubt, I think, that he would have preferred much
more to be able to fight on Hitler's side against the democracies. The

outcome of

who

1939,

war so

this

far

is still

bravery of the Russian army

German

bravery of the
the other

come
for

is

forth

on

cooperated with Hitler

Stalin

Poland,

in

not his but the people's work, as

is

people.

It is

brave, but whether the basic and main issue of this

and be fought for with the same bravery as they

no reason

at all.

the people of

No

Europe

reason,

the

is

not a question whether the one or

mean,

is

in irrational politics,

given for

first

war

will

today

fight

messing up

all

then creating a Hitler, then

helping Hider along, consciously or unconsciously, in most of his early

victories

and

down and betraying the former allies, then finding

known years before if one had not uncon-

letting

out what one could have

sciously admired Hitler, and, finally, holding back

and wants, namely the

which,
a

if

people are fighting for an order

fact that the

you want, you may

call

what everyone knows

work democracy. What would you tell

in education? You would say you

mother who has messed up her child

should not have done

messed up,

this or that to

do not think

framework of the mess.

Hitlerism everywhere, but

name

out

if

80%

have to

we have

a situation

would be

of the guilt for the

fight against Hitler

new

dreadful years.

form and

and against

we should
To hide this now

Stalinism later.

do

not leave out Stalinism.

better as a

is

improved within the

not to fight for Stalin and

in these

to create

Once

You may

leave

you want from the description of the dictators and

function, but please

Stalinism

We

we have learned

would mean nothing but

his

things can be

Stalin carries

present status of this war.

not hide what

that

begin with.

framework

for our

And

their

think

don't

work than Hitlerism

or Chamberlainism.

You want
is

to

know about our work

the following:

We

here. Well, the situation here

have a small group of about

six physicians

now

and a

lawyer.

1941

Some

them

62

of

house has been

lishing

built

up

again. Dr. Wolfe,

who

has turned out to

be one of our best and most reliable workers, has taken

new

editorship of our

the Orgone,

is

in print

up

Regarding

Sex-Economy

volume of my book, The Discovery of

now and

will

volume contains the history

since 19 19

be issued

in

about 6 weeks. This

orgasm theory and of

of the

my work

now.

to

this

book and

you could arrange for

from you papers for

To come back
is

first

hands the

in his

journal, International Journal for

and Orgone Research. The

first

The pub-

are already practicing Vegeto-therapy.

the journal,

this journal. I think

to our Institute.

organized now.

would

their distribution in the

The name

you

will

enjoy

We
as

it

The American group

Orgone Research

is

ask you whether

like to

Empire.

also expect

do.

of the Institute

We

Institute.

have

broken through completely into the realm of experimental application

Orgone radiation

of the atmospheric
cancer, with

some amazing

especially

different diseases,

to

results. I think that this natural biological

energy will play some role in the coming deterioration of

in the course of the war. I only don't

know how

human

health

to get at the respective

authorities in the health departments of the English speaking world, so

as to

make

mean

as a help in the

ideas. I

clear to

am

willing

them what
war

and ready

Orgone treatment would

would appreciate it if you have any

a worked-out

effort. I

to

show them everything

that

have got

and accomplished. The American group also has bought a house for
the laboratory and me to live in. You will find this new address on the
letterhead.

So

could throw

finally I

me

out

am

not depending any more on any landlord

when he wants

to.*

hope

to see

you once

who

in this

house.

This
I

is

about

all

the important

Several of our friends are in

is

news

can relate about our work here.

hear regularly from Denmark, but not from Holland or Norway.

jail,

but the clinical and educational work

going on and the population has confidence in

read by Constance, Erna and

us.

Let

this letter

whomever you want. Please

and soon, especially about the distribution of our

be

write again

literature

in

the

English Empire.

* Reich had in fact earlier been "thrown out" of the house he was renting
because he kept experimental mice in the basement.

1942
Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

January

1942

i8,

My dear Reich,
Thanks
because

am

help

went

for your long letter of

to Scotland for a

can on

am

late in replying

few weeks.*

delighted at the idea of your

all I

Nov. 3rd.

work appearing

this side to get a publisher.

One

in English. I shall

great difficulty

is

that

publishers seem to have Freudian readers to decide about publica-

all

and then there

tion,

the shortage of paper.

is

publication needs a government license.

Any

have to be financially independent of U.S.A.

think that any

issue

No

on

profit

new

would

this side

could be sent to

you, but as there won't be one and as you don't think of that side, that
will

be O.K. Send

me

Orgasm, published
try to get

them

day when

We
will

as

many

in the

distributed

copies [of the book.

The Function

United States] as you can spare and

among

the people

who

matter.

of the
I

shall

long for the

can help to introduce you to England.

shan't argue about old Joe Stalin.

be changed. All

would not take kindly

other two as dictators.

meant was

New

things are

moving and

that the British public at the

to anything printed that

lumped

all

moment

Stalin with the

The enthusiasm

for Russia here

is

tremendous

now

that the U.S.A.

is

in

at present.

How
I

will

you stand

as an alien

hope you can continue your cancer research work, for that

important than war work that any doctor could do.

The

rest of this

paragraph was deleted by the censor.

63

the war?
is

more

1942

am

64

looking for a larger house.

am

away dozens of new

The school goes well. The
bigger and more enthusiastic
turning

pupils and could have a large school now.

when

kids are great, and

lecture

get

audiences.

The war looks like being very long now.

we meet in New York.

fear

it

will

be some time

before

My

wife

and

fails fast

and conscious of what

energetic
I

it

is

all

most pathetic
means.

and capable go downhill

It is

seldom practice psychology now.

secretary

longer take

army.

My

life to

see

partly,

one who was

have become a teacher of maths

whole

office

boy

life is

half

my

time because

changed, but since

no

problem children, the school runs happily with freedom

in

My own

alone.
I

in the

is

a grim

now. Paralysed

like that.

and English because men are scarce; an

my

to see

love

hear that a

life

runs smoothly and happily.

little girl I

had

for a short time

is

a refugee in

N.Y. and

has been treated by a Reichian. I'd like to hear about her, for she was
a

most introverted

little

thing with a stomach like iron and a hate like

steel.
I

am

not writing any books now. Most of the stock of

has been blitzed,

Problem Parent*
that

old ones

and there are no copies of Problem Child and

left. I

have no desire

to write; things

change so rapidly

what one writes today seems out of date tomorrow.

Odd
Oflag

thing,

my

enter

have a postcard from a British Air

[officer's

him and could

for

my

camp] IV, saying he had

I

my

Officer, a prisoner in

problem books sent out to

recommend other books on psychology. Queer, isn't

anti-Hitler. I wonder why they allow them

books are strongly

it,

to

Germany.

What's the future?

I feel it

belongs to Russia, China and India. They

have the great masses. The days of empire seem

to

be shortening rapidly.

I'm afraid that our rule by one class hasn't been too successful.
Well, goodbye for a time, old friend.

and

often say: "Pity Willi Reich

isn't

think of you often and

Erna

here tonight."

The Problem Parent (London: Herbert Jenkins, 1932). Neill argues that
difficult child was probably made so by parental mishandling. He
describes the various ways in which parents stifle and distort their children's
*

even the most

natural healthy development.

65

1942

New York

Forest Hills,

March

i8,

1942

My dear Neill:
had your

was good

January i8th

letter of

my new book

International Journal and

Our

at the

are just

will receive enough copies through Dr. Wolfe.

portant and useful

if

We

of freedom and non-freedom.

shall print

also help your cause to have

would

coming

who were brought up in

manner and who encounter for
children

thought and utterance.

much

printed.

all

of us.

problems

in

freedom

and

if

more or

the

typical

first

life,

and

think that

believe the most

arise

in

less disguised authoritative

time freedom of movement,

always agreed upon the one point that

the content of a free

concerns

it

We

You

under the circumstances

them gladly and

them

out.

important task would be to elaborate the problems which

not so

It

would be very im-

It

you could provide our journal with

significant descriptions of children's behavior

it

end of February.

to hear that things are quite all right with you.

is

it

but the fear of freedom which

There would, without doubt, be no dangerous

if

the people and the children were not afraid of

they did not long for the guidance of authority.

would you

of which of your books

Which chapter

like to

have

re-

printed in the journal? Let us also know, please, to what extent you

succeed in distributing the journal and the book. So

far, the

journal

is

being received here with great appreciation.

Please do not
as possible.

My

fail to

keep

in

touch with

regards to Erna and

all

me and

write as frequently

the other friends

unknown.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
April 28, 1942

My dear Reich,
Number
Wolfe;

it

is

splendid.

of the journal has arrived.

Some

of

it

is

above

my

grasp words like parasympatheticotonia, but

know anatomy and

Therapy. To see them in

not

is

must congratulate

head ... no layman can

feel strongly that one need

physiology to grasp the essentials of VegetoEnglish when I am unconscious of the language

truly delightful. Reich, the

more and more on me what

magazine
I

is full

have long

felt

of dynamite;

that

it

impresses

you are the only

1942

66

You

successor to Freud.
great

makes me

among them

alone

feel quite conceited to

all

have something new and

have "discovered" you!

I'd buy a lot but as you know

want the whole of psychological Britain

hope more copies are coming.

money

send

abroad.

how?

the number. But

damn

Lancet to get

it.

my

could get

The

scientists

have so

New

to the

it

little

shall

as

etc.

know

know

less. I'll

nothing

of

write a review

Statesman or Spectator but there again they

space these days. But

book on Education t
I

it

the editor of the

friend

Haldane,

psychology, and the educational journals

and send

would review

reviewed, but naturally he wouldn't guarantee a sym-

it

review.

pathetic

can't

to see

could send copies for review to the P[sycho-]

A[nalytical] Review, but then only an Ernest Jones*

and, of course,

it

try

I'll

them.

am

writing a

new

should be in the coming socialist world, and

gladly write about the

I.J.

[International Journal

for Sex-

Economy and Orgone Research] there. It will appear this autumn, I

hope. You will have much more opposition than Freud had. His
"danger" was to the patient
to society. It will be a long

to see the
If I

hard

fight

but you

day that you are acknowledged

have any criticism of the journal

the layman, too

read

staff

in the consulting

it

and

much
fail

it

is

be

and

that

to grasp the essentials, but

understand the words. Your method

will

want

is

to live

right.
it is

too scientific for

members

written for the specialist. Clever

one who went through the treatment

as

to

room: your "danger"

will win,

when

(partly,

I try to

alas)

of

my

explain,

they begin to

succeed only when

it

by-passes

who will feel its

without needing a professional knowledge. One psychoanalyst
when I told him about V.T. said airily: "There is nothing new

the doctors and gets understood by the ordinary people

truth

here

it; it is

all in

Freud, and the Freudian analysis automatically frees

tensions."

That

is

about
all

the type

you want

to by-pass, the

man

with a set

system.
I

am

in these

work energy and not conscious of

Of course
present.
and
the
the big anxiety about the future

in the best of health, full of

any tensions or

anxieties, somatically functioning well, too.

days there

is

Leading exponent of Freudian psychoanalysis in Britain.

Hearts Not Heads in the School (London: Herbert Jenkins, 1945). Pleads for
an education of the emotions aimed at producing balanced rather than learned
individuals. Bottled-up emotions tend to explode in destruction; if emotions are
t

free,

the intellect will

look after

healthy child from learning."

itself.

"Nothing," Neill writes, "will keep a

67
I

think myself that Hitler won't last long although the pathological

fellow will be the death of

the popular

problem

is

demand
why did

had a most

The

Bogen] who

here

friends. Elsa

Backer got permission

has her Kindergarten, but the kids

still

no

politics. I think

They have

as hostages.

guts in

and that Hitler

in

have a long

summer

talk

new world and

I

want

will

artist.

they are arresting

see in the

knew him

be smashed

little

in '42.

to

to

be done

in

go on working for

your cancer research and

find a

well,

daydream

it.

am now

many many

few bione

that Stalin

Japan can't stand alone

New York

'43 a bloke called Neill crosses to

work

Times

the well-known

all

(and a long drink) with old Reich, a

the

[Judith

J.

are thin and

all

Norway.

Let us be hopeful. Let us phantasy a

idea, for

The great
we would have

weeks (from Stockholm). She saw

Gestapo has arrested Per Krogh the

Then

aggressive and

Whatever our view of Russia there have been

news of our Norway

nice chap with

right

is

strong.

is

underfed. All adults in Oslo look thin, she says.

that the

long.

spirit

Hitler attack Russia? If he hadn't

to visit Oslo for three

men

yet.

and a second front

[traitors] there.

can't get

much

many

for action

terrible time.

no Quislings

is

1942

that will

talk

to

about the

58 and hate the

So

years.

make me

just scrap
live to

be

a thousand.

many mags,

Write soon. Send as

as

you can

afford,

and

we'll start

the vegeto ball rolling in this island.

Forest Hills,

New York
May

1942

19,

My dear Neill,
I just

that

we can

terms.

You

received your good letter of April 28th.

do not think

avoid or that we
cannot do without them for they mean definite

believe that in a true democratic

layman

should avoid the scientific physiological

a teacher

is

way we should not

not quite a layman

from

facts.

also

try to free

the

the responsibility to

acquire a general knowledge of physiology and biology. For

many

years

have been trying to see how a better world could set up microscopes
and charts about the body functions in public parks, instead of the
foolish and useless lotteries they have now. The vegetative function of
vagotonia and sympatheticotonia appears very simple if you present it
I

1942

68

form of an opening and closing hand. The opening

in the

is

the vago-

tonia and the closing the sympatheticotonia.

Your
nail,

We know

was most encouraging.

letter

we never know whether

but

should not worry about whether the Joneses

negative critique.

mostly

hits

journals

back

My

experience

cultural institutions.

think

it

the

hit

think you

will write a positive or

that

you send out

psychiatric,

as

many
and

psychological

important that every reader gets the

feeling that the biophysical experiments

and remain the core of

we
I

it.

that a negative critique in our matter

educational,

to

We

is

would suggest

at the critic. I

possible

as

here that

the others also realize

and

clinical observations

are

our psychological, educational and political

all

statements.
I

wrote you already to ask you to write an

number

We

of the journal.

children behave, especially

environments and

how

This problem

havior.

My bookt
the people

is

journal better

who
I

read

it, is

was glad

if

would appreciate

practical instances of

when

to the school

come

they

the most important problem of

believe,

week

this

to

you

in

many

my

they have read

to learn that

that

copies.

think that

not gone through the mill will understand the

book, which, according to people

very easy to understand in spite of

You remember

how

from unfree

in a truly free society.

being sent

who have

for the third

they adjust themselves to self-regulating* beis,

education and will be so

article

its

scientific subject.

you changed from pessimism

you looked upon me

to optimism.

as a kind of utopist

when

said that the irrational in society cannot last for ever.

We

had very encouraging word from Europe.

seeing you in

New

York, and

mean

it.

You

will

look forward to

not believe

it,

but

my

orgone accumulators are far enough advanced to charge up living bodies

and

want you to have one.

along with

it,

and

long drink and a good long talk to go

my European

longings will be satisfied for a while

at least.

Did you receive the English

translation of the

Work Democracy?

wonder what you think about it. Wolfe wants to publish it in the third
number of the journal. About 500 copies of the journal's first number

* Self-regulation, a way of rearing children which gives the child freedom to

develop without the imposition of adult demands or adult prohibitions. Summerhill

was run on self-regulation principles.

t The Function of the Orgasm.

69

1942

went into the world. There

who

the people

is

a funny kind of quiet around

now

avoided the main issue up to

It is

it.

as

if

it

is

are stunned that

possible to dare to present the core of the plasmatic function and of

sexuality.

When you
you think

my book

read

lacking in

is

ask you very

much

me

to write

about what

myself think that the problem of adolescence

it.

has not been dealt with extensively enough; but having written a special

book on youth, somehow I did not feel it necessary

tensively again. Or was it that I am growing older?
It was so good to hear that you are in good health.
Constance

in troubles, but I

is

you take her

member

as a

to present

some

ex-

have heard that

hope she stands them

of your staff for

it

Why

well.

special

work?

don't

think

she ought to be helped along in order not to be alone.

Summerhill School
Festiniog, North Wales

July 4th, 1942

My dear Reich,
Thanks

work
true

to read

all

for the signed

through

it

the time and

me

so clear to

all

when

almost one

at

the way.

that yours

sidered. Thence,

copy of your book.

and

it

had

morning

"It

of the journal,

me

seems to

problems, but

would not

get a letter

".

it is

I feel

stuff,

disturbed and angry

and

to take a

young and may broaden

way he

am

as being

seems

it

me

can."

finding R.

writes:

narrow view of psychiatric

out.

The only other

for sending

when he

But although

reply

most interesting reading.

wish he

must express himhave had was from

He

is

certainly an

amazing fellow with an astonishingly wide outlook and a most

power

of synthesis.

Orgone

excites

Frank's article on Veg. Therapy

me

au

fait

credit to

some

in his

ten years earlier." ...

because so

my

many

book
I

am

curiosity a

good

deal.

useful

Walter

found particularly useful and

with a lot of things, though

Cannon who

my

from Rickman, Editor

talk in such old-fashioned sex jargon, he

self in the best

Flugel.

very poor

me

struck

seems so obvious, and

of the British Journal of Medical Psychology, thanking

him a copy

to neglect

the only post-Freud psychology to be con-

is

this

sitting,

It all

think he ought to give

said substantially the

same

it

put

some

things but

sending out the mags, rather slowly

journals have been blitzed and have

new addresses

1942

that

is

it

70

And

hopeless to send to old addresses.

fear the

Rickman

point of view will prevail.

who

wrote to George Allen, of Allen and Unwin

are well-known

them about your Orgasm book and

consider publishing the book and being

publishers and modern, telling

suggesting that they ought to

pioneers for Reichism. [Neill here discusses the journals that might re-

view the

issue of Reich's Journal for

first

The editor of The Lancet had

ago when I wanted to interest him

Research.]
years

sceptical

and would not review

Sex-Economy and Orgone

boy at this school and two
your Bione book he was

in

No, Reich, you can expect nothing

it.

come

but hostility from established magazines, and your progress must

from your own group and

Flugel,

Rickman

own magazine. You

its

can't ask Jones,

approve of you and thus confess that

to

work

their life

has been wasted. That would be too great an optimism.

My

"lay" staff

teachers untrained in science and psychology) are

(i.e.

fascinated with your magazine and eager to learn more, while the

all

profession
If I

and arrogantly

hostile

is

critical.

can find a publisher for the F. of the Orgasm have

mission to

make

a deal with

of your work, and

him?

guess that

To come
Most good

in

all

you want

am

sure

to let

is

your per-

England know

Your book

also.

so

is

would make history

it

if

wartime.

my own

to

only aim

is

patently original and wise that

published here even

My

affairs

teachers are in the

war

life isn't

in

easy. Troubles with staff.

some capacity and I am limited

The former all seem to

to Conscientious Objectors or old pensioners.

have some limitation, some negative quality ...

stiff

Your

stomachs.

fit

into a

cratic in life

maybe

is

a pupil, and to

community

tell

have

all

isn't practical

the truth I think that C.

life easily. I feel

she tends to the autorule,

but

am wrong.

of your

isn't

so

much

book because

and indeed many pages make

All the best

and

let

it

of a criticism as a query.
is

me

beyond

my

training

feel that I haven't

us hope that Veg.-Therapy

sides of the Atlantic.

sure they

and would clash with the system of majority

Enclosed sheet

much

am

suggestion of giving Constance a job

so long as Suzanna*

would not

Constance Tracey's daughter.

can't criticise

and knowledge,

been educated
is

to

at all.

grow on both

71

1942

Questions.
(a)

The

sign of cure in the adult

But what

suggest a

(b) In the journal,

want

Is

who

is

in the pre-

happy face and a loose tummy?

an

to see

article:

Why

is

Man

a Moralist?

know he became one the first time he

why did he hold his breath anyway?)

(I

breath, but
(c)

the reaching of the O. Reflex.

the criterion of cure in a child

is

orgastic stage?

by W.R.

is

sex repression by moral training enough?

held his

ask because a

cannot perform the sexual act without the assistance

stallion

of the keeper

wer muss das died

fiihren

[who should guide the

member]). In domesticity the horse has no moral

his sex function apparently deteriorates.

Why?

training, but

Artificial

food,

And if so with domestic animals, how with

humans? Wrong food, clothes, beds, bad air in rooms,

housing, ventilation?

domestic

tobacco, alcohol, coffee, chairs and w.c.'s that give unnatural

sitting? In short,

when

the rest of

can there be a universal natural orgastic

life is

life

may be fine fellows,

makes bombs and poison gas,

unnatural? Trobriands

but they don't have the Kultur that

prisons and politicians.

The book throws more

(d)

feel

you

light

are afraid of children

on the adult than on the

child. I

and avoid them.

Summerhill School
Festiniog, North

Wales
July 9, 1942

My dear Reich,
This
with them.

letter

published here would

looks hopeful.* Send

The Reich

ball has

been

me

set rolling

permission to negotiate

over here, and your books

sell well.

letter to Neill from the publishing firm of Allen and

saying that they would be glad to have an opportunity of studying the

Enclosed was a short

Unwin

psychological works of Reich and of examining the volume to which he had

referred.

1942

72

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 20th, 1942

My dear Neill:
suppose that you have received several copies of

meanwhile.

how

would appreciate

it

much

very

you would

if

let

my book
me know

was received and which suggestions have been made

it

You

elaboration in the second edition.

will also receive

as to

its

very soon the

second issue of the journal which brings some excerpts from your book

The Problem Teacher.

would be

to

somehow,

such

would

York

was

for Maine, I

I left

State Hospital

who

by the vice-director of a

visited

has read the book, liked

and suggested

it

know

something

if

will

come

of

it,

but

if it

New
that

at

the

does, there

be rapid progress. By the way, did you build an Orgone Accumu-

my

lator for yourself according to

does a really good

the blood.

You have

sawdust or earth

be used to

in the

up

wood

lining

to

have

it.

sit

in

with inner

and cotton or wood shavings or

way and

anemia and similar

am

You may

really helps.

it

things. It

trust

me,

in

the inventor.

when do you come over

the way,

want you

only to build a closet to

fight colds, sinus troubles, flu,

spite of the fact that I

strength and killing bad stuff

space between the two linings. Such a closet can

not dangerous in any

By

description?

job in building

metal lining and an outer

is

it

our journal. But

don't seem to be able to penetrate your armor concerning

hospital. I don't

in

in

begin to apply the Orgone on patients of different types

will

It

remind you again how useful

like to

from your school related

stories

articles.

Before

have

to

New York?

It

would be a

marvellous idea.
ask Dr. Wolfe to send you

I shall

some more copies

of the journal

which you

will

perhaps be able to send over by plane to Sweden.

P.S. I

was

just

about to mail

4th. I

was very glad

gives
it's

am happy

to

have

that

this letter

it.

you

Now

like the

one so much stomach ache

when

received yours of July

to every single important point:

book.

only wonder

why honesty

in the process of production. I guess

rational cowardice.
2

Don't mind Rickman, he always was and

analyst

who

is

the type of psycho-

escaped the Freudian primary truth. Well, they will hear

more from me about sex and orgone. As

to Flugel,

think his attitude

73

1942

shall find out

is fair. I

whether he

right in saying that

is

Cannon

said

my

"the same things ten years ago" So, please, convince Flugel of

deep sincerity concerning quoting from others.

It

3)

is

a pity that the

Orgasm book should be

reprinted

in

England when 3000 copies have been printed here.

You

4)

we can

are completely correct in saying that

one but ourselves,

that

we alone

are responsible for

rely

on no

what happens

to

our science. Edison would have been a fool to expect the acknowl-

edgment of the

You

5)

electric

bulb by the manufacturers of the gas lamps.

have, of course,

my

consent, to have published in England

whatever and however you wish, as long as no publisher succeeds

censoring what

Now

to

have to

your questions, which are very

are not right that

am

in

say.

You

and important.

significant

afraid of children. Children like

me

much

very

do not know enough about children, not having

worked with them and only knowing them through the reflection of my
work with grown-ups. Why should I go to child biology if there are
and

I like

them. But

such marvellous child educators as A.

orgone bio-physics to children much

is

Man

a Moralist?"

less nights

fear for

once

is

being dictated just

my

future and the

in these

answer

tried to

this

my

outcome of

question in

ganism by socio-economic processes.

In

is

a moralist,

The Function

my

i.e.

is

of the

not complete.

first

time by her husband,

time by his economic chief,

child

when

this

is

why

child masturbated.

the

have

human
human

or-

be-

was unanswered.

given by working out the

economic processes. But

held his breath for the

when

the

for the

first

first

first

still

time

mother, subjugated

subjugated for the

first

time subjugated her

That leads up

to

your question.

Der Einbruch der Sexualmoral, 1932 (The Invasion of Compulsory Sexfirst aUempt to explain the origins of sexual repression

Morality, 1971). Reich's

and

is

who had been

in turn

wife with

created by muscular spasms in

historical

Maybe man

my

taken upon the

is

the answer

Orgasm some answer

order to choke his orgastic feelings

for the

filled

brain development.

afraid of the nature v^thin himself,

on the background of

the answer
in

etc.

could.

book Der Einbruch der Sexual-

Still,

function of the pleasure-anxiety which

the pelvis,

and stomach convulsions [spasms] which

moral* on the basis of the influence which

ing

who can apply

And (b) "Why
days after many sleep-

Neill,

S.

better than

their connection to neurotic disturbances.

1942

74

whether training alone

think yes.

No

is

enough

explain sex-repression.

to

would

The

wild stallion needs the assistance of any keeper.

domesticity of animals

is

moral

entirely a

training,

because the natural

more according to natural rules, but accordwhen a young horse or a young calf
should be bom. All the things you mention, wrong food, clothing, etc.
are in their last meaning nothing but evasion of nature, and of course,
sex function

not lived any

is

ing to the opinion of

there can be

man

no universal

as to

orgastic

the rest of

life if

life is

unnatural.

And

makes bombs, poison gas, prisons and

destroying itself and the level of the life of

as to the value of culture "that

politicians," I believe

it

is

the Trobriands will be back soon

and

happily.

Write again, Neill, you are not only the only important European

more than

connection, but
I

am proud

you are an honest good

that,

you are a member of the

that

friend,

and

Institute.

Orgonon

Ran gel ey, Maine

July 29th, 1942

My dear Neill,
Your

You

arrived.

and

also to

letter

of July 9th concerning the publisher, has just

my

have, of course,

make

the contracts.

permission to negotiate with them,

The main point

in

such a contract would

be that
(a)

the publisher has

no

anything of the text without

As

right to censor, to

my

book and

if

you

to leave out

consent.

to the translation, I think that

late the

change or

revise

it.

it

would be sufficient
would only like

if

to

they transstress

the

following points:
a) The fascism book* was written ten years ago, when I still had
some confidence in the Marxists. The book contains therefore many

my own viewpoints. Words like communism, communistic, proletarian, socialistic and so forth. These words
have meanwhile lost their meaning completely. Not only because of the
Marxist expressions, expressing

behavior of the Marxists, but mainly because of the

of our work-democratic concepts.

new

formulations

The word "worker" does not mean

The Mass Psychology of Fascism.

the

75

1942

handworker alone

from the

in distinction

intellectual.

"Work" means

all

branches of labor, which are indispensable for the process of society, a

physician in this sense, or a teacher,

not less important than a

is

machinist. All such words should be eliminated and be replaced by the

simple word revolutionary, revolution,

that the deal

is

made

then

footnotes at the places where

But the

hear from you

shall

shall

add

necessary to bring the book up to date.

it is

whole should, out of

text in the

When

etc.

go through the book and

shall

historical reasons,

remain un-

changed.
b)

To

believe

it

cover the development of our social knowledge up to date,

would be advisable

contain either

my

know

have an appendix printed which would

to

pamphlets about "Work Democracy" or a summary

of these pamphlets.
useful.

that

To

bring out the book about fascism would be rather

it is

read

ground movement. People

all

like

Germany and

over

and

it,

it

more

is

Austria in the under-

true today than

it

was

ten years ago.

The second

come out and you

issue of our journal has just

many copies.
am writing an

will re-

ceive
I

and have spent the

article for the third issue

four weeks worrying tremendously about

how

to

last

handle the incapability

of the masses to govern themselves. This incapability was entirely over-

looked by

all

free social

movements, and the

freedom was crushed again and again.

You

can't

am

freedom and be

liked.

choose the truth instead of being

liked.

It

are incapable of

don't look please upon

this incapability for

on

this earth

objections. I

it

is

result
tell

was

that social

the people that they

afraid

have to

shall

a tough problem.

And

from the standpoint of your school. Look

at

freedom from the standpoint of 2000 million people

and you

will see

what

mean. Object sharply,

tried to find objections to

my

if

you have

statement myself.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

6,

1942

My dear Neill,
have looked through the second German edition of Die
Massenpsychologie des Faschismus and become convinced that it would
I

be very bad to publish

Marxian slogans which

it

as

it

is

lost their

now. The book is permeated with

meaning completely meanwhile. For

1942

instance,

am

76

than the bourgeois.

reflect the real
I

we

speaking about the bourgeois human, but meanwhile

learned that the so-called proletariat

I

is in its

structure not less bourgeois

have to replace such words by other words which

meaning

in a better

way.

don't want to be taken for a Marxist any more, in spite of the fact

that

have a higher regard and a better understanding of Marx's

achievement than

new

had then. And

biological findings to old

elimination of the

cannot subdue the insights of our

and wrong concepts.

empty slogans and the addition of the new

psychological and work-democratic facts, will bring the

without changing

ment

of the

script in case

believe that the

its

factual content.

book and the publisher

he decides to publish

am

book up

bio-

to date

going ahead with the adjust-

will obtain a

copy of the manu-

it.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August 20, 1942

My dear Neill:
This

letter is to

ask your opinion about an idea which

development of our work.

lately in connection with the further

had
have

encountered some uneasy feelings about describing the actual political

and

social tasks in plain language as I

must understand that

due

to the

American Revolution,

than the European world, and

"common man"

was used

in spite of the fact that

far

much

more

[to

do] in Europe.

You

American democracy

is,

free of traditional thinking

further advanced in dealing with the

there are besides that

still

prevailing attitudes which

don't like to see heavy scientific stuff brought forth together with actual
social policy

which never lacks the

taste of the

"soap box."

myself

have the feeling that a pamphlet about "Work Democracy" which has

been translated

in

England

is

too political in

its

nature to be quietly

accepted together with the findings about the orgone. Yet they are
closely connected; but not for the feeling of the average individual. I

don't wish to yield to conservative views, but

where

flexibility

we have to be flexible
What would you

does not hamper our truth. In short:

think of editing a special journal in English within England's borders

called, say. Work Democracy, Journal for the Social Evaluation of
Depth Psychology and Orgone Biophysics. It would train specialists in
social work; it would explain what work democracy is, its history.

77

1942

work-democratic trends

different

the

instance,

world, as for

new work democratic Labor-Management Committees

which begin to function

democracy

in different places in the

America; the natural existence of work

in

in primitive society; the difference of

formal, parliamentary

from natural work democracy, and so forth. I believe firmly that we

should weigh the idea and prepare for its possible realization. Please tell

me

whether you would be willing and capable of directing the issuance

of such a journal under the auspices of the Institute, with the help of

your co-workers

in

England.

expect your advice as quickly as possible.

Did you receive the second

you

did

enough copies? The Journal and the book are received very

receive

New

well here: in a Westchester,

again, as in

hope

And

issue of the Journal yet?

France and

that this

honor

in

will

York, newspaper

was proclaimed

England, as the successor of Freud.

make people

not

only

forget that the succession of

Freud's discoveries has been added to by a new, decisive discovery of

would

its

own.

let

me know

hear more about you personally than you have

like to

recently.

Did you have an Orgone Box

best regards to

all

built for yourself?

friends over there

my

and also

Why

not?? Give

my

best wishes for the

future.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

August 24, 1942

My dear Reich,
I

have

just

got your long

letter.

Edinburgh having a Cure with Thomson

have not

felt well.

Always

doctor with his drugs,

return to wet

Wales

always delightful;

tired.

Having no

is

faith at all in the

is

little

who

war don't

see

am

give trouble.

telling

you

all this
I

partly to explain

shall

The

My

kids are as

original

staff

all

can't see

how

why

have not done

sent out copies to the well-known psycho-

mags, and only Rickman replied.

for reviews.

like the pacifist attitude.

enough about the magazines.

logical

in

chance of exercise

of difficulties these days.

the adults

am

ordinary

trying the only alternative offered me.

full

is

summer

help the war, and the children whose fathers and mothers are

left to

in the

it

am

the naturopath. All

unwillingly, for there

Also the work

there.

At the moment

am

keeping

my

eyes open

can send anv literature to Sweden or

1942

78

The law here

Switzerland.

is

that only the publisher or a recognised

bookseller can dispatch books abroad.

I still

know what

don't

do about

to

delighted with

man

the

any

it,

The

buying wood. Also,

But

wish

my

the

and

letter,

it

forget about

is

my own

pound

health until

You know how

ignorant

in

don't recollect your ever telling

me how

am

im-

of science.

your

in

it

make

to

is

month

break down.

you describe

don't understand the cage as

If in a

it.

must have gone down.

don't like to hear about your stomach convulsions.

another 40 years, friend.

the

man

big

Orgone Accumulator because material

could set one up.

ignorance

letter,

is

hear of another's good work.

possible to get, especially metals. I can only spend one

In

He

wants to know more about your work. The big man,

made

never

the journal

teacher, doctor, etc.

with a name, doesn't even reply thanking me.

line hates to

No,

show

distribution. I

man

or the book to the ordinary reading

new Trobriands.

so tiresome.

want

then the body has

its

150 years or

so,

about the body

want to

to

work and

forget

all

about the damned body, and

revenge and stops the work.

man

could do something

If

the span of

in his life.

The pleasure went out

months ago, and

cause and

Or how much an age

live

body

so to speak. This cursed dependence on the

at present.

effect.

You must

long enough to see you king of

live

have been sexless since then.

life

were

feel bitterly

of the Reflex two

can't decide

which

is

of 59 affects the world of desire

in general.

Well,

back.

shall wait

and write more cheerfully when

get

some

health

have no news from Stockholm.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
September 25, 1942

My

dear Reich,

Your

letter

came today

just as I sat

down

to write you. I

touched by your concern and most grateful for your advice

BOX.
the

am

not clear on a few points, (i) Must

Orgone work through clothing? (2)

tain. It is severely rationed.

ing do?

Would

Wood

a small

Behind the sheeting would be brick

I sit
is

in

it

most

re:

am
the

naked, or does
difficult to

ob-

room lined with tin sheetor wood and plaster. I am

79

trying to

buy

tell

me

molten

tin.

do

Reich,

me

moveable wardrobe or cupboard which

After

tin will do.

if

have so complete a

box

the

is

the "goods"

much

is

returned from Thomson's

bunk, but his practice certainly

not

psychical health.

in

nature cure

cause

anti-sex

is

It

No.

is

good and

Smoking
ing off

able

man

at

tell

and

think his "theory"

it

all

gets resultL in physical but

indeed

reflex,

go to

simply be-

it

this "cleans-

150 or

alive to the age of

I

in

without re-

it

entirely,

should think that

but as to drink

off

With whiskey

it.

and Calvinistic and moral.

keep

still

me

does not release the orgastic

ing" diet plus your box should keep a

but

dipped

estimation.

better.

does not treat bodily symptoms.

it

my

in

much

line,

accept

2 convinces

could

your genius that when you

believe you, and

better than

thin iron sheeting

is

faith in

Your Journal No.

quiring any proof.

by the way

tin

all,

1942

so.

have no intention of keep-

over 1 a bottle and wine almost unprocur-

guess alcohol won't be any problem during this war anyway.

Life

is

more complex with me now. War conditions

we

are safe from

far

from

all

bombs

in

Wales, but

it

is

True

are not easy.

always wet and relaxing and

culture and companionship. I can't get teachers or

can

if I

they are usually inferior-r mostly conscientious objectors to military

who

service, negative folk

I

had

do before

to

settling the differences of

to

won't face

Then with an

reality.

invalid wife

have a double load to carry, having to do a thousand things

have things

their

food,

servants, children's clothing,

opinion among" the female

own way. But

in the

far the children haven't suffered for lack of

for lack of
flat field

lies

good

football,

who

And

all

want

mountain land there

is

So

tolerable.

good food, but they

and the snow

never

suffer

isn't

one

never good enough or

long enough for winter sports.

Of
Here

late

have taken up

the land

problem was
the

exercise, for in this

hockey or

for

staff

main things are

etc.

same

is

in

way

an amateurish

scientific agriculture.

very poor and no good farmer will

to feed

sell

100 people on home-grown veg. and

attitude to inorganic artificial

manures

that I

manure.
fruit.

have

to

My
have

drugs

in

manure can never make

the first essential to growth
humus, which must come from decayed
organic stuff. Hence my problem has been to compost all veg. rubbish
medicine; both are dead things, and

artificial

so as to get good manure. Unfortunately grass, nettles

make

compost without animal manure, but

20 tons of mule dung, and have some

fine

etc.

will

was lucky enough

heaps now.

to

am most

not

buy

inter-

1942

8o

ested in the ideas of Sir Albert

Howard* who

trees with tobacco, mercury, etc.

is

He

to

traces all plant diseases

that in India he

mouth

foot and

back

had cows on grass

says that

spraying of

all

wrong, merely treating symptoms.

soil

and manures, and says

artificially

manured and they took

had cows on naturally

poor

disease, but in the next field he

manured pasture and they rubbed noses over the fence with the incows but none of them contracted the disease. The trouble is
that an editor of a Gardener's Weekly can't easily condemn artificials

fected

when

so doing

may be

This

makes us

all.

would

lose an advertisement

boring to you;

You

will guess

from a psychologist into

only shows

it

by

all this

worth 2,000 a year,

say.

how land-minded

war

war has converted me

that the

damned farmer

not

much

difference be-

tween the two, for both waste time dealing with muck, yet

farmyard muck than to

to fork

sit

and

listen to

Well, Reich, I shall end this rambling

.... must one be naked?

questions

Is

the

better

is

it

psychic repressed muck.

letter.

Do

answer the main

stone suitable instead of saw-

dust, etc?

A thought:

P.S.

men

convert

it

into sex repression

Probable

result,

thought:

hours

That cancer case

in

No.

2 Journal.

Danger

too

much

and not know how

suicide.

How

to cure

parent, expert in radio, says: "I

at a time, testing apparatus.

the effects of an F.

engineers

unskilled

Neither

sit

to deal with

what causes
in a

who have used

it.

it

then.

Another

Faraday box"r for

nor anyone

else in the pro-

fession have ever noticed any difference to health or skin.

why

put their cases in the Box, cure the cancer, or rather re-

will

Ask Reich

Cage hasn't been discovered by the many

one."

He

says that the cage can be of copper

wire netting of one inch mesh. That sounds odd to me.

An

Agricultural Testament, by Sir Albert

sity Press,

1940).

t Better

known

as a

Faraday cage.

or a series of parallel wires.

An

Howard (London: Oxford

electrostatic shield

made

Univer-

of wire

mesh

8i

1942

Forest Hills,

New York
October

My

have

your

just received

you are ready

to use the

letter of

September 25th.

Orgone Accumulator and

answer your questions. The outer walls can be of stone

be better

if

you would

fill

the

box

The main point

organism

in regard to the

is

am

am

in the

glad

hurrying

too, but

gap between the inner metal

stone wall with, say, newspaper.

the

1942

17,

dear Neill:

that
to

lining

it

would

and the

functioning of

that the inner metal lining should

not be at a greater distance from the body than six to eight inches.

your

closet has the dimensions of

and two

feet wide, then

it is

about

all right.

five feet high, three feet

effects.

Faraday cage has too big holes

in the

who

all

the experiences quite by yourself, but

Orgone accumulator every day once or twice

for weeks and months in one stretch.

did not observe

metal wall, also the

metal walls are too far removed from the body. Well,

make

deep

That answers your thought con-

cerning the radio operator within the Faraday cage,

any

If

want you to

you have

to use the

for about a half

hour and

do that also for another purpose. The longer the war

more diseases will arise, the more the value of a cheap
and highly effective biological energy will be appreciated by the comwant you

to

will stretch, the

mon

people, and

want you

to

have the experiences gathered by then.

Your discourse on manure and Maul und Klauenseuche Ifoot and

mouth disease] was a great help. I understood suddenly from what
you told about Howard's work, that the chemical industries are not
only not curing diseases, but more, they are creating diseases, and

am

going right ahead to clear that question. Thank you for your sug-

gestion.

better that

It is

and

please,

the box for

Your
I

had

it

you are naked than with clothes on within the box,

watch your temperature, whether

it

rises

when you

are in

some time and how much.

suggestion regarding the danger of easy cancer cure

myself. But

action. Write again

let's

see later,

soon and much.

first

we have

is

to put the

very true.

boxes into

1942

82
]

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

November

9,

1942

My dear Reich,
have been expecting to hear from you for weeks now. Fail-

ing to get anything out of psychological journals here, I suggested to

Constance that since there were so few copies of your works

the best

way would be

form

to

England,

in

a circulating library. I advertised that

much a time, just

etc. The enclosed
enough
letter shows that some people are interested. This is well; unknown folks
read the books and slowly your ideas spread. Barnes, the man who
your books were on loan from Constance,

so

at

cover expense of advertising, postage,

to

one of your books, writes that he would

tried to translate

like to start

a journal popularising your theories. I didn't encourage him,

What do you

as the central authority.

I

am

working away amid

still

N. Wales

is

made me

feel

to use that

think?

and wet weather

difficulties

the wettest part of the island,

N. Africa has

much more

Italy;

Teacher book, finished

just as the

when

won humanity

is

it

I still

will

war began,

hold that

split

is

Germany

my Problem

wrote: "The war

is

and fear greatly that

so,

up again

can't see that Hitler

they will surely go red, and what then? In

fundamentally a class war."

But the war news on

believe.

cheerful.

has the least chance of winning now. The Allies will smash

and

said that

you were sending out the journal, the best way would be

since

into

for

and against

socialism.

Write soon.

My wife gets
a

Home

miss your letters now.

frailer

for her. It

P.S. I

am smoking

Later.

Your

here?

room very

and her mind

is

am

infantile. I

pretty awful to see her

trying hard to find

now and most

depressing.

again!

letter just arrived. I

want

to

make

that cage, but

how can

house without central heating to save coal and coke; every

full of

importance work.

Had

is

people; material impossible to buy except for national

It will

have to wait

till I

can do

it

properly.

lunch with Rickman. Impossible to talk to him about Veg.-

Therapy. Gets worked up and bitter about

it all

a real orgasm. R. can't prove that his idea of an

any other man's."

It

is

uphill

"It turns

orgasm

is

on what

is

better than

work doing anything here owing to

down to a minimum. I simply

shortage of paper so that reviews are cut

83

1942

any editor to allow a review of the Function of the Orgasm.

The growth is slow, but the people who are reading your work here,
can't get

though a small group, are those

who

have an open mind for

at least

something new.

am

glad that you seem to think that drugs are as evil as

manures.

and

must poison

It

body

to

dose

it

with mercury or tar products

the artificial nostrums of the big drug combines.

all

Forest Hills,

New York
November

My

artificial

24, 1942

dear Neill:
I

letter is to

did not hear from you in a long time and

wonder why. This

ask you about the nature of the "Progressive League."

wondering whether the events of the

to accept

sex-economic point of view

in

am

10 years have taught the

last

Huxleys, Russells, Wells, Wests, Burts, Flugels,

make them more ready

etc.

such a lesson as to

and to propagate a sex-affirmative and

education and social action than ten years

ago.

Two

weeks ago

who

people

birth-control clinics

meeting
zation.

in

and organizations

which they

Though

dents and

was approached here

to attend a

a sex-political organistu-

up again the
Europe. Therefore I would apwould

like to take

I have done in
you would kindly give me information about the actual

main question

is:

Are they ready and

this

English organization.

life

cents within the frame of the present fight for a

of which everybody knows but nobody

think

it

The

willing to enter the fight for sex-

economic affirmation of the natural love

Do you

up

have not much time now, being very busy with

and the factual sincerity of

activities

by a group of

who asked me

etc.

research as well as writing, I

if

New York

try gropingly to build

Sex Pol work which

preciate

in

are working at sociology departments of universities, in

of children and adoles-

new world;

likes to call

feasible to organize an English

by

its

the substance

proper name.

branch of the Orgone

make the distribution of our literature more

Kingdom? Could you provide the necessary money

Institute Press, in order to

easy in the United

for

it

as

we do

here? After a certain length of time the publications pay

back by income and directly by

sales.

very great interest and appreciation.

We

have met here, so

far,

with

1942

84

Some days ago

received a manuscript of

Raknes from Sweden. They

hope the time is

are working there very bravely and intelligently. Let's

not too far away

when we

be together and concentrate upon the

mind concerning mental misery
Please write me about yourself too, whether you are using the
Orgone Accumulator and what kind of experiences you are making with

many

shall all

questions which are in our

it.

Forest Hills,

New York
December

My

22, 1942

dear Neill:
I

physicist

received your letter of

whose

letter

November 9th some days

you sent me

is

a typical mechanist

ago.

The

who

uses

words where understanding

is lacking. I don't mind his saying that

do not know much about physics because the cosmic biophysical
energy, Orgone, was discovered by me and not by him, and I am ready to
leave the physical knowledge to him and to solve the problems of the
Orgone by myself, even if "without knowledge." To illustrate his com-

plete confusion of thinking, I refer to a passage in his letter

writes that "the twinkling of stars

air

is

where he

caused by strong currents of cold

flowing in the upper layers of the earth's atmosphere." If you put

phenomenon, then you will hear 100

words and interpretations of one and the same phenomenon, pronounced with the greatest dignity of pure science. I am
together 100 physicists and one
different kinds of

glad to have rid myself of the respect for this kind of science.
lustrate that

New York

am

justified in

Planetarium with

doing so:

my

wife.

in such a planetarium there are

week or

Even our

no layers of

yet the artificial stars

were twinkling.

explanation for this

phenomenon

in

am

looking at them

The

in the

and

sure he will have a different

the Planetarium.

drilling a

il-

physicist will admit that

air in great heights

He

also over-

looked the experimental reproduction of the twinkling of the stars

orgone accumulator, by simply

To

so ago I visited the

in

any

few holes into the walls and

dark while a dim green

light is shining inside.

task of natural science for thousands of years

was always to reduce

hundreds of thousands of different facts to one and the same principle
and not, what most of the so-called physicists do, to explain one and

the

same

fact with

hundreds of thousands of words. In short, the attitude

85

1942

of your physicist
in all

is

deeply irrational and identical with the irrationalism

mechanistic and metaphysical science.

Why

do you

hard to convince the Rickmans? They are quite

try so

unimportant and

don't believe that

is

it

Other

useful even to try.

younger, more daring and better thinking people in the coming generations will

come and

quences.

am

am

want you

my

Good

work.

be done

to

am

to social conse-

that

wish

don't

magazine popularizing our knowledge

to a

my

you don't follow

immediately and use

built

you against

resistance in

do penetrate, but only slowly.

if

it

well,

cross at you that

Accumulator

you

things

to get disappointed.

would not object

were

it

very glad and thankful for what you are doing to spread knowl-

edge about

up our matter and carry

take

not worried about that.

me

you permit

it if

advice to have an Orgone

There

it.

to

is

some kind of

be quite frank.

assure

would do you much good.

it

of

all

you there

My wife is joining me

New Year

a pleasant

in these wishes.

We

with some, not much, useful things in

and much success

in

it.

have sent you a small package

it.

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

December

My

29, 1942

dear Reich,

Many

thanks for your

Xmas

gift.

The coffee is wunderbar

own here. It was kind

[wonderful] and the chocolate better than our

of you to think of

play some

golf

it.

if it

am

just off to

doesn't snow.

build an Accumulator, but in

Even

things are.

some

places,

make

one,

could

the question of time.

how

war time you have no

have no central heating

possible

is

is

the question

to save fuel; but

if

use it in summer. Is it possible to make

would solve the question of heat and also
a whole night of Orgones would be good

at least

But

don't know.

the Library

if

how I can
how difficult

out

idea

and sheet metal can't be bought. Then there

a bed enclosed in one? That

for health

tried to think

things like nails and screws are impossible to get in

of heating. This year

could

Scotland to lecture and

have

going.

if

haven't heard recently from Constance as to

I

find

it

uphill

work

trying to interest people,

1942

handicapped as

86

am

My

being so far from the centre of things.

latest

who

attempt was to send the book and journals to Dr. Harry Roberts

and psychological things

writes of medical

The Freudians

Nation.

New

in the

Statesman and

are going to tot-schweigen you

you by

[kill

silence] and they have so big a say in journal reviews these days.

there

is

the uprooting

don.

I sent

got them.

How

be good people

am

etc.

men and

you being received

are

in

question

who

U.S.A.? Where do you get

are interested dnd helpful.

happy

exile in

in

Wales. The climate,

me down.

the Calvinism, the difficulty getting

staff,

they

So many

little

pleasures have gone.

back

car

now and have

Whiskey

to the east coast.

is

2 a

in the garden.

to

queue up for buses

bottle. I

This

isn't

have no

golf,

all

can't write

now.
.

less.

have no

dull digging

much worse

am

What

off; it is

going to return to

troubles

me

is

that

began a book on the future of education, wrote

and stuck. First time

quire a few months

war and

and teach

long to

that are always overcrowded.

a grumble; millions are

treating kids psychologically

I

get

no recreation except

only an attempted explanation. But next term

three chapters

Lon-

they ever

if

on printing and research apparatus? There must

well but never really

get

scattered,

all

Private practice has almost ceased in

out journals to Harley Street*

the capital to carry

from the war. The psychologists are

army,

in hospitals, the

Then

on Willy Reich's

ever stuck with a book. I re-

sofa. I

long for the end of the

a crossing of the Atlantic.

Where fashionable London doctors had

their offices.

1943
Forest Hills,

New York
February

.My dear

have your

still

letter of

December

29th.

get the impression that

preoccupied with the idea that the Freudians and other

psychologists should embrace us.

if

1943

Neill:
I

you are

lo,

You

will

be disappointed

all

the time

you won't accept your own judgment, which you expressed some

time ago, namely:

The ones whd

cannot be glad about work which

are losing
just

ground

in fact

and

in

theory

shows them what they are omitting.

Please stop trying so hard to convince psychologists.

personally don't

try to convince anyone, but simply present the facts as accurately

and

truthfully as possible.

Some

of

my

students like your books very much.

They

are distributing

them and many discussions are held about your viewpoints.

Our work is proceeding slowly, with many difficulties, but surely; and
more and more people take notice of it and like it. But I have reconciled
myself to the idea that in our lifetime the pestilence*

on devastating human
like to see

have no

life. It is,

apparently go

of course, understandable that

what we hold true become true also

illusions

will

about that for the next twenty years

we would

for everyone else, but

at least. It is

very

"emotional plague" which Reich

a strictly scientific term to denote evil
social action from irrational motives with irrational evil results" (October 7,
1951). Elsewhere, he calls it "an endemic epidemic of 'much larger dimensions
than cholera and typhoid" (February 9, I945)-

* Also "pest," "emotional pestilence"

defines as follows: " 'Emotional plague'

is

87

i.e.,

1943

88

painful to realize the situation as

human

being has of his

own

it

really

is

and

deep fear the

to see the

possibilities.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
February 23, 1943

My

dear Reich,

Your

came and today No.

letter

with great pleasure.

3 Journal

shall sell the journals

doesn't need for the library. So far,

which

have not done

is

who

the only way.

sales.
gift

always seek what

think

The money

is

have read

new and

forget

because the

this

buyers would almost certainly be the wrong people

rubber-necks

and books that Constance

it

partly the

But

at once.

it

can get permission to send out the proceeds of

gave you when you emigrated before the war was a

towards your cancer research.

Do

not be annoyed

but one can't buy

tried for

months

the children's

wood

my

at

no idea of the position

here.

Food we have enough

woodwork

to get

wood

buy

classes. I can't

clothing,

have

and for
and

a short rod of brass

is

Again, you have no idea of the housing question.

built for 20.

and

for necessary repairs

sheet metal cannot be obtained unless one

house

of,

or metal without a government permit.

vain

in

not making an Accumulator, for you have

helping the war

We

effort.

are 100 people in a

Children even sleep in passages sometimes. The

staff

has no staffroom. Domestic servants are called up for the army or

munitions, and

we

all

have to work.

windows, stoking furnaces,

can give nearly as
they are

all

much

Accumulator where
I

time as

normal now.
I

have had to send

a pleasant duty.

And

I tell

might

my

spend much of

day mending

and no longer

should give to the children. Luckily,

you, Reich, that

retire for health

wife

my

cinders, gardening,

sifting

away

to a

within two days

should welcome an

and peace for a

bit daily.

Mental Home, and that

is

not

have news of deaths of old boys

[former pupils], one of them Elsa Backer's boy killed flying in Canada.
It isn't

easy to feel optimistic with

die for the mistakes of all of us

is

all this

sorrow around.

To

see youth

never pleasant. Must the Son always

be crucified?

You

took the criticism of the radio

man

too seriously.

He

is

only

194 3

He

devours

89

mechanical and was quite sincere

write and

am

many people

my

ought to contribute

am

you

my new

book, the one on the Future of

are writing rubbish about

share of

that

it

feel I

also.

it

out of touch with the Sex Societies you mention, being buried

the country as

am, but

London Sex

fear

on with

trying to get

Education. So

all

Reich enthusiast about Sex-Economy.

is

in his criticism.

at

Easter

Used

Societies.

go to London and

to lecture for

Norman

the voyeur, the repressed

homo,

Haire's one and

found that audiences were mostly neurotics, betraying

when Norman became pornographic.

in

will enquire.

their

interest

fear that such societies attract

But there must be good people

etc.

in

them who should be approached.

You

me

tell

shouldn't bother about the Rickmans.

do because

they control publicity in the psych, magazines. There are "popular"

magazines but

would be unwise

it

must be guarded

necessity,

feel a little guilty

in their

For one

here.

up by them,

about not doing enough to get

these societies, even though

worry

to be taken

thing,

know

that

am

attitude to

"Why do you

have such normal children and such

No

difficulties.

wood,

fed

them

etc. for

life.

their

in-

Indeed

my

than the pupils do, and visitors often ask:

a neurotic staff?"

have only grumbles. Rather

call

playing fields for children, too mountainous.

No

don't want to give the impression that

them

war, and

have nothing

up with

competence and dreaminess and negative

me much more

in the

have had a succession of them as

teachers (one can't get anyone else) and

exhaust

contact with

have far too much work and

and cranks.

societies tend to get filled with pacifists

staff

in

most energetic people are

against pacifists as pacifists, but

by

for they,

statements about sex.

to

make

do destruction, not from

no good teachers. Result, they

simply from boredom. And the Welsh

things with,

hate,

church protested because they played hockey on a Sunday. Mein Gott!

You

can understand

side, the
list

demand

of 80 pupils

my

for Summerhill
can't find

room

is

so great

for. I

am

now

that

My
I

me

o. reflex

am

just

seems good

That

is

Scots don't think

much

of

has returned and that part of

send

about

all

it

to

the optimistic

have a waiting

money because
money side never

money.
life is fine.

about to write the chapter on Sex of

I'll

not making

did not increase the fees with the war, but the

worries

On

wish to get back to England.

my

book, and

Wolfe for the next No. of the journal.

my news

this time.

if

it

1943

The journal

P.S.

90

gets better each time.

and appreciated over here. Tell

Forest Hills,

wish

we could

me how America

get

it

circulated

receives your work.

New York
April

I,

1943

My dear Neill:
I

am

writing in a hurry

February

long. I received your

and thus

am

letter. I

worries with your wife, but for the rest

We

fine.

not be very

this letter will

so sorry that you have these

I feel

that

you are getting along

are waiting eagerly for your article for the

2nd

issue of the

journal this year.

The orgone research

months ago

making slow but steady progress. Just two

is

succeeded

in

demonstrating the

pulsation

biological

means

function of the orgone in a purely physical manner; that

great deal.
I

am

We

glad that you like the journal.

Our work

hope

to

improve

accepted in the U.S. very nicely. First of

is

only very few pestilent reactions to

it.

it still

more.

there

all,

are

Second, some journals have

reviewed our publications objectively and kindly. About 26 Orgone

accumulators are already distributed amongst students and lay people.

My

publications

encouraging

widely read

are

especially are very

much

letters.

and

wait eagerly for the

able to meet again either here or in

international set-up.

universities;

at

interested

mean

some

sociologists

have received some rather

moment when we

Europe

shall

be

in order to organize the

organize in our way, the free way, and not

the bureaucratic way.

Your books
their

friends.

are spreading slowly but surely

kindergarten group
will

mainly be

among our

already see you lecturing here

slowly forming.

is

in the

students and

sometime.

firmly believe that

small

sex-economy

hands of educators rather than physicians, and

rightly so.

My
tories

wife and
in

are working very hard to build

up the Orgone Labora-

Maine. The Institute has acquired a farm of

beautifully situated.*

hope

In Rangeley, Maine. Reich

to concentrate all the research

named

this

property "Orgonon."

160

acres,

and teaching

91

1943

up there in the course of the next few years. Even money seems to
loom on the horizon.
I still want you to have the accumulator built. You simply have to.
It will give you strength and will build up your blood, and you will
enjoy

it.

Forest Hills,

New York
May

14,

1943

our [by]-laws

[for

My dear Neill:
I

am

enclosing

preliminary draft

of

incorporation of the Orgone Institute in the United States].

that

hate such formalities as

influence of the Institute grows

are provisions to safeguard

much

and

it

as

You know

you do, but the more the

does grow

the

more necessary

existence and functioning against the

its

diverse influences of the emotional pestilence.

want you

out of

$200
This

my own

a
is

month,

to

know

that the

orgone research has cost

earnings since 1939.

i.e.,

much

My

wife and

would

get

me

are living

$24,000
on about

than a worker in a war factory receives.

less

only to explain the formula contained

only that

back the money which

in the by-laws. It

have put

in.

The

means

discovery

of the orgone has been donated to the International Institute.

The

students of our Institute here are reading your books with the

utmost interest and

benefit.

Your name has spread very

far in educational

circles.

Our work is continuing unhampered and with some recognition in

many parts of the U.S. as well as in South America and Palestine. When
the big crash will come again I don't know; but this time I have decided
not to keep quiet, as

and
I

in Oslo,

but to fight back with

all

our knowledge

influence.

would be glad

to receive a letter

everything worth knowing.

My

from you

best wishes to

there, and for a quick finish to this chaos.

as

soon as possible about

you and

all

friends over

1943

92

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July

5,

1943

My dear Neill,
did not hear from you for months, and

what the trouble

we

are

still

is.

This

existing here,

letter is

cannot make out

only a short note to remind you that

and that we wish to be kept informed constantly

about you personally, your work, your troubles and joys, and about
everything worth knowing.

assume you received already Dr. Wolfe's

that

you send

to

Sweden

letter in

which he suggests

regularly copies of the book,

The Discovery of

the Orgone, and issues of the journal.

because of transportation

With

my

We

cannot send them from here

difficulties.

best wishes to

you and

all.

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

August

3,

1943

My dear Reich,
I

haven't written you for a long time.

because of a sense of failure and frustration

in

wonder why. Mainly

making your work known

over here. Journals and books came by post, and

what Wolfe and you wanted

me

to

had no

do with them.

clear idea

sent copies to

various scientists and publicists, and either got no reply or an adverse

one

as I got

"You have

from H. G. Wells, who read the

me

sent

an awful gabble of competitive quacks. Reich

misuses every other word, and Wolfe

gleam of fresh understanding

To

this

letter

and wrote me:

3 journals

in the

is

a solemn ass.

There

is

not a

whole bale."* Then the idea of a

Neill replied:

Dear Wells.

why you are so damned unpleasant about it. I considered

with the broadest mind in England and sincerely wanted light on a
biological matter I wasn't capable of judging myself. Your Black Out letter might
I

you

can't understand

the

man

have been written by Colonel Blimp. I hoped you would give an opinion on bions
and orgones, whether they are a new discovery or not, and all I got was a tirade
against Reich. You apply the word "quack" to a man whom Freud considered
brilliant,
I

man who

grant that

has slaved for years in a lab seeking truth.

asked for

it.

intruded. I apologise

and

being a Scot

93

1943

lending library seemed a good one and Constance did nobly here, but

again the sense of failure, in that the borrowers were unbedeutend

seeking

neurotics

[insignificant]

personal

approached the biggest medical library

try to sell the

Lately,

salvation.

England, and they agreed to

in

Book, but would not have the journals. They have sold

already.

Then

had

to fight doubts in myself.

other day, No.

but, being so

of Vol. 2,

uneducated

my

When

new number came

the

in science, I haven't

been able

pros and cons for myself. Scientists said Reich doesn't

about electricity or physics or what not, and

was

my

faith in

your genius.

the

doubts seemed to fade out automatically,

My

had

all I

to judge the

know enough

to counter that

only defence was the thought:

R.

is

about psychology, and he can't then be a fool about biology. So

right

have had to face two attitudes: the

common man who

reads you and

damned interesting, but of course I can't judge its value;

who says: False premises, unprovable assumptions
(orgones), no good. The common man cannot help you because he is
ignorant, and unless the trained scientist accepts you, I don't see how
you are to succeed. Cannot a man like Einstein give a definite opinion
says, This

and the

that

is

scientist

would

Makes me long

No. 4 Journal is fascinating.

the Accumulator which I can't possibly build

the

settle all

to try

scientists?

little

Which makes me ask why you don't give each

own Acc[umulator] made from a cocoa tin in a wooden box?
My own news now. Wife still in a Home costing more than I can
afford. Money a great worry now; school losing owing to high prices

before peace comes.

mouse

its

and taxation. Over 100 pupils waiting

room

for them,

and the present ones

to

come

can't

into the school but

pay high

fees.

pioneer schools not bright. The big unions of teachers, trade unions,
all

demand

live

the abolition of the private school, and certainly

it

etc.

cannot

very long now, and under the State, socialist or otherwise, there

can be no

real

freedom

have disapproved of

refund your postage

with Reich or anyone

To

no

Outlook for

be answered

S'hill,

else.

in turn

Most Communist Party members

even those whose children were pupils here.

to pioneer.

But

this

Yours

is

no

quarrel,

and

won't bother you again

sincerely, etc.

by Wells:

Dear Neill,
No, I decline your stamps, but this business
I call you a Sucker. Bless you, H. G. Wells.

is

quackery.

You

call

me

a Blimp,

1943

As

94

a body, the C.P.

considers

it

my book*

proof for Wolfe to see

if

and

he can

in the press.

is

it

fit it

to

and postcards are allowed by

letters

You

if I

can

enquired

can't. I

mail

air

ask

the only mail

Sweden.

The

structure of the

Orgone

Institute

proof and proof against exploitation.

financially to

The

ture.

my

for at the

it,

dollars

lent

you

seems

o.k. to

don't yet

moment my income
in

peace days

me.

It

know how

is

less

than

looks fool-

can stand

my

expendi-

do not want repaid; they are

small contribution to the good work.

School goes well. 150 waiting to get

the sex question.

how

little

Most parents want

advance

in

wish

No

had room.

if I

the status quo.

My

solu,tion to

show

article will

have made.

Just off to Scotland for a few week^.

I

still,

send on a

shall

into the journal.

send copies of your book and journals to Sweden.

and only

and worse

totally ignorant of psychology,

a bastard science.

have finished

is

Have

let

myself get run down.

had an Accumulator.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My dear Neill:
We don't
contact

understand your keeping

now seems

months or a year or

We

can operate only very badly

am

if

no contact

is

kept.

not only speaking for myself, but also for

are eager to learn

for lectures, or,

more from you and even

in the School,

tasks.

is

my

frankness,

some teachers who

to try to get

you over here

maybe, for good.

Probably Hearts Not Heads

a few

personally

It

hope you don't mind

1943

Keeping

me of the utmost importance, since in

so we may face very huge and responsible

to

unpleasant as well as factually.

but

silent for so long.

19,

not published until 1945.

95

1943

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August 27, 1943

My dear Neill:
Your

am

me

August 3rd reached

letter of

the time during the last two

months

yesterday.

had

felt all

had gone wrong.

that something

me about your doubts. Now I want to meet your

frank myself. You remember that I wrote you several

glad that you told

frankness, and be

months ago, asking you not

to bother yourself with convincing people

and getting support from so-called

you got a sense "of

that

knovvn.

care about whether what

what

am

saying:

firmly believe

and frustration"

failure

whether

really don't care

my work

described

who have

specialists

ever to do with Orgone biophysics.

is

to

or not,

want you

fault

my work
to

only

believe

don't care. So please, do not send any journals and

any books any more to anyone. Let people come to you

As

your own

making

in

known

is

true.

nothing whatso-

is

it

You

H. G. Wells:

they wish

if

ought to have known that

man

this

to.

is

philosopher and a representative of just the kind of mechanistic science

which brought

world to the verge of

this

Norway

press campaign in

balloon, blown

against

my

up with nothing-gas,

who

and which

ruin,

work.

know

incited the

He

Wells:

is

a big

any

in danger of bursting

is

time out of mere conceit and good-for-nothingness.

You

should have

why he became so unpleasant. Some years ago he wrote a

book about natural science. So when he met orgone biophysics, he
sensed no doubt that he was an ass to have written a book about
natural science about a decade or two too early. If you care, you can
understood

him know what

let

As

to yourself:

biological theory.
it

does not,

You

why

I
I

now.

said just

do not understand why you wish

The main

care?

If

thing

does,

it

is

why

whether

makes sense

it

not rely on your

say that you are not educated in science.

world

is

as yet educated in

orgone biophysics.

to confirm

own

to you. If

impression?

But nobody

this

in

really wish out of

my

our

old friendship, that you would not add the troubles of the pioneering

work
to

in

your

,our

orgone biophysics

own

which has nothing

worries in the

friendship

clouded

physics and biophysics

field of

quite
is

education.

unnecessarily.

lost all the respect I

to

do with

electricity

would not

like to

The matter

of

not a question of belief or disbelief,

matter of observation and experience.

only

had

As

for physics,

would never have dared imagine how bad

to the physicists,
I

have

orgone
it

is

regret to have to say that

their thinking

is,

have not

how

con-

1943

and

ceited

true, they

96

how wrong

fruitless their efforts,

about the most primitive questions of

my

bewilderment about the

utter

their statements are. It

know

can build bridges and machines, but they don't

only a few exceptions

which

my own

life.

with

be ever greater the deeper

find to

don't hesitate to express

within natural science

silliness

is

anything

work with my experiments. You

will hear more about this in a year or two, when the inconsistency and
lack of logic in physical theory is revealed. The same way as I revealed
penetrate into

and

their field of

the prejudices and the cowardliness in the thinking of the psychoanalysts.

Do you

world would look

really believe that this

as

it

does look

if

it

were not so?

And now

the

Communist

Party.

think they have revealed themselves

thoroughly by now. Did you hear the

fairly

latest

abolished the principle of co-education in Russia.

they hate psychology.

They could not

act as they

news? They have

It is

do

if

quite clear

why

they did not hate

it.

We

had very good news from Sweden and other countries. Our

friends are working, writing

in the
I

U.S.A. of

all

who

That

is

to eliminate neurotics

Again:

am

if

just the trouble: the disaster

and a new world,

If

that

if

at all, will

were not

is

are preparing a convention

soon as the

principle

is

life.

will

War

ends.

is

book

built

going

is

of Nathan. t

is

And why

biopathic?*

by neurotic individuals.
as they do.

all right.

difficult

the reason

so important and the only hope

received the

humankind

the result of the general biopathy,

have a very

That

of

would not look

so, things

work

regulation of civilian

80%

have to be

glad to hear that your school

are right: Pioneer

is

We

Institute as

are reading the literature, but not only neurotics.

do you want

fighting.

have faced the same experience which you face: Neurotics are the

ones

and

workers of the

why

Unluckily, you

stand against state

the work-democratic

we have.
know that you

did not

sent

it.

He

one of the many who see things about Fascism which should have

I saw around 1930. Even if Nathan had known my

book about Fascism he would not have mentioned it because of a

been seen and which

principle that the natural love question must not enter the realm either

of psychoanalysis or of politics.

Reich defines biopathy as "disease processes caused by a basic dysfunction

autonomic life apparatus."
The Psychology of Fascism, by Peter Wilfred Nathan (London: Faber and

in the
t

Faber, 1943).

97

If

you can

putting

who was lamed

cancer patient

bed.

lie in

you can use

get hold of several square feet of tin

under the bed-cover while you

it

194 3

saved the

We

Please write again and often.

are

of a

by that simple measure. Again

in his legs

and unbelievable for the big-shots with twisted

a fact impossible

by

it

life

all

brains.

eager to hear from you.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

1943

6,

My dear Neill,
There were two points
answer

in

my

which you have

When

don't

know whether

perience; anyhow,

notes in

want

my scientific

In July, 1940,

or

may

future biographer

after that

it

due

is

when
it

to

miss

letter

which

did not

concerning the money

is

Einstein.

shall pro-

it.

will

it

once had for physicists

to a great experience with Einstein.

be on

Here

be necessary to publish
file
is

this ex-

in a letter to you, so that

no

the factual story, according to

records of nearly two years ago:

discovered the light phenomena,

the atmosphere. Several

Soon

is

first.

wrote you that the great respect

had vanished completely,

I

last

point

peacetime and the other

lent in

ceed with the second

your

in

The one

you.

letter to

months

i.e.,

the orgone in

later I constructed the

accumulator.

found that the temperature, measured by thermometer

above the top of the accumulator, was continuously higher than the
temperature

in the

from physics

surrounding

that such a fact

and within the accumulator.

air

knew

unbelievable and of tremendous im-

is

portance, because according to physical law,

equalize. If they don't equalize, then there

all

temperature differences

must be some source of

energy which creates heat. This temperature difference was not only
continuous but
shining

it

was

it

changed exactly with the weather.

high,

up

to 2

degrees, and

appeared completely. The curves

ance

with

electroscopic

within the accumulator.

tration in

it

The

electroscope, too,

Einstein to have a talk with him.

I

went

to

the sun

in

it

was
dis-

accord-

measurements of the energy concentration

showed strong concen-

sunny weather and a great diminishment

it.

When

was raining

obtained were completely

realized the exceedingly important

to discuss

when

him one day

in rainy

quality of this finding.

weather.
I

wrote to

He

answered that he would be glad

in

January, 1941, at 3:30 p.m., and

1943

we had

98

about the orgone, lasting con-

a rather exciting discussion

8:30

tinuously until

the

in

evening.

explained to him the main

features of the bionous disintegration of matter, and the discovery of

the orgone radiation,

first

sphere, as reported in
single

new

fact

SAP A*

in the

my

bions and then in the atmo-

articles in the journal.

Not only was every

him; but he became increasingly interested and

to

would not have listened for nearly five hours. I did

him about the temperature differences, which I knew was an
unbelievable fact for a physicist, until I had shown him the rays in the
orgonoscope which I had brought with me. And now, please be attentive: We put out the lights in the room and I gave him the orgonoscope
and showed him how to use it. We waited about 20 minutes to accommodate the eyes. Then he looked through it, through the window, and
excited. Otherwise he

not

tell

he exclaimed amazed: "Yes,

and

We

again.

flickering all the time.

was a

there.

it is

can see

it."

He

put on the light again, and he said:

Could

it

not be in

my

looked again

"But

see the

eyes?"

astonished that he withdrew, because the orgonoscope

bit

shows the rays

in

delineated gray circle, distinguished from black

surroundings, and his exclamation was quite genuine and true. In

about the discovery of the orgone,

article

had discussed

at

my

some

length the question of the objectivity of the rays, which are both in
the eyes and outside the eyes.
the rays

in the eye, but

else I

The

objective proof for the objectivity of

as I explained, the fact that

is,

you cannot magnify impressions

you can magnify objective

had observed. Then

told

him

rays. Einstein

that

asked

hesitated to

tell

me what

him about

another phenomenon

And

the existence of the continuous temperature differ-

told

him about

ence between the

air

had observed, because he would not believe

it.

above the top of the accumulator and within the

air. To that he exclaimed: "That is impossible.

would be a great bomb!" (verbally). He got rather

accumulator and the free

Should

it

be

excited and

true,

it

too.

We

discussed

it

sharply and then he said that

should send him a small accumulator and

my

if

the fact were true, he

discovery. Before departing,

told

him

understand why people were saying that

was

crazy.

support

"I

can understand
I

all

SAnd PAket

radiation effect

To

now he
this

would
could

he said:

right."

had a small accumulator especially

over about 2 weeks

that

later.

We

built for

him and brought

it

agreed to observe the fact of the tempera-

(sand packet) bions, so-called because the culture that showed a

was obtained from ocean sand heated

to incandescence.

99

194 3

ture difference immediately.

We

put the accumulator up

the accumulator being on a table,

about 3 or 4

feet

away

in the air.

and

a control

in

his cellar,

thermometer hanging

After some time he and

could both

see that the temperature above the accumulator

was higher by about i

degree than the temperature of the surrounding air. We were both very
glad. He wanted to keep the accumulator for about 2 or 3 weeks and
then write to me.

He

said he wished to observe the continuity

and the

average of the temperature difference. After about 10 days he wrote

The

a letter.

letter stated:

He had

me

observed the existence of the fact

of the temperature difference on the accumulator for several days. Please

remember

that he, as well as

traordinary

according

to his

thought such a fact to be quite ex-

I,

words "a bomb

observed the fact and affirmed

but

it,

So he had

in physics."

now comes

which

that

have

experienced with physicists and other natural scientists again and again:

deny the

First they

deny

demonstrate the fact and they cannot

try

to explain

it

away by some wild

his assistant.

again the fact that the possibility of a continuous temperature

without any visible source of heat seemed impossible to

difference

Einstein. Well,

knew

When

That happened, not with Einstein but with

interpretation.
I stress

fact.

any longer, then they

it

now

it

the answers.

all

comes: The

He

assistant,

apparently some wise guy,

told Einstein that in cellars there

is

a "con-

vection of heat from the ceiling to the table top," and that this must be

phenomenon which could no longer be denied. Now,

scientific research that, when you have to confirm a fact

the cause of the

it

is

law

in

and you propose a

to control

different explanation of that fact,

your own objection. Einstein's

you are obliged

assistant did not

do

that.

He

simply "objected" without proof. Einstein took the trouble, as he wrote

in his letter, to take the

was

accumulator apart and he discovered that there

a temperature difference between,

fact,

mind you, had not been known

above and under the

to Einstein.

It

seemed

table.

The

to confirm

the objection of the assistant, but there were only two ways of finding

out whether that objection was correct or not.

Now
I

shall

want you

find out

a)

is

You

and put

it

down from

is

in the

next few lines.

what you would have done

whether the temperature

heat convected

Here

pause for a moment. The answer

to think for yourself

rise

in

order to

on the accumulator was due to

the ceiling or not.

the experimental answer:

simply take the control thermometer which was

above the table

at the

same height

as the

in the free air

thermometer above

1943

100

the accumulator. If the temperature difference

be due to the warmth from the

This

ceiling.

still

is

there,

it

cannot

had measured with

true. I

is

both thermometers above the table for months, and the temperature

was always

difference

But

this

experiment

there.

is still

there.

not pure, because the ceiling of the

is still

Thus we have

room

the possibility

b) to arrange the experiment in such a way, and to measure the

temperature above the accumulator

feres. In

open

The

air.

argument of the

ceiling

assistant.

above the accumulator,

was the phenomenon

that

no

ceiling inter-

put an accumulator into the

was eliminated

and

thus also the

measured the temperature of the

surrounding earth and

in the

still

way

such a

February, for two whole days,

the

in

soil

in

present, but more:

in the air.

In the closed

air

Not only
room the

temperature difference, as confirmed by Einstein, was several decidegrees

up

3-6

or 7 on an average. In the open, the difference climbed

to 10 degrees

and more

2 degrees, in shade

objections, whereas for

ceiling

and have

whole story

still

was

fact, to

more than two years now

been able

to Einstein, feeling

to

So these physicists

there.

still

having confirmed the

after

i.e.,

was not there anymore, but

ceiling

the fact of the temperature difference

had not thought,

and 20 deci-degrees

in the sunshine,

and cold. The

have eliminated the

demonstrate the

uneasy about

own

control their

fact.

wrote the

this great physicist

not

having thought of the simple measure, namely to control the fact in the

open

air himself.

Einstein did not answer to this clear-cut ehmination

of the objection.

In the beginning, Einstein's whole procedure was correct, but

I

had eliminated the objection

it

was not understandable.

when

can only

assume that some crookish friend of mine from Vienna had, through
the rumours put into the world about me, destroyed this great chance.

We

all

had the impression that Einstein wished

to wait,

and not expose

himself.

This experience shattered

edge but also

correctly

in

where "bombs"

agreed that

this

my

confidence not only in practical knowl-

the ability of physicists

in

physics

one phenomenon, especially

others, could not only shatter a great

in addition,

it

to

would

also lay

think,

are concerned.

many

in

act

and behave

Einstein

connection with

and

many

concepts of physics but that,

open a great many black spots

nomical and physical science to correct answers. So they

in astrosit

there

1943

loi
[

and are watching, without taking

quietly

difficult struggle to

two,

When,

have succeeded and be worn out from frustration, human

I shall

am

deadly

decade or

after a

disappointment, and economic and psychic strain, then they

I

my

responsibility,

put these things across.

sure of that. But

doubt whether

shall

will

come

accept them then.

knows that I am right.

saw the temperature
difference in his house, and he was informed of the much greater
creation of heat in the open air, without a ceiling. He well knows that it
is a bomb. He also knows about the results obtained so far in cancer.
Einstein

He saw

Now

is

very cautious.

do not doubt

that he

the radiation in the orgonoscope and he

my

you understand

general.

want you now

toward physics and physicists

attitude
to

join

my

authorities in orgone physics anywhere; that the fight

I

am on my own. But

the facts are

coming through

conscientious and extensive proofs

not published yet.

The matter

is

in

standpoint that there are no

is

hard, and that

slowly, thanks to the

have given, most of which are

especially hard

the discovery of the orgone overthrows a great

and

difficult

because

many wrong assumptions

The four and one half

hours of this intensive discussion with Einstein made him make the
remark in the end, when I told him that I was originally a psychiatrist:
"What else are you doing?" He had thought that I was originally a
and emergency theories

in the physical

world.

physicist.

Well, that

had

is

to publish

the story.
it.

would be very painful and

It

The temperature

regrettable

meant

difference which

if

bomb

to

now for nearly four years, constantly and in

is a bomb because it explains the heat of the

Einstein has been observed

all

kinds of variations.

earth which

It

was not understood

quantities of heat of the sun,

now, and

it

explains the

They become simple through an understanding

either.

when

until

which had not been understood

immense
until

now

of the fact that

the orgone particles which are everywhere are stopped in their

motion, they create heat.

The body-temperature and body-heat have not

They constitute one of the greatest riddles of

been understood

either.

biology, which

admitted by leading

is

scientists.

We

don't have to con-

sider the chatter-utterances of the small lice in science,

who know

every-

thing by putting a label, a word, undefined and ununderstood, which

means nothing, on every phenomenon.

Now
your

as to the

offer.

Your

money.

don't feel that

institution

is

it

would be correct

to accept

your own worry economically, and you

are contributing your part as a

member

of the Institute by sustaining

1943

your school.

102

would suggest

we

that

discuss this

problem

at

our next

meeting.

My

best wishes.

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

November

i8,

1943

My dear Reich,
Your double
one.

letter

divided into two lots

If Einstein

interesting,

especially the Einstein

As you know,

A considers you

Lot

the psychologists are

a genius. Lot

madman.

thought that your discoveries were sound and new, no talk

by an enemy would

affect

whole concept of

and

Re

most

can't understand that incident.

life

him. So that apparently he rejected your

OR FEARED

science.

journals etc. sent to me.

You complain

appreciated here, but what was

I to

journals and books? Sell them?

of

my

IT.

attempts to have you

do when Wolfe kept sending me

tried,

but no bookseller would take

them. Lewis, the biggest medical booksellers, took a few books and
sold

about seven.

had no idea what you wanted of me. True,

Constance's lending library was good and

desk
see

see about

what

people

was supposed

who might

publishing
firm.

two dozen No.

office.

They asked

his report, but

"The

am

to

is

knowledge and
I

am

this
I

don't

I still

not to send them to likely

a child here

He

it
it.

in a

is

to her
I

got

wrote:

most valuable account of R's new therabased on

his recognition of

nervous

dis-

unique and a most valuable contribution to our

regard

in full agreement,

practice which

if

forbidden to mention his name.

100 pages

found

do with them

a well-known non-Freudian analyst to read

peutic technique which

I

good. But from this

from them. One mother of

learn

order.

is

She borrowed a book to read and showed

is

last

still

Journals on a shelf, and

it

as a

most important statement with which

from the standpoint of

have arrived

at,

He then gives quotations.

its

theory and

of course, independently.

whole book were as sound and constructive

would unhesitatingly recommend

my own

as the last

publication here."

If

the

100 pages

103

1943

Page 73

"only one thing wrong with neur. patients

lack of

and

full

repeated sexual satisfaction." Page 70: "prognosis depends on establishment of

Page 106: "The neurosis

genital satisfaction."

full

the

is

expression of disturbance of genitality."

He then goes on
"These quotations are open

much misunderstanding and

to

own

ous abuse, although R's

technique

is

apply some of the necessary safeguards.

act

is

Some who

it

does

believes that the sexual

the end, and only requires fulfilment and that there

problem.

to danger-

so thorough that

no other

is

see the moral justification for unlimited selfish

indulgence will of course be glad to use such a treatise for their

own

immense amount of welldeserved objection on sexual grounds, the book is worth publication
in England because of what it does to our new bio-electric theory.
dubious ends.

That

in

logical

my

If

you are prepared

opinion

work. In

in spite of its

its

the

is

to risk an

coming trend

present form

of scientific process in psycho-

regard the book as highly dangerous

being a most valuable contribution to psychological

process."

Reich,

man

thinks

this line of

argument already.

Still

the

you do!

Now

about myself.

but even

lator,

if I

am

had,

not very

Your

hopeful even though, so

However,

I'll

get

it

fit.

couldn't use

heating and cold rooms.

me

know

guess that you

doesn't think you suffer from dementia-paranoia as another analyst

before

it

-wish I could have an

easily in winter with

Accumu-

no central

idea of a tin sheeting on the bed

far,

can't find a

write again.

Many

way

makes

to get the metal.

worries. Older girls of

16 or so taken away from school because of the danger that freedom

logically leads to sex freedom, so that

any man who

sets out in

carry out the R. theory of sex freedom would be

to

Do you

being a martyr and a martyr only.

My

book

is

being printed.

chapter for the journal

haven't

felt

very cheerful

dry climate

wish

in Suffolk

lately.

wHen

it.

expect them daily.

don't think

the

in

realise this point?

know. This time

end

send Wolfe the proofs of the sex

shall

he wants

don't write often enough,

my

if

England

likely to

war

were 20 again with no painful arms.

is

it

shall

over. I

has been that

till

get

back to

was 60 recently and

1943

P.S. I

don't

still

104

know why

with clothes on. Also,

work

the orgones can't

wonder what

if I lie

armour

effect the old

under the

tin

of the middle

ages had on bodies which were almost completely encased. Interesting

speculation.

Forest Hills,

New York
December

23, 1943

My dear Neill:
This

November

only a short answer to your letter of

is

do not believe

that Einstein

was so much afraid of

afraid, too, as every other mortal), but

more

likely

it

some

i8th.

(though he was
of the pestilent

rumors had apparently reached him and obviously he wanted to be

careful.

cannot judge

this interpretation of

mine.

me

rather to try to understand the actions against

I

wish

had much more of the paranoic

smell an attack before

I

hope and

keep

to

quite

am

in touch.

You

usually inclined

than to be suspicious.

who

qualities of other fighters

comes.

wish that you would write more often.

some headway

To

it

It is

important

probably realize that your teachings are making

in the

United

States,

thanks to our journal.

use the orgone under the cover with clothes on as you suggest

means

that the clothes are taking

away much

of the orgone which

otherwise would reach the body directly unhampered.

Regarding the possible martyrdom of people who are representing

my

teachings, I very often feel like withdrawing in order not to endanger

others. But, as I used to say, "I did not

make

it!" It is

not

my

fault,

but

rather the fault of the whole set-up of thinking and education that

endangers our people.

to decide

You

It is left to

can be sure that

have never forced any one, and that

never force anyone to represent

I

the consideration of every single one

whether he wants to confront the emotional pestilence or

wonder whether

succeeding

in finding

there

is

my

not.
shall

teachings as a politician would do.

some motive

in

you which

some metal to have an accumulator

managed it.

inhibits

your

built. I shall

not be quiet until you have

Would you
II,

No.

and

kindly
3

let

me know how you

liked the last issues

of our journal. Give your opinion.

My best wishes to you and all our friends for a happier

1944.

(Volume

1944
Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
January i8, 1944

My

dear Reich,

getting

day,

Your letter today. I have just had a

some sun, and have come back full of
read your latest journal. Vol.

II,

No.

fine holiday in

i.

romance, one that has to be read to the end

most

my

at

holi-

It reads like a stirring

one

sitting.

you make no claims, and only seek

sincere and modest, for

Cornwall

energy. During

sounds

It

truth.

was

interested in your trouble about the eliminating organs being unfit

much

to deal with so

layman can have

when

elimination

a theory, let

me

give

the cancer breaks

you

week or more before you

fasted for, say, a

this one. If

give the

organs will have eliminated everything and be

cancerous rubbish.

down.

If

your patient has

Akku

treatment, his

free to deal with the

seems obvious that a patient can't go on eating,

to do, and at the same time eliminate your

It

work

thus giving his organs

brown cancerous poison.

I

have

having

it

found a way

at last

sent on.

Overcrowded
heating that

in a
I

say again that you don't realise

house that

naked

in

How am

the cage

writing

damned Wales.

my

and

am

difficulties here.

always cold and damp, with central

more
Life

going to find a room hot enough to

don't yet know, and

cage with electricity. But

About

is

for the cage

cannot use because of the expense of coke and the

difficulty in getting fuel.

sit

enough metal

to get

shall find a

often. It

is

dare not try heating the

way.

must be the war and evacuation

an Ersatzleben [substitute

constant worries about getting

stafT

05

life]

worries about

all

to this

the time

money and

1944

landlord

who

damages

etc.

106

get into the hall)

to a

and

make me pay

ideas and keeps trying to

In Cornwall

London

lectured in

my

hates

was a

happy and

felt

keep hoping to have

over ...

if it is

useful.

a lecture tour

over in time, for

It is

the exile in a strange

my

to see

am

too old. Sadly enough

"Reich

loved him and he loved me.

is

right;

find quite a

and sex and cancer, but he

spoils his case

by saying controversial things

which

stars

scientists seize

then dismiss his fundamental and great discoveries as bunk."

J.

few who

one fears he has got the truth about psychology

about rubber gloves and twinkling

Prof.

had

don't understand the Einstein affair. Pestilent rumours will not

or should not affect a man's attitude to truth.

say:

is

17,

wife's first husband. Dr. Otto Neustatter in Baltimore,

but he died the other day.

I still

me down.

U.S.A. when the war

in

was 60 the other day [October

1943] and want to see U.S.A. before

hoped

most enthusiastic audience (hundreds couldn't

land of rain and cold and a foreign language that gets

I

for

and happy.

different person, free

D. Bemal, the leading and most original

on and

My

friend

scientist in Britain,

simply says that you haven't produced enough evidence of your discoveries.

Haldane dismissed your Bione as "too unorthodox" which

about the

silliest

of Einstein.
right

thing a scientist could say. So that

But knowing you

and that

in time

you

will

as I do, I

The

Reich!
I find

that

freedom

logical result of S'hill

girls,

no. So that

is

isn't

only a case

right.

magazine Sexology?*

on fundamentals. But, oh,

of the parents only one. Zero,

boys, yes, but of

it

convinced that you are

be acknowledged as

Have you any connection with

well and seems to be sound

am

is

is

It

reads

this sex business,

of course sex freedom, but

ready to believe

so.

one cannot simply go

Parents of

far

ahead of

Martyrdom for a cause isn't good enough, for it destroys

other causes at the same time
i.e. the freedom from fear and

public opinion.

moulding

My
come
I

new book
first,

hope

in small children.

deals with education,

and that

if

emotion

is

demanding

that

emotion must

free the intellect will look after itself.

to write again soon.

All the best, Reich. I believe in you and

see the world

do so

hope

to live long

enough

to

also.

* An American journal, still published;

and seriously with sexual issues.

it

was one of the

first

to deal openly

107

1944

Forest Hills,

February

My

New York
7,

1944

dear Neill,
I

am

was glad

have your

to

you

also glad that

January i8th.

letter of

decided to

finally

make

the effort to obtain

the metal. Build the accumulator so-to-say around your body, so that

2-3 inches away from your body.

you have enough metal, then you can make a single or double extra
layer around the accumulator, 2-4 more side walls and 1-2 more back
the inner walls are not further than
If

and top

Orgone within

walls. This increases the concentration of the

the accumulator 2-3 times, and decreases, of course, the time you have
to

sit in it.

You

feel

and the

better

it

more

results are obtained

quickly.

In case you do not obtain enough metal for the box, then build a

simple sheet to put under the bedcovers, so that

it

and on top of the body, by simply bending

sides

covers you on both

you have metal inside and organic material outside.

quite as good, but

Now

a few

it

Not only because

As you have

am

is

not

is

concerned thoroughly
the world in which

it

find myself in a quite similar situa-

troubles with the [character] structure of your teachers,

some

often in complete despair concerning

wonder whether

often I

disastrous sloganism. This

application for the

of

would not be wiser not

it

produce any followers

to

effect

Please be sure that

situation:

know your work and

has to operate, but also because

tion.

The

near.

is

words on the general

understand your situation as far as the school

well.

Then again

the metal.

at all,

in

my

assistants.

to teach at all

and not

order to prevent superficiality and

the sort of thing that happens:

is

Very

Orgone Accumulator has been

The patent
for more

now

filed

than two years. Lately, the Commissioner of Patents in Virginia told

my

patent lawyer that he would not grant the patent "o matter what

proof

would bring

on a limb and

to

forth.''

"Do you

make myself

think," he said, "I want to go out

ridiculous."

Well, that's that. People are enthusiastic

the articles in the journal. But
really.

the

The more convinced

human

the greater
it

besides

structure

and

its

know

become

when

that

consequences

my

despair, because there

sticking

the truth

or
it

basic findings concerning

is

nothing

can do about

and thus exposing myself

dangers. There cannot be any doubt that the average

whoever he may

my book

do not understand

in the social set-up are right,

becomes my
to

they read

that they

be, fears nothing more, dreads nothing

to

human
more

great
being,

terribly

than realizing himself and the truth of his deeds and thoughts.

He

is

1944

108

ready to die for somebody's

necessary; but he

who would

though

him

it

dare to show the

common man

is

own

not one voice to be heard in this noisy world

is

common man how

the voices are shouting: This

all

the

if

tells

he really

and feeling according to the education he

thinking, acting

But

somebody

if

not ready to take the least bit of risk for his

is

sake and ideas. There

of today

else's ideas,

is

the age of the

common man.

going "to take over the rule," then the

is

is

suffered,

first

condition would be that he sees the truth about himself, and that he

Everybody keeps reminding everybody

corrects himself.

must be

truth
It is

the

else that the

but nobody really makes any attempt to this end.

said,

same whether you deal with workers or union

officials,

whether

you deal with doctors, educators or scientists. Your Haldanes and even
Bemals have been expecting what I actually have discovered for
several centuries.

Now

scientist ever did

about his discovery, and

the only honest

said,

man

it

in the

"nothing doing, he

have given more proof than any

there. I

is

crowd was

may

have more to come. But

Examiner

that

much proof

give as

as

who

in Virginia

he wants." This

is

the hidden and real attitude of every single one of them.

We

have good reason

truthful work.

There

is

to

worry about the near future of decent

a possibility that

we

shall

have to keep quiet

for decades, and to write only for our desk drawers.

of the

whole matter

and nothing
one central

else.

fact. I

am

is

And

the core

the sexual orgastic anxiety of the animal

Everything else

with short intervals

thundering unless

is

Man,

consequence and not cause of

is

this

afraid that the cannons will keep on thundering

maybe

for centuries,

man

finally discovers

longer.

and learns

really nothing but an animal, a piece of living

They

will

not stop

to appreciate that

he

plasma which wishes

nothing more fiercely than to discharge energy by a few involuntary

contractions from time to time
that.

sustain
in the

besides food and housing. Well, that's

rather unfriendly outlook.

and

to develop further

really

hope you

will

be able to

your good work. There are few things

world which are as badly needed as good and honest education.

In the next

number

of the journal

we

are also publishing the factual

things of the Einstein affair.

Please give

my hope

my

best regards to

all

good friends over there and extend

that circumstances will permit that

we meet

soon.

109

1944

March

My

New York

Forest Hills,

1944

15,

dear Neill,

You

two (2) registered

find enclosed in this letter

They contain two

letters.

documents of the utmost importance,

scientific

legal-

the offices of the lawyer, John P. Chandler, on March 14th,

ized in

1944Please keep these documents somewhere

I

honestly hope there

among your

never be a time when

will

it

use the publication of these letters in connection with

derstandable, attitude of Einstein.

urging you to

letter

make

precious things.

be necessary to

will

this,

unun-

still

You may receive, sooner or later,

my registered letters public.

the contents of

a
I

would like to emphasize again that these documents are of decisive importance for the further development of natural science.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

March

My

28,

1944

dear Reich,

Yours

[of

February 7th]

now be

Unlikely that you can

morning.

this

reaction at once was: Ignore Einstein.

Do

reconciled.

My

"unconscious"

nothing to antagonise him.

Make

out a complete state-

discoveries. Put them in the Safe Deposit of your bank

and get a receipt saying what date the packet was deposited, so that,

ment of your

whoever writes an
to

article

or a book later claiming or explaining anything

do with Orgones, you can publicly prove

whole Sache

[thing]

that

you deposited the

before the date of their publications. After

Einstein isn't the universe.

Hence my advice

is:

Carry on as

if

all,

you had

not had contact with him.

My

metal has not

come

yet. It will

apart from the impossibility of getting

is

warm enough

never

You

still

to

sit in

did not answer

my

have to be the bed cover, for

wood

for a real

Akku,

house

this

a cage naked.

suggestion of fasting to clear

all

organs

for the elimination of the cancer.

Re
easy

my sending you an

what

wrote

Next time you

write,

article: things

move

so fast that writing

is

not

months ago so often seems to me out of date.

tell me what you think of Sexology. Some of it

six

1944

when

bad, but

isn't

power,

will

no

the editor tells a

my

have

doubts.

And

the

homosexual

by

to cure himself

gaudy cover makes

it

look cheap

and vulgar.

To

return to Einstein ...

public at

all.

You

I feel it

would be an error

to

make anything

don't want to compel people to take sides. Einstein

versus Reich. But you must face the fact that E. doesn't believe in you

or your work.

can think of no other explanation of his

attitude. I say,

What the hell! Don't forget that a great physicist can have complexes
that may blind him to any science that touches emotion. That of course
is

the greatest

drawback

in

having your discoveries recognised.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

My

March

received your letter of

regard to Einstein.
I

2,

1944

dear Neill:

firmly believe that

28th.

agree with you in

you overestimate

his influence.

have sent out and distributed several documents which secure

cosmic energy.

priority in the discovery of the

received the one

sent you. Please

keep

it

my

wonder whether you

simply

among your docu-

ments.

As

to your question of fasting to clear

of the cancerous material,

that

it

could help.

who

is

so

much

On

all

organs for the elimination

don't have any opinion, but

the other hand, to

inclined to lose

make

it

is

possible

a cancer patient fast,

body substances, seems rather danger-

ous to me.
I

do not believe that what you wrote

You may

today.

say

it

is

not timely, but

decades to come. Your writings will

alive.

But our

species,

homo

most what he understands

six

sapiens,

least,

it

months ago

of

him

as the library.

won't be out of date for

is

a funny creature.

He

because he despises himself.

game because

And he

out of date

live as Pestalozzi's* writings are

he has the choice between a good library and

surely choose the baseball

is

it

a baseball

admires

And

game he

does not require as

loves most what gives

him

if

will

much

the least re-

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827), Swiss educational reformer, whose

theories laid the foundation of

modem

elementary education.

Ill

1944

Your pedagogy means

sponsibility.

what he wants

responsibility, but

is

orders. Therefore, your things are out of time, but they are never out

of date.

What

And

think of Sexology?

yet,

when

think

far

is

it

from what

ago, a monthly journal like

in

20 years

Sexology was unthinkable. Then you had

only pornography, and Sexology means, in spite of

forward

ought to be.

it

started out in sexual mental hygiene nearly

making the mass of

a definite step

all,

the people accustomed to the fact that

they are basically sexual animals. In about 500 years, maybe, the mass
of inhabitants of this earth will recognize the fact that

natural sexuality in their children, and

if

they don't

they

if

them

let

the

kill

act ac-

cording to natural laws, the tissues and mental capacities of these

For

children will surely be choked.

several

months

carried the

I've

idea around with me to write a long open letter to the so-called little
common man, not excluding myself, telling him a bit of truth about himself. You know, it is funny, everybody speaks today of the coming age
of the common man. If an engineer is about to build a bridge, he is

bound first of all to make a survey

but nobody seems ready or willing

to

Nobody

a survey of the skills, tools

is

just

around the

dares to criticize him, least of

Why? Because everybody

himself.

make

common man, who

and shortcomings of the so-called

corner of obtaining power.

of his skills, tools and shortcomings,

wishes that

he remain

all

ignorant,

boasting, inclined to accept every kind of leadership but never his

responsibility.

am

metrical studies, but

common man.
You did not

tell

am

me what you

going to write

this

own

and orgono-

deeply engrossed in mathematical

still,

he

open

letter to the

thought about the sociological articles

No. 2/3. It is important for me to have your opinion.

name, and the subject of sex-economy and orgone biophysics,

in Vol. II,

My
have

at last

Who

is

been taken up among the natural

Who

of natural science "American

World Almanac.

damn

little

mine.

What

civilization!

about

First swallows!

my work

a world!

Make

Now,

will trust

What an

me

of Science," and in the

of course, people

more.

education!

a big noise, boast,

scientists officially in the

Men

It is

What

their

who know

shame and not

a structure!

make propaganda

What

for yourself,

and

amount to something even if you have to say nothing. Live on

the other hand quietly, do a good job, let things speak for themselves,
."nd everybody thinks you are a charlatan. Again, what a world!
I wonder whether you know that I became the father of a third child.
you

It's

will

a boy, called Ernest Peter Robert, a husky strong

little

fellow,

4 weeks

1944

112

old, with a strong will, serious in his facial expression; just discovering

him and developing together with

the worid around

nicely. I assure

work

atric

you

am

that after

discovering for the

psychiatry, the real nature of a

frightening

how

little this

down what

life.

it

time, like a

new-born baby.

mother very

It

new
is

student of

amazing and

knows about

hope sometime

learned during these last 3 months.

imagined that an unborn baby

when

first

high-boasting psychiatry

human

primitive things of

his

25 years of intensive and extensive psychi-

to

the

most

be able to write

Would you

ever have

will stop kicking in the mother's

womb

hears good music; that after birth the same baby has real oral

orgasms with twitchings of the face muscles, rolling of the eyes, twitchings of the tongue

happy

ifter

in spite of the fact that

hope

that

we

at

the

meantime

schedule, that, for the

used while working

I am very
my whole

a good exciting feast at the breast?

little

at

fellow has upset

least,

the quiet to which

problems of natural science

shall at least succeed in

is

gone.

making the next war happen not

within the next 25 years but after the next 50 years, so that this

won't have to die for liberty but will be able to

I

am

really

was

can only

boy

live for liberty.

always happy to hear from you. Please, write more often.

hope

after 5 years of separation to

have a good and long personal

have an opportunity soon to

talk with you.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

My

18,

1944

dear Neill:
I

Though

read in the

did not

New York

know her

Times

personally,

that

your wife has died.*

know what

she meant to you

since she had participated in the hard struggle for Summerhill School.

As you probably know, I am very bad at making long speeches on such

know that I am in deep sympathy with you. I really

occasions, but you

* The first paragraph of the obituary notice in The New York Times (May
4,
1944) read: "Mrs. Alexander Neill, co-founder of the famous 'do as you like'
Summerhill School, where students were permitted to smoke, swear and, inner

urges demanding, even kick out windows, has died at a nursing

was announced today."

home

in

Wales,

it

113

1944

hope

that

through

you can take a

rest

soon from

the worries

all

you have gone

and keep yourself going on the highest level possible.

in the New York Times'? It

lately,

Did you receive the note which appeared

was

funny mixture of admiration and poking fun

a rather

you out of

at

self-defense.

Don't you think that you should write something about

"Do

you

as

like"

which they apply

your boys don't do as they

do

made to do
make them do

they are

authority can
I

hope

really

to get

which

slogan
fact

our enemies, but they

a completely different matter.

is

they like in our sense, because your

as

as they like in our sense

and not

in theirs.

an opportunity soon to talk the matter of the

dangers of freedom over with you again.

sible to transfer

this

your school? As a matter of

like in the sense of

as they like in our sense,

And

to

Do you

think

it

would be pos-

your educational principles to a society of 130 million

people with about 30 million children?

lem right now. Please

We

should discuss such a prob-

me know what you think about it.

from Sweden? Let me know if you did.

let

Did you hear anything

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

May

My

22,

1944

dear Reich,

Your telegram [Reich had wired condolences] and letter arThanks a lot for the former; how you knew I

rived; the latter today.

can't guess, unless the

way, for

life

to her

keenly.

Made me

woman

for

Times goes

was

to

N.Y. by

air. It

was a

relief in

one

a misery for three years, but I felt the parting

alone. You can't work closely with a

same important work without feeling a
big question in this relationship to women. To

feel so

much

24 years doing the

strong bond. There

is

have the ideal love mate and ideal companionship and co-working in
one woman is almost a rarity. And in the days of Helga I had this conflict

most strongly, for the

today

real interest in the

work wasn't

there, so that

can meet H. without having any special interest

passion has died.

suppose

it

is

that

now

slowing up, companionship becomes more

lationships.

find

that

am
vital

now

that

60, and the glands are

than other

human

re-

give more energy to work, whether cutting

grass or writing or dealing with kids. Ambition sinks into the back-

1944

ground.

114

Fame? What

but a soap bubble? But

is it

We

young making good.

have a new

good

is

it

to see the

master with a genius for teach-

art

work that we had an Exhibition in Bond

Street, London. It was crowded out daily and the talk of the town
the joy was to see how happy the kids were with their success. I felt
ing and he got such marvellous

my

keenly that

No,

wife hadn't lived to see

laddie, I think

care

really

Tatsache

if

my name

What

or dies.

lives

[fact] that S'hill

it.

My name

you are wrong.

is

writ in water.

don't

do care about

the

is

has influenced countless parents and teachers

over the world.

all

Congratulations on E.P.R. [Reich's baby son]. But a word of warning

.

don't

let

nor

chap,

anyone ever mention the word psychology

anyone to deal

allow

suffered lately

by having

psychologists, and

suggest

it

if

few teachers

a child of 4

was a phallus ...

months time there

will

little

him.

I've

who were amateur

in the school

picked up an earthworm they began to

the fools. I've got rid of

them

observations of the kid are going to be interesting, and

six

to the

with

"psychologically"

Your

luckily.

expect that in

be a new Reichian discovery to shock the

world.

Worried about finance now but

London which
the day when

nearer

until

the

have opened a branch junior school

think will pay

State

its

way. So the work expands

Under

suppresses schools like mine.

socialism I'd simply be classed a bourgeois school and shut down.

Slowly your ideas permeate Britain. Quite a

work

people

lot of

know your

already, but not the scientists and doctors, only the searchers after

truth.

Letter from Elsa Backer. She says

it

terrible in

is

Norway, hardly

any food, children thin and weak.

I

have begun

course. Difficulty

is

time, for

know

wanting nails or string or to

am

still

very cold here.

tired of telling

you how

Well, Reich, that's about

a long one, but

it

patient next time.

will

Too

all

the time interrupted by 75 kids

It is

my

never too
it

warm

would be

news.

Wales

to use an

all

do who

have written of

are in the work.

my

Akku

but

here.

separation of 5 years

be great to meet again. But

old now, but

in

is

won't come as a

did get a hell of a lot from

you, a greater personal freedom, a wider outlook, best of

friendship.

of

the time.

difficult
all

Therapy technique

have to teach and organise and mend

water pipes and plant potatoes and

Weather

17; Veg.

to analyse a girl of

all

warm

wife that she belonged to tomorrow.

We

115

1944

My

on you and wife and the kiddie.

blessings

time he

war

of military age the

is

will

Let's

hope

that

by the

be against poverty and ignorance

only.
[Neill included with this letter a

page of his notes on two issues

Sex-Economy and Orgone Research), Vol.

which Reich had asked him to comment on.]

of the Journal (of

and

nos. 2

3,

Deliberately put off reading

I

was

it

should influence the book

writing.

You make

a splendid case for

most masterly;
style.

fully in case

it

II,

May

agree with

Work Democracy.

Analysis of politics

you say about them. But

all

be partly the translation, but

using a page to rub in a point that might be tersely put

More important

criticism

is

that

criticise the

feel you are over-explanatory,

you leave

all

it

in a sentence.

so vague.

You want no

when your doctor and plumber and teacher in the

village want to discuss a new water supply you are in danger of bureaucracy at once, for some fellow with a gift for talking will get up and
say: "You guys, you leave this to me. I'm a teacher with short hours
and have more time on my hands than you do. I'll take on to organise
the bloody thing." And when you apply that to the State and a new

organisation, but

housing plan
will

put forward, someone resembling the politician of today

is

be commissioned to carry

men

will

be too busy

they want.

The

at their

it

out,

and

politician today does in his

laws,

and the moment they are tempted

become

interest they will

first

why does

politicians.

we

it

regress? Because as

who

you

of production, that

and that

is

which becomes conservative, timid,

can't see

any practical

and powerful

in

ski,

or as

ready for

now

old,

the father role

until schools like S'hill are

Today your

many

electrician after a hard day's

to his local political meeting as a relaxation

play golf and you

politicians

safety-firstish against youth.

Work Demy

influence.

its

19 17 revolution are

problem not yet faced

is

on the other

say, the people are not

started the

a vested

your W[ork] Dem[ocrac]y

means

Russia a country without politics? Yet without

anti-youth, anti-life,

work goes

that
all

even secretly

see the Soviet abolish co-education, but

democracy. The men

represent workers

to serve

So

the public ownership of

socialism. True,
isn't

way

what

see he does

always require executives to carry out national work and

will

hand

your teachers and trades-

him and

jobs to watch

You

postulates

all

same

as

love to talk to an engineer about lathe

work rather than talk to a fellow teacher about kids or psychology. And
are you right in saying that the political man is always against? They are
only against the guys

who have

another opinion. Politics are only the

1944

ii6

voice of interests, and until you get a Utopia in which

workers

all

will

have nothing to kick against, you'll have grumbles and men to

those grumbles

By

a miracle, loosen all the adult

Work Demy.

can have

air

the professional politicians.

stomachs of the world and you

Until that happens, what?

of education. But of course

years into five as far as

if

this

movement

Only the slow process

war forces the pace, condenses lOO

is

concerned, the masses

quickly to your truth that the Caesars and Hitlers of

life

may come

leave nothing

behind. But already the reaction forces are very busy preparing to keep

quo

the status
rich

of 1939, to keep the old world alive

on the same

basis of

and poor, worker and drone.

Rest of journal good. Feel proud and humble to see

my name

quoted

so often as an authority.

On

the whole every journal

new and

fine

years of

my

in

and
life

it

a bit heavy.

is

ought to be dished up

You have

in the best

editing an encyclopedia* which

had

got something

way.
to

spent two

be condensed

one volume, and got into the way of using as few words as possible.

[James M.] Barrie said to a young writer: "Cut

it

down by

half, leaving

nothing out."
I

know

it

is

difficult to

write in English?

Your

make

letters to

translation run easily.

me

Why

don't you

are perfect English.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June 24, 1944

My

dear Neill:

I was glad to have your letter and your note on the subject
work democracy some time ago.
The objections which you bring forth in regard to the practicality

W[ork] D[emocracy] are the same

self

when

ships of

of

have put up against my-

realized the existence of the natural

W.D.

interrelation-

working human beings and the babylonic tower of ideologies

and messy

institutions of the

* Neill's first

same

job after graduating

"The work was extremely useful

words."

as those I

of

in

species.

As you have

from Edinburgh
one way:

it

well understood,

University. In his

gave

me

own words:

a dread of superfluous

117

1944

W.D.

an existing

is

politician,

natural

and not a

fact,

political

have no answer to the question as

W.D. from

how

to

and

irrational entanglements

its

program. Not being a

to clean the

As

political mess.

to the ability of a socialistic regime to carry through this clean-up,

my

have

well-founded doubts.

Maybe

and consideration both leave no hope

understood

in

in

am

regard to socialism, this word

see

interrelations

social

interesting to note that

it is

upon

is

who

of the greater part of the people

burden of work and

wrong, but experience

everyday meaning. The only hope

its

rational upheaval

to

that

a sudden,

carry the

their shoulders.

just the socialist leader

who

It

is

most averse

is

such a turn of events.

In spite of

have the definite feeling that once the fact of natural

all, I

W. Democratic interrelationships is revealed and has entered the arena

of human thought, it will not disappear again and will possibly develop
its own course of logic. It is beyond me to feel responsible for this development. But I may add that the organization of the existing working
groups of our Institute proves that a work-democratic orderly functioning,
I

without politics and red tape, is possible.

was impressed by your remarks about what the Summerhill School

means

to the

world and the way

it

is

not mentioned by plagiarists.

People are stealing progressive ideas and revolutionary knowledge not

in

order to carry them through and defend them.

they would

gladly

were the case,

If that

and with the humbleness of the decent worker

mention the origin of

their information. If they

do not do

so,

it

is

for

the sole reason that they take the raisins out of the cake, and leave the

work and

dirty

whether he or

the dangerous statements to the pioneer,

his

work

live

or die. Thus the thief has

all

not caring

good hope to

survive any change of social structure, to sneak in with his irresponsible

thievery into any kind of job, in order to determine the course of
society backward, just in the reverse direction which
i.e.,

forward. In that

danger.

make

way he appears modern and

The Russians now acknowledge

you showed him,

revolutionary without

the fact that

it is

the masses

who

Hitler and not vice versa, a fact which they fought like devils 15

years ago, on the basis of higher proletarian values. But

in

acknowledg-

namely the question

the rotten sex-economy

ing this fact, finally, they leave out the main thing,

why

the masses are Hitlerian.

of the masses which renders

cal crook.

Some

The

fact that

is

them capable of submitting

psychoanalysts stole

my

would mean

to every politi-

principle of character-analysis

without mentioning me, because to mention

character-analytic technique

it

me

as the originator of the

to defend the

orgasm theory,

1944

and

to stand the

"8

blows which follow

in its path.

So they have thrown out

the orgasm theory, and are taking over a kind of ghost, which does not

mean

mah nor

yes or no, black or white,

You are helpless against

common or little man, who

bah.

such procedure on the part of the so-called

grabs without being punished, and pays tribute where he

and run

authoritative manner. Take, hit

Don't worry, no "psychologist"

during the

their motto.

is

What

life.

upset of

much

my

routine, quiet remote

that a

all

physicists etc.

Second,
ism.

He

time.

except routine work. But

of

first

It

baby

is

is

cope with

a fully developed being

know damn

is

bom

always has a good reason when

we understand

whatever crosses

his field of vision.

am

My

could not do

all that. I

discovered

and that we great bio-

about what a baby really expresses.

little

found out that the baby

Write again and soon.

the

out the dynamite.

left

For months now

shall

They took

a great joy, but also a complete

life.

reason, whether

school.

and

superficial in Freud's theory

About my boy another

my boy

said before about the

politicians applies naturally to the psychologists too.

wrong and

treated in an

will enter the Ufe-sphere of

or six years of his

first five

is

it

without a trace of irrational-

it

or not.

never cries without a

cries,

He

is

very curious, studies

congratulations on the success of your

dreaming of getting you here.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
June

My

Odd

that since

my

wife died

written a play and finished

my

have had a burst of creation.

book. Have given up teaching and

doing only veg.-ther. analysis. The more

lescents the

more

why

haven't

Did

didn't. I
I

1944

dear Reich,

Have

am

1 8,

done

consider that bloody

it till

man Reich

now? Some Hemmung

am

keeping them in

my

a great

man. But

[inhibition].

Marvellous

Some do
last I

so the

why
first

patients

weep

Stunde [hour].

expect to get enough

if

safe meanwhile.

haven't any special news at present. Will

At

see the results with ado-

ever acknowledge the two registered letters you sent? Sorry

ther. goes.

backs.

tin to

the bed cover. Buying today isn't easy;

let

you know how the veg.-

so easily

when

lying

on

their

Why?

make if not the Akku, at least

so many things are controlled. I

"9

1944

enough wood for the school, and no brass nor iron

can't even get

Thank heaven our food

good.

is

My own

theory

is

at all.

that rationing has

improved health, for so many can't now eat too much.

all the best, and let me hear from you soon. The last
had was the Work Democracy one. I have sent it on to Herbert
Read, the art and philosophy writer, well-known here; he is a director

Well, Reich,

journal

of the great publishing firm of Kegan, Paul

and Routledge. Meant to

my copy of The Function, but as usual someone has taken

my bookcase. Quite a few people in England now know of

send him
it

from

Reich, and some are sending direct for the journal.

be interested

I'll

in that kid of yours. I still

raised voice of the father

That

man Reich may

when he

have a

be a genius but he

ain't

got too

fear that the

little

gets angry will be

dangerous to

much

it.

patience!

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July

My

1944

I,

dear Neill:
I

am

enclosing a few photographs of "the family."

never met Eva. She

is

think you

meet

my

wife and

whether the rumours about

my

"lunacy"

twenty now.

also

want you

to

Peter.

Would you
are

a letter

kindly inform

me

around, or whether they have died out. The other day

still

from a co-worker

down on

the

Palestine

in Palestine, to the effect that

Psychoanalytic

mongering with great success.

of this rumour.
things

on

shall

had

he had clamped

Association for

its

rumour-

never wrote you the story of the origin

do so extensively very soon,

"in order to have

file."

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 9, 1944

My

dear Neill:
I just

received your letter regarding Mrs. K. [an acquaintance

on whose behalf

Neill

had written

to

Reich]. She can rent an

cumulator for prophylactic purposes, and she can

visit

ac-

me when

1944

shall

be back in

120

New York

by the end of September.

breast operation

always means cancer, and since the removal of a breast does not touch

and blood, the use of the accumulator

the rotting process in tissues

indispensable to prevent reoccurrence

I

would

My

like to

if

hear more about your vegeto-therapy experiences.

My

voice

is

stupid emotional-pest reactions and

when

baby

them. Else,

But

doing very well.

is

am known

can shout

right

all

if

meet the son. His voice

is

going high only

if

meet

cope with

feel helpless to

one of the most patient of human beings.

as

necessary and

you think the father

settling things. (If

impatient. This

is

possible.

is

there are

if

no other ways of
you

impatient, just wait until

even higher than his father's when he gets

written by Use Ollendorff Reich.) Don't you think

is

have shown tremendous patience

waiting for nearly 2 decades

in

now

people to understand the most simple thing in the world which

for

am

teaching.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
July 15, 1944

My dear Reich,
Many

thanks for the photos.

take back what

I said

about your

being a dangerous father whose voice might give the kid fear

photo convinces

me

that he will be the danger,

hastening to obey his commands.

pressive eyes. All
is

looking

at.

You

He

is

the

see a fearful father

a splendid kid, with most ex-

get out of Use's picture

are two lucky ones,

and

and

a great pride in what she

is

hope

I live

long enough to

see Peter and watch his career.

Your query about lunacy means nothing

is behind it. Of course a few Freudians

what

[crazy] but that sort of thing

I

am

is

me, for

dismiss you as

veg-therring 4 girls and 4 boys, adolescent. Often

it is

better that

I can't.

goes easily and quickly, but with the others

strong resistance, which brings in a difficulty.

master. In spite of the fact that

am

the old difficulty arising. Suppose a

ruining a

workshop

over to everything.

meschugge

wish

With a

not a feared headmaster,

boy has been

of 14 sent to

could

girl

of

I am in the middle of
am analyst AND head-

stealing

tool of mine. His resistance to

One boy

know

don't

a compliment from them.

run to ask your advice, but feel

it

to

me two

can see

from me, or

my knowing

it

goes

years ago as a bad

"I

1944

and

thief is going to be diflficult and dangerous, for when his hate

come out I'll have to fight for my life!
So much for the diflficulties. I find the method a million times more
pleasant (for me) than the old, in which I sometimes nearly fell asleep
listening to dull dreams. And the children like it better and come

bully

begins to

which they seldom did

regularly,

in the old days.

me

Lewis's Medical Library has just informed

dozen Functions.

am

telling

them

that they

apply direct to N.Y.

to

have sold a
if

they want

more.
get quite a

some

moment

the
It

few

the

war

and
is

looks as

it

over ...

if I'll

if it is

have to arrange a lecture tour

bit.

You must

me

send

I am 80 or so.
By your photo I see you

over by the time

should be a great event to meet you again.

haven't changed a

me

from N.Y. now. Your journal has given

letters

publicity there,

a photo of Use, one in which

her eyes can be seen.

At

last

He

am

visit,

It is

almost impossible to

made in his lab and would send it on soon.

make contact with people in the war period.

are in the forces, doctors

The

and teachers who,

be interested

in veg.-ther.

Reichism

have to await the peace days.

will

Well, Reich,

new knowledge

all

the best,

to your

weeks ago an Indian

read your journals and was most interested.

said he could get a cage

Many

Two

within sight of an Akku.

came on a

physicist

in

leading scientists are

peace time, might

on war work.

all

and may your loving study of Peter add

whole philosophy of

life.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My

1944

6,

dear Neill:
I

have your

letter of July

15th.

am

glad you began to

do

vegeto-therapy, and especially that you tried with adolescents. Since

all

grown-ups are more or

ture

is

concerned, the only hope

rationality in children
still

is,

change of

struc-

firmly believe, establishment of

and adolescents when the biophysical reactions

can be molded.

The term
used

less hopeless, as far as basic

in

"resistance"

is still

valid, but in quite a different

psychoanalytic technique.

you did not

find the correct

If

a patient "resists,"

words and actions on

it

way than

means

specific places

on

that
his

1944

which

body,

122

correspond

to

this

emotional

specific

For

situation.

You may have released a bit of the mask-like stiffness of the

facial expression. An impulse to bite may be on the point of breaking
through. To this biophysical emotion the patient may react, by way of
instance:

protection, with a withdrawal in his shoulders, a kind of holding back.

Now you cannot get out the biting impulse in the mouth unless you release
the auxiliary muscular armouring in the shoulders

shoulders forward.

first,

by bringing the

always a matter of observing the patient in such

It is

a relaxed

manner

(which

of course identical with the character defense) appears

is

that

you learn

to realize

where a muscular defense

when

the muscular defense

yield.

This substitution of armouring mechanisms

where

in the

and the

body. Another instance:

arm due

in the right

on which you

to a

hitting impulse

are working

there

If

blocked impulse to

is

hit;

may

is

anew

about to

just

take place any-

a withdrawal tendency

you

let this

arm move

wants to break through; the patient may,

order to avoid hitting, arch his back very strongly.

If

in

you recognize the

connection, and you release the arching of the back, you have destroyed
the auxiliary muscular defense, and the hitting impulse cannot help but

come through.
I

would be glad

how you
therapy

you would care

if

to let

are getting along with adolescents.

is

know unshakably

to

that the

me know from

time to time

The main thing in all vegetomain obstacle to progress is

always a tremendous fear of yielding to involuntary uncontrolled motion

and emotional currents. There

is

always destructive energy blocking

love emotions.
I
it

am

very much,

double layers and close around the body?

am

your boys and

Peter

is

You

sure.

and interested

will

enjoy

it

should have also smaller accumulators for

He

is

absolutely healthy, happy, eager, curious

in everything. I

babies,

physically, and, accordingly,

never would have guessed

how
how

already ten years ago.

hope

to

am

how

little

we

completely developed they are biostupid and preposterous this whole

educational set-up of our society appears

You

you have

girls.

prospering.

know about newborn

things.

Do

glad you finally will get your Orgone accumulator.

built with

now even more than

learning very, very

be able to present them

it

did

much and many important

at a later

date in a useful and

helpful manner.

Every day Use or

10 minutes.

It

take Peter into the Orgone Accumulator for 5 to

does him very good.

urged his mother to be in the

accumulator every day while she was pregnant.

Somehow

cannot get

123

1944

heahh and quick maturing of

rid of the feeling that the liveUness,

this

somehow connected with the fact that orgone was applied from
the moment he was created. I can assure you that I feel most humble
and very much like a religious man might feel in connection with what
he calls religious experience, when I watch and enjoy this absolute

boy

is

perfectness of an animal organism,

still

unspoiled by education.

now

not trace a single irrational attitude until

you probably know, a very

biopathic behaviour.

in this

boy, and

ioo% wrong and

work

psychiatric

is

sensitive organ for irrational neurotic or

very great.

had even

means

some

to correct

them

to correct

my

was inclined

to

disposal.

compromise,

which, deeply in myself,

nearly

with

years

14

child-psychology.

that

that

had

and

psychoanalysis

You may

was

thought with

bad conscience,

was hanging on too long

that

has

It

should not have wasted

its

interest

its

to theories

and

sublimation

false

be astonished, but a baby of 3 months

in

is

surroundings fully

its

have to assume now that the contention of the psycho-

analysts of the autistic character of the

is

knew were wrong.

not autistic whatsoever.

developed.

now

feel

my own

of

in the sense that I

not true enough nor courageous enough to stand for what

vigour at

consequence

in

upside down. This experience after 25 years of

basic assumptions, that

all

could

cannot help getting more and more convinced that

our views on education of children and on what follows

are

have, as

baby

an

is

This artifact

artifact.

apparently due to the armouring of the analysts which does not

permit them to develop a

The baby on
feelings
in a

its

part,

in

newborn baby.

does not find natural response to

if it

and emotions,

and natural contact with

full

other words

simple manner and responded

if it is

to,

outgoing

its

not understood emotionally

has to shut

itself in.

baby of

only a few weeks senses emotional blocks and unnatural behavior in

grown-ups with absolute certainty. A baby will not take a dead mother's
nipple,

with

and

it.

it

will

We

begin to cry

when

desires, but only

one way,

understood, namely crying.

stand what the boy wanted

knowledge

worked was

a cold

armoured person wishes

easily forget that a child has millions of different

the

more

It

in

took

the beginning, to try to

me

when he

several

did so, the less

what he wanted. What psychoanalysis

in

what

might

this

The only

emotion-language very clearly

thing that
I

knew

seems

to be

expression and then

the contact of the orgonotic

system of a grown-up with that of the baby. Animals,

show

itself

to learn to under-

calls identification

call

make

not apply any scientific

succeeded.

identifying myself with his

rooted very deeply

weeks

cried. I did

to play

emotions

to

if

me now.

not domesticated,
It

is

a very vast

1944

124

and most important

My

into.

my own

field of

human

worry now

greater

that

is

which might

difficulty

which he

in the direction in

life,

which

have

spoil the further

where

is

it

it

does not sleep,

it

But

it

wants to have things happen, and

it

opportunity to see things happen around

awake

During the

first

it

the

few weeks

when he

lay

that

boy could watch mother's

close to the typewriter, so that this

move along

you give

we could work, my wife could

difficult stuff, if only we put the crib

Then we learned

could dictate even very

it.

if

could not get to work because the boy cried

in the crib.

type and

the time in his

all

their position.

rewards you with the most moving thankfulness

for instance,

to look

development of the boy

move and change

cannot see things

When

true.

begun

moving. Would you believe that a child

is

of three months, or even two, does not like to be

crib,

just

might make some mistakes due to

fingers

the typewriter.

Well, these are only a few examples about the course of study

am

going through now.

I

to

hope you are

you

in

well.

all

Write again soon, and

your vegeto-therapy work,

shall

if

can be of any help

be only too glad to do

so.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
August 30, 1944

My

dear Reich,

Your
hitting defence

hand.

latest letter to

makes me

feel I

Your

have a

description of the biting and

hell of a lot to learn.

Just off to Scotland to play golf, after a distressing time of disunion

Section against the lady in charge

in the staff.

near to

male

me

in all ways. Tired of dealing with

who happens

women;

to

feel like

be very
having a

staff only!

My

long awaited

Akku

one says he can't get

consciously he thinks
for petrol in

it

it

is

again

done
mad.

off.

who promised

Physicist

in his lab; the reason

When

England you may

realise

say that

my

no doubt

can't

buy a

difficulty in getting

is

to

make

that un-

tin

funnel

metal and

wood too. But is it not possible for you to send me one? I'd rather have
one made by an expert than trust to luck and the village carpenter.
Sex Econ is spreading fast among the young here, but the scientists
still

explain

seem

away

to pick out

all

any

your orgone work. Curiously enough, they never

specific points

and say that you are wrong; they

125

1944

whole thing as pseudo-science.

just dismiss the

science reacts to

you

want

know how

to

U.S.A.

in

Your observations on your son are most interesting. So far, no one

why kids cry so much up to 3 years old. I
look forward to a book Babies, by W.R. Much needed. So far the only
good one I know is Homer Lane's Talks to Parents and Teachers, 1925.
He was an American and my first analyst. America never discovered him.
1 have just come back from a branch S'hill I founded in Essex,* and
when I return to Leiston I think of taking a house halfway between the
has solved the problem of

two schools and having a

a family, although

Thanks

it is

my

bit of private life in

old age. Perhaps have

a bit late at 60 perhaps.

for the photos of

mother and

child.

look forward to meeting

them both.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

1944

11,

My dear Neill:
I

that

have

your

just received

August 30th.

letter of

you cannot provide the metal, and that

send you one of our accumulators. But

accumulators

one

for grown-ups,

one "shooter" for healing wounds

as soon as

You
than
listen

it is

am

unable

at present to

one for 6-10 year-old children, and

in readiness, to

be sent

off to

very attentively to what

fiendish, but other

still

we have

keeping
to say.

silent,

It

was given when

was asked

"American

only experimental natural science. But

Men
I

far better

is

know

that they

Some, of course, are very

groups are expressing their admiration.

laboratories, the register of

to

join,

palpable

together with

informed by a medical doctor

would suggest

in Palestine that

that

we do not

"Kingsmuir,"

it

was

in the

results

was

charge of Lucy Francis,

on sick people.

who had been the

"my infant

nursery-school teacher at Summerhill. Elsewhere, Neill refers to her as

mistress."

he has built an accumu-

and has achieved already some very amazing

Named

my

of Science" which registers

wait for any approval, but simply go on with our work. Recently,

lator

you

possible.

Europe; though they are

indication

too bad

promise you to keep three

ask about the reaction of science in the U.S.A.

in

It is

1944

To keep
is

126

make known

mentioning, however, and to

registered under experimental natural science in

many

change

"scientists" to

their minds.

look forward to you having a child.

Why

Orgone physics

that

America would induce

You owe

it

to humanity.

you gradually replace your staff by people who went

through our work? I believe it would ease your task tremendously.

My

don't

best wishes to

you and

all.

Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

October

My

you think

If

on

7,

1944

dear Reich,
this article fitting for the

Journal please hand

Even if you disagree with some of it!

have just had another adverse criticism of your work.

it

to Wolfe.
I

biologist

from the Rothamsted Experimental (Agriculture) Station came

last

year to see us and took your Bione book and three journals with him.

He

returned them yesterday with a letter ... "I have passed them on to

various biologists and biochemists here.

of the psychology

we

The

hopeless. Reich's microscopic descriptions

of microscopy,

and

it

general result

don't know, but the biology and

is

probably

long enough to write him saying:

all

a lot of

'science'

are

knows nothing
rubbish." I hope to live

show

"How do you

the value

is,

that he

feel

now

that Reich has

been proved right?"

Your photos

all

convince

most pleasant-looking

wife. I

me

that

hope

it

you have got

won't be long

a great kid

and a

until I see the three

of you.

Meanwhile
very

much

am

against

going through a most

my

difficult stage.

who means

secretary

Constance has come down for a few weeks

and

is

nature and she says a

is all

month or so

will

be

all

Section of staff

me

every way.

in

to help solve the

giving the staff breathing.* But living in a

the school

in

a lot to

community

problem,

is

not her

she can bear. At the

moment

divided, and the rebels talk to old pupils

and parents

Exercises which Constance Tracey had learned while she was Reich's patient

Norway; they helped

to relax the

to maintaining neurotic inhibitions

abdominal muscular tensions that contributed

under repression.

127

1944

giving their side of the matter, and

goes to

My

have got to be careful

lest S'hill

hell.

new book* was almost ready but today

from the

get a letter

publishers enclosing one to them from the manager of the printing firm.

He

has just read the ms. and refuses to

out

some

things

by any

shall not tolerate censorship

Hfe

let

I'd like to tell

talking about

you

my own

my

about

lots

My

answer

Go

is:

cut

to hell.

printer. Ja, lieber [yes, dear] Reich.

always easy for the pioneer. But

isn't

book go out unless

the

say against religion and sex.

mood.

feel in a fighting

personal problems, but

psychology when a censor

don't like

to read

is

it.

guess

the censorship won't be necessary for long now.

I

wish you would go into the question of fasting

wrong, for every animal

is

as beef

when

fasts

your cancer patients have

grass. If

suggested to you.

medical complex about "keeping up the patient's strength"

feel that the

ill,

even

to eliminate

and carrots they don't get a

fair

cats

if

chance.

and dogs do eat

cancerous
I

stuff as well

always told you you

neglected the food side too much.

Maybe

can do

if

it,

I'll

write an appreciation and criticism of

journals for publication. Here

me from
.

you a few passages from

as an anarchist writer

Here Reich expresses

archism which

is

Forest Hills,

art.

He

says:

"Work Democracy

truths that are fundamental to

I shall

Democracy." By the way, he

the journals:

on

essentially anti-poUtics.

judge the Orgone theory.

what

criticises the

an-

Work

heavy language of

"Germano- American jargon."

New York
to,

1944

dear Neill:
I

especially
feeling,

do not

like to intrude

when they

are

good

aroused by indications

going on or developing

I call

a scientist I can't

look forward to Reich's book on

one who

is

Not being

October

My

the

a letter to

Herbert Read, director of Kegan Paul's publishing firm, and

famous here
.

give

Hearts Not Heads

at

in the

upon

friends.
in

your

private affairs of other people,

But

had for some time now the

letters, that there is

some

trouble

Summerhill School, a trouble of sex-economic

School.

1944

128

character, or in other words, the danger of an attack of the emotional

on decent

pest

but

feel that

you again

living. I assure
it is

proper to

tell this:

want

that I don't

to interfere,

had many encounters with the

emotional pest during the past 30 years.

My

experience taught

me

that

way to get through in this terrible fight is to stand up fully for

one's own way of life, no matter what public opinion thinks about it.
My experience tells me further that you endanger yourself when you
the only

appear uncertain and that you gain a great following and admiration
just

when,

masses

Germany,

in

touch the one

face

them

and frank manner, you proclaim

in a simple

When

think right and true.

I

was

had the

you show up the falsehood and

decent
all I

human behavior

can

which you

that

working among the suppressed

typical experience that the police never

who was walking

calmly among them and

a simple natural way.

in

still

if

You

who would

can beat the pest to

its

as against the outer

compulsory laws. That

8,

liked your article very

still

the

Is that

much, although

cannot agree with

goes to print, of course.

It

it.

wonder why

important to you.

opinions of the various biologists are so

not an expression of your

matter? The Orgone work

hope you were able

is

own

insecurity in the

being acknowledged here more and more.

your school.

to clear the situation in

sometimes very bad to permit co-workers to mingle into private

It is

1944

dear Neill:

everything you say in

is

New York
November

if

say.

Forest Hills,

My

death

you stand up for the inner laws of

none of

As

It

is

affairs.

their business.

to the question of fasting:

lacking experience in this

field.

But

have nothing to
I

say,

can imagine that

it

because

am

could do some

good.

When you
tell

him

to

write the next time to Herbert Read,

of the average

As

it

would be wise to

drop the expression "anarchism" which means to the feeling

to the

man

the absence of any kind of law and order.

heavy way of saying things:

fault or that of the translator.

There are

do not believe that

this is

definite scientific matters

cannot be described the way you describe a football game.

my

which

And why

129

1944

should the so-called

and thinking a

little

man

be spared the trouble of taking his time

won't harm him to think things over.

bit? It

c/o Constance
124 Wigmore

Street,

London Wi

November

1944

24,

My dear Reich,
Your short letter fearing I was having difficulty certainly was
Not easy to say what it has all been about. Much better now that
announced to the staff that I was to marry the young lady who is my

right.
I

secretary.
it is

explained the situation; that

today, but that professionally

lived without marriage.

seem

During a war

to flourish with their so-called

don't believe in marriage as

would be

in

danger of extinction

moral and religious

applied to
so

many

dead

in

all

self-satisfactions,

new Education

so that in the recent parliamentary discussion on the

most of the time was devoted

to religious education

which

lose their loved

men and
ofifer.

Bill,

to be

is

schools now. This shows the tendency during a war

peace time, has to

if

the stifT-stomached people

all

when

grasp the hopes that a religion, almost

So that

fear that any

has the power to damage any professional

man who

is

cheap newspaper

"immoral"

in

not

believing in marriage.

The situation isn't perfect. The love one,

more than a success with herself and me
.

herself,

me, and the work, and here she

is

yes, but
.

my

wife has to be

she has to succeed with

most capable, but she expects

too high a standard of work, and says so and gets disliked. Her ambition
is

to

go to

New York

and have a Reichian analysis

as

soon as she can

get over.

We

hope

to return to

our

own home

a cottage near the school where

I've

never had before), and, most

told

me

with

summer.

my own

vital of all.

from which tools won't be borrowed or

Someone

this

can have

surprise

am

trying to find

domestic

have

life

(which

my own workshop

stolen.

that

your Function book

is

in

Cambridge University Library.

Am

trying to stop smoking, not on moral grounds, no,

always oversmoke, from morning

after the other,

up

to an

ounce

bad tongue, lack of energy.

till

late at night,

daily. Result

find

find that

one pipe or cigarette

always a bad throat, cough,

want about two hours

less

sleep

1944

130

non-smoking, have a better appetite, but

do when
burn

my

am

working.

am

pipes yet.

All suffering from a sunless summer.

land here lacks lime and for four years

wash

rainwater, lovely to
their soft water

This

something to

feel the lack of

not optimistic (or pessimistic) enough to

have bad

a dull

is

letter.

in

We

no orgones

stored

we have drunk water

but lacking in

the

as soft as

Welsh children with

all salts.

teeth; so in parts of Scotland.

The sun

doesn't shine at

hope

all. I

to hear

more

of the son and his mother.

New York

Forest Hills,

December

22,

1944

My dear Neill:
The most important

me

seems to

Time and

the question of

again,

November 24th

thing in your letter of

what has

to be considered a "marriage."

and many others working

in

our

field

of endeavour

are meeting not only the difficult problems of social sex-economy, but,

wrong concepts which have been adopted from

very same people who profess to change this world.

in addition to that, also

a dying world

You

by the

write in your letter:

believe in marriage as

danger of extinction

mind

if I

it

if I

without basis in

facts.

when you possess a

almost

"I explained the situation,

today, but that professionally

lived without marriage."

am

don't

would be

in

sure you won't

work which

You

tries to

are married

abolish social ideologies

when you

live married,

and not

certificate of marriage without being married. In

of the states of the United States the fact of factual marriage

all

acknowledged

in the

form of the common-law marriage. The same

the case in France and was the case in

It is

that
I

object to this statement, not as a person but as the representa-

tive of a definite type of

is

is

Germany and

is

Austria.

not a matter of "believing" in marriage or not.

It is

a matter of

correcting the irrational and pestilent notions of sick people about what

marriage

is

is not. The pestilent ideology that you

when you possess a certificate of marriage and that you are
when you are really married but don't possess a certificate

and what marriage

are married

a criminal

of marriage has been spread for decades and centuries by sick people,
all

over the world.

It is

not the opinion of the healthy average man.

The

piece of paper called a certificate has under present conditions only the

function of protecting the

woman

in case the

man

does not wish to

131

acknowledge the
marriage. There

But a

child.

does not constitute a

nowhere a law which forbids actual marriage without

is

a certificate for adult persons.

in

certificate in itself

1944

And

giving in to pestilent public opinion

such matters means to counteract yourself

if

you

fight for

human

Furthermore, not the law but the marrying people declare

health.

whether they marry or not. The

certificate

only

certifies this

decision of

the marrying people.

We
taking

do not force anyone

to the pestilent attitude of

to take out a certificate

if

firmly believe that

we do

we

shall

will

remain

you

live practically

at a

meeting

in

teachers of yours
I

wish you

all

to.

The essence of
your wife when you

idle chatter.

to

certificate or not

is

all

the talk

the matter
felt

of no importance at

it

or not.
to

T regret

is

married.
all.

And

and functionally married, then you believe

your school and

who

most severely

not take the principles of freedom

marriage whether you acknowledge

be

certificate, but,

to object

not accomplish anything, and

you were actually married

Whether you take out a

we have

of people to force married people

they don't want

if

about democracy

if

seriously,

some kind

deadly seriously,

that

married without a

to live

human freedom deadly

in

not to be able to

shake the conscience of those

did not take the trouble to think a matter through.

good luck

for the

New

Year,

much

joy as you can gather in these times of disaster.

success and as

much

^945
Summerhill School

North Wales

Festiniog,

January 13, 1945

My dear Reich,
We seem

sadly enough to be drifting apart on what are funda-

mental questions. Let

business.

think you

me

be elementary about

to

try

we

"respect"

when we

but

when

band plays "God Save the King"

with the
like

the

rest.

On

this

marriage

will agree that there are certain outer forms that

don't believe in them.

the street

sometimes

raise

see

no use

for royalty,

in the theatre I

my

hat to a

stand up

woman

don't

nor respect. In short, one has not the time and energy to protest

against everything

one disapproves

We

of.

all

try to

keep from com-

promising on the big things while we compromise on the minor matters.

To me

the big thing in

enough

to

life is

my

work, and

keep that work from being stopped.

shall
If

compromise always

an enemy wrote to the

Ministry of Education saying that a head of a school was "living

I

think that his

work would be

rightly say that a certificate in

but your idea of a marriage or

when

those in

power have

itself

my

in sin"

great danger of suppression.

in

idea

the right to

You

does not constitute a marriage,

is

kill

Nebensache [minor matter]

our work.

And my work

is

work with children from ages of 4 and 5

upwards to adolescence. The new Education Act is making Private
Schools come under the State, to be inspected and closed if inefficient.
not primarily sex reform;

The other day

it

is

the Education Minister in a speech said: "If a head of a

private school were a drunkard

have

said: "If the

What you

we should

head of a school

say about marriage

is

close his school."

an immoral man,

agree with, of course.

33

He

might

etc."

When

wrote

1945

you

that

134

must be no

the very binding

legal binding for

my own

can use

work.

of marriage to

you

If

terms, and

on

To

say:

of their sex

...

life

your work;

know

don't

up

to give

party."

and

is

are ruled by the

a lady as

my

I shall

if

disaster.

But enough of

You

"To

fact dark.

o.k.

all

me

to educated

the

bank

own lack of
Some of it is

faith.

am mixed up

out." That

Thou

be found

shalt not
if

So that when

"my

lover"

in

in Scotland.

is

he has a dozen
introduce

I shall

am

in

satisfied,

danger of

You complain

suggest

why

because

want

you

the hell did

Dozens of journals and books. What

do with them?

men? You

men.

another

this.

the literature?
to

brilliant

ask him why? "Because

here to be interested in your work, but

did you expect

because

off with

because the outer forms are

boldly introduce a lady as

Wolfe send

let

are a big puzzle, Mister Reich.

scientists

go

a great public figure

be

be a
don't

cry, "but you are the innocent

whereas

and

to get

and keeps the

wife

his wife

me fired
nth Commandment
enough

and a man can remain

out,

concubines

and Pamell, both

his wife,

my

England. Last generation

in

is life

difference," he says.

that

will

to

much. But

differ

their parliamentary careers

"What!"

job," he says.

"Makes no

a divorce

We

my

lose

more important

it is

banker here sees

man. He says he dare not divorce

I shall

me

while they

and sundry would mean the end of

Sir Charles Dilke

same today.

the

It is

had

politicians

my own way

way. But again to the point ... to publish

all

hell with

What you

think you do.

have no

any marriage for

their terms;

martyr for the cause of free marriage, then we

two able

dangerous.

is

can use the word in

in their certificated

it

MY version

an emotional union, that indeed

dangerous as every chain

is

intention of getting married

be on

meant

didn't believe in marriage (certificate etc.) I simply

that there

Sell

give

or give them to shopkeepers or

them

to biologists because of

Aber, Mensch [But, man],

it

isn't

my

so easy as that.

just infantilism
"Here, you guys, look what a friend of
mine has discovered! Clever of me to have such a friend, eh what?" I
hope you aren't going to get solemn in your old age, Reich. You won't
.

be successful until someone has

will

know that

a joke about Orgones: then

you

they have arrived for good.

Letter writing
later.

made

is

so unsatisfactory. Let us wait to talk

All good things this year including peace.

it

all

over

135

1945

February

9,

Forest Hills,

New York
1945

My dear Neill:
have your

main

you

points, yet

questions.

we

state that

don't think so.

You

January 13th.

letter of

me

agree with

in the

are drifting apart on fundamental

would not compare the paramount question

when

of factual and formal marriage with standing up in the theater

some hymn

is

The

played.

latter

does not

severe psychic and

inflict

organic diseases on millions and millions of people and does not interfere with

your private

life.

wish to state that

who

but a research physician

am

background of biopathic diseases and who has

just as

you have

to

work with

not a sex reformer

discovered the biophysical emotional

to fight these diseases

discovered that cholera and typhoid were caused by bacteria

water

etc.

had

me who

children. Other physicians before

upset the old rules and

willy-nilly to

rules in order to abolish epidemics.

had the bad luck

infected

in

new
upon an

create

to

to hit

endemic epidemic of much larger dimensions and much more devastating effects.

mean

hypocrisy in social

life in

of this general disease.

Please understand

What you

the emotional plague.

my

England
cannot

is

a part, a consequence,

bow

to

do, but

and

my

a cause,

my

without giving up

it

point of view as well as

force anyone else to think as

describe about the

work.

social task. I don't

refuse to be forced to think

according to viewpoints which are wrong, sick and devastating.

I feel

that

you were a

annoyed

bit

should not have mingled into the

I

me and

at

affairs of

understand that

your school. And, of course,

never thought of "to hell with your work."

After 26 years of hard work and building up one group of co-workers

after the other,

whole job

find myself again alone. This

is, I

understand

now, too much, too hard, too strictly against the established ways of
thinking.

don't feel that

am

The

a big puzzle.

big puzzle

the fact that social non-sense of such dimensions as

is

in reality

we both know can

and millennia, go on and go on in spite of the hard

and dangerous struggle and endeavors of many good and honest men.
I am not resigning, but I am facing more and more the deep abyss which

exist for centuries

separates honest natural science from the political

did not create this abyss,

the people.

I realize to

my

deep sorrow that

suffer

a school as

you have,

life
it

of the masses of

most severely and

cannot expect or demand that others

should stand against the tide and endure

had

from

would have

it

for decades as

to

did. If I

take the attitude of the

1945

136

Education Department as you have to take

And

it.

understand more and more

why

or preferred to stick to the principle of

know how you feel about

many men who were forced

it.

so

some

truth

had

to

withdraw from

am afraid that will be my fate in the end too.

please,
don't
blame
me for that. As my friend I ask you to underBut
stand the position I am in.
In the meantime, my work in the laboratory goes on quietly, and
social hfe completely. I

brick

of

added

is

life, I

to brick in the understanding of the

when and how many

don't care

wait 200 and even 500 years.

energy from earth into water, testing

you

filter this

clave*

and

it

then

it

to

sure that

life

No

too. I

can

alive;

when you

when you then

autofreeze

matter in that orgone water,

beg you to understand, you have the

this planet.

it

on an exact instrument; when

no bacteria are

thaw again and you see

to care, because that

on

it

know

succeed in drawing biological

highly charged water clean of particles;

make

let it

others will

When you

tremendous puzzle

right,

more, the duty, not

amazing experiment explains how

life

originated

other reward can compete with the satisfaction of

decent and honest insights into the origins of what has been talked

about for millennia

in dark, mystical

Some weeks ago some

visited

my

terms of poetry and philosophy.

biochemists of a famous research foundation

laboratory to see the bions. Their amazement, their humble-

ness and at the same time their fear of getting in touch with the

me again where
Sex-economy of human beings,
process showed

stand and where

to

my way

is

life

leading.

be frank, has become rather un-

important, compared with the steady progress into the realms of the
origin of

life.

I really

hope

talk of a

that

we

few hours

shall see

will

each other soon and talk things over.

do away with many a misunderstanding.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

March

14,

1945

My dear Reich,
Your
I

seem

letter of

to see in this

Feb. 9 plus Journals to hand. Excellent number.

a "having arrived" sort of

number an optimism,

Autoclave, a strong, pressurized, steam-heated vessel used to establish special

conditions for chemical reactions, for sterilization, and for cooking.

137
feeling,

although

you go

telling

me

lies

aren't willing;

time.

Why not?

Our

your

in

You

can't.

you want

to see

when

differ

cannot as long as

is

warm

regard

want

my own

to live

been one long

my

find

acted

locally. I

manures

find that

It is

want

to create in

my

Want

That with a

etc.

sad

stealing

can't

is

lost

interest in

after thirty years of

ja,

my

life

has

aber [the Christ

work now. Drama.

in creative

no theatre will look at here.

by the way) and it was a great success

my

garden and experiment with

tools

many

be a great
it,

many

letters

man

from parents

is

in

"My boy

of 15

England who can cure him."

life

of

is

And

my own,

and clothes sold by crooks, my furniture damaged.

now younger men ought to be doing it.

years but
get

back to our own house

The

delight.

and

do

get

Also with the children

life.

and you
any longer, for curing such meant having no

hope to

use of

special, just playing

workshop, nothing
to dig

satisfying love

are the only

for

We

say.

my

having

thing

have

Maybe

Christus Motif,

interest

find myself always joying in the creative side

it

to stick to that

the few years left to me, for

ourselves (I act well,

it

with a lathe and tools.

did

for

a four act psychological play which

Wrote

We

life in

living for others

theme, yes, but]

And

we have

have a school.

curative psychology, even the Veg. Therapy.

it I

life-

you are more of a Brand* than

that

have sad news for you.

your

in

an hour's conversation.

in half

am; you demand All or Nothing and are brave enough

Here

don't

to read them, at least I

is

cannot touch the

it

each other. Our main difference

NOW

come about

it

a censor

up

shall clear all that

even when we do

demand.

And

optimistic.

argument about marriage was hopeless. One can't express

little

We

you sound not so

letter

about your being willing to wait for 500 years!

oneself in letters especially

1945

that will

this

summer, and

that will

place will have to be remade after the military

be good work, for

mine, not a landlord's as

it is

it

is

my own

here.

house and any-

plan to build a small

house outside the main school and have my own private life at last. And
a joy will be to get golf again. I have had none for five years and I love
the

game

But

as

am

much

to give yet, but I

The

principle.

as

you do

skiing.

nay. I have much

from educational work
the misfits of life,
not
want to give it to normal kids,

not retiring

central character in Ibsen's play of the

same name, who

sacrificed all to

1945

who

138

seldom come

after all

much. Once

to

problem child was the one with

He

is

originality

thought and said that the

and

dozens pass through

brilliance in work.

centrate

but

S'hill

feel

for years that

felt

on the normal ones who are worth the

U.S.A. education sounds to

me

well-known American teachers,

on the main

in

when

showed

better to con-

trouble.

a bad way.

now from

get letters

moral about

meet them over

it is

have had

later

progressive, but again compromisers

all

things, timid of freedom,

to having fun

one who

can't think of

and have

was wrong.

guts, but I

mostly the super-egoist, the player to the gallery.

sex.

look forward

there.

Constance. Etwas [Something] wrong with her. Unhappy. But what

is

the answer to the fact that a

me

She came down to help

supporting the malcontents

Your boy
of a boy the

woman

of her age does not attract lovers?

here for two months, but

among

the

found her almost

staff.

looks a wonder child. With the same post

same

age, son of a late girl

on our

twice as intelligent and alive. Another Willy Reich

Well, Reich,

all

my

best wishes to

you say

friends have drifted

human

contact begins again

away
it

staff.

when we meet over a bottle

where we dropped them.

came
Your

poor

the photo
lad looks

kid!

you and your Frau. Sad

war

in the

may be

to hear

years. Perhaps not.

like old times; the

hand, the glance, the laugh can't be kept fresh by

Forest Hills,

of the best we'll pick

letters.

When

touch of the
I

know

that

up the threads of

life

New York
April

2,

1945

My dear Neill:
This will be a short
to get

away from

letter. I

understand very well your desire

For a few months now,

curative psychology.

am

bothered terribly by the same wish to escape the world of the neurotic

and

to

make

Schluss [an end] with

trying to find a

way

to secure

my

time to the investigation of living

by the only

psychiatric nuisance work.

somehow, and to give all

matter. I would only continue to

who are dealing with

hope we have, which is

structure educators
fied

my

living

nursery schools. That

in the

new-bom

am
my
re-

is justi-

babies.

agree with your judgment on U.S.A. education. But there are great

possibilities here for a break-through, but

hanged for the break-through.

also,

of course, for being

139

1945

Our

research has for nearly a year

now dug

deeply into the problems

of growth of animals and plants with amazing results.

My
life

boy

process,

no neurotic

not disturbed.

if it is

be that way

decency and honesty of the

a living proof of the inherent

is

they were

if

relatives

am

quite sure that

all

to themselves during their

left

children could

growth and

if

were around.

Siimmerhill School
Festiniog, North

Wales

June

6,

1945

My dear Reich,
I

way

too

fight

when my main

reform

for

To

education.

with me, for

on me now.
east seeing

way

got married in the usual

difficult

I
I

in

marriage,

fight too

many

three weeks ago.

etc

would

battles

is

begin to look like

school and

weaken my position

to lose the lot.

have gained so much weight that

my own

The other

education, and any other

fight is for

my

re

Marriage agrees

trousers won't button

a successful pork butcher. Have been

we hope

to

move back

this

autumn

at

latest.

Philipson's idea of a Sex Econ. Conference*

perhaps

it

would be

better in

London where

it

at S'hill

would

is

fine,

yet

get a better chance

of interesting people outside.

Flugel's

new book Man, Morals and

Society mentions you five times

quite kindly, but does not grasp your fundamentals.

Norway crowd has disintegrated. A

comedown from Veg. Ther. to shock treatment indeed. Can't think
in what way old Raknes has gone off the lines. Most odd that he was
allowed to practice for over four years in Oslo, isn't it? The world is
going to be very interesting now that the first phase of the class war is
over.t The real fight between fascism and socialism is next on the
programme, and there will be some great events in Europe in our time.
For myself I think that the next era will be communism leading slowly
Philipson seems to say that the

sad

to universal liberalism without profit.

* Neil!

enclosed

letter

queer situation here

from Tage Philipson,

suggesting

an

in

which

international

conference.
t

Surprisingly, this

is

the only reference either Neill or Reich

of the war in Europe, an event to which both

men had

makes

to the end

looked forward for so long.

1945

I40

movement seems

the official labour

does fascism or maybe more.

narrow view

that

communism

as

much

take no part in politics at

all

and take a

to hate

under any system

shall

as

it

be unfree to be an educa-

tional reformer.

good

It is

bom

to hear of

your Peter and

other fighters. That

is

his progress.

But whether he

hence depends on you and

to carry a rifle twenty years

is

me and

the only cause that really matters at this time in

history.

Well, Reich,

all

the best.

hear that you also are tired of

like to

had 25 years of them (including myself) and feel

tiredness of them means that I am no longer one of them!

neurotics. I've

my

that

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June 15, 1945

My dear Neill:
It is

co-workers.

say what happened in Scandinavia with our

difficult to

They seem

be

to

in great trouble,

and mutually antagonistic.

Such an interruption of contact as that which has been caused by

war

is

always bad. Philipson himself behaved very peculiarly.

had sent

several manuscripts to

We

have

to wait until

to

what

is

Sweden and did not receive any answer.

Raknes, Nic* and others write, in order

place, unless preparations

me

my

going on. According to

that, first,

all

about the idea of a convention

think you will agree with

concerned should be awaited.

expecting an answer from Philipson.

in

shall

know

opinion no congress could take

had been made.

messages from

You

dear Neill?

in education.

Summerhill.

How

am

don't seem to be enthusiastic

I

can understand that

you would not hke the disturbance.

Did you have word from Hamilton,! of the Hamilton School in
York? They like your books, and are enthusiastic about the
economic standpoint

this

about a

trip to

New

think that you will like Hamilton very much.

New
sex-

York,

He

is

my

going

through vegeto-therapy with me.

Nic Waal, Norwegian

A. E. Hamilton,

psychiatrist, friend

known

as Tajar,

together ran the Hamilton School,

Farm,

in Sheffield,

Mass.

and

first in

and student of Reich's

his wife,

New York

Eleanor,

and

Oslo.

in

known

as Ranger,

later, as the

Hamilton

141

1945

We

are putting

up a $4000 building on Orgonon

for experimental

work.

Your

suggestion of the possibility of a future liberalistic social setup

without profit sounds very probable.

You

We

should not feel too bad about the marriage license.

one out ourselves

after

6 years of marriage,

took

order to satisfy the

in

worries of the naturalization office about our moral status.

Do you

think the moralistic pest will ever vanish from the face of the earth?
It

seems

like

an important asset to have-nots.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
June 25, 1945

My

dear Reich,

Yours today. Also one from Philipson who seems

to

be most

anxious to get out of Scandinavia now.

Re
one

conference. Don't

at S'hill.

autumn
again.

know what

inner objections

haven't got back to Suffolk yet and

hope)

mean

will

it

That incidentally

a long time of hard

will conflict

my

with

have to having

when

work

do

to build

any time. But even then

London where
Tell

there are people

you what

down your

I feel,

I'd

want

who know

at least a lecture

of

me

in

by you

in

you now.

Reich. That the Scandinavian group narrowed

teachings too much.

They saw

it

point of view; their horizon was the patient.

much from the

Mine is the life of

too

eating, playing, learning, sexual, fighting, striving.

nuisance every time. Let's abolish them! Most boring

Nein, Reich.

back

Still

me

their perspective. S'hill

Exchanged
use coming in

some money

May

letters

summer

if I

poorish parents.
school.

few

try

come.
I

for

is

open for

with Hamilton.

no

damned

Mein Gott!

disciples to get

conference any day.

Maybe

winter of 1946.

lectures will be on then,

Am losing all

wish

would help

YOUR

a child,

letters I get are

as their inspiration or leader.

see that a Conference

curative

think your disciples

tend to lose perspective just as Freud's did. Disciples are a

from fans who look on

up

wish to lecture in U.S.A.

conference run by you yourself would be most welcome to

S'hill at

(this
it

and

No

must make

the time now, with high prices and

had some trade or business

market gardening, for

my

to support the

land in Suffolk

is

rich.

1945

P.S.

Fm

142
]

now and have had

Why

another 25.
learn about

life

is

Ufa so

when

it is

S'hill

25 years.

wish

could have

damnably short? You are just beginning

time to put your toys away and go to bed.

to

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July

2,

1945

My dear Neill:
you don't mind,

If

would

tional matter, an issue arising

like to

from the

bother you with an organiza-

fact that the contact

between

me and

the Scandinavian workers of the Institute has been disrupted for

so long.

Here

When

is

left

the trouble:

Scandinavia, Philipson automatically by his

teacher took, so to speak,

my

But he did not succeed

keeping

you

in

as a

skill

place in the Scandinavian organization.

this

organization together, and, as

know, great troubles arose with the Scandinavian group.

decided to

him what happened. To that I received a

He and other members of the Institute are of the opinion that I
disavow anyone who attempts to work on my theory. He assumes

write to Philipson and to ask

nasty letter.

once

at

that I

would sabotage or prevent

a congress.

(After

had suggested

it

He

mistakes the work-democratic principle as the abandon-

ment of any

necessity to keep each other informed, in other words, co-

operation

not necessary.

myself.)

is

am

supposed to have the responsibility for

the international work, without having the right to expect that a scientific

worker,

who

he

and what

lives,

is

leading a national section, keeps

going on in his section.

must know how things

is,

and

of the

too,

work

stand.

here,

and though
letters

To

it

is

how you

more than 6

years,

stand and what your school

so matter of course that

have

regret to

out.

be frank, and

and

informed of where

are in a far higher position than he

am

sure

you

refuse to play organizational politics.

exist,

me

hate to be a director, but

did not see you for

roughly

doing. Such co-operation

to point

You

and yet you were kept informed by me about the progress

know from your

is

is

will
I

understand

my

viewpoint,

refuse to be a director.

really believe even better so, without

can

any organization apart

from the organization needed to carry on my research. I am

the state of development of 1939. I am ready and willing
advice if somebody wants it, but I am not ready to do all the

far

beyond

to give
dirty

my

work,

143

194 5

and to give at the same time the one

work and who became famous through my work, the

and

to suffer all the dirty attacks,

for

whom

freedom
that

we

not,

and

behave badly against me.

to

whether

find out

to dissolve

The work

is

like to suggest, therefore,

this International Institute of

in

it

would

case

1939

still

exists or

did not stand the test of the war

it

organized anyhow locally

in the

American Orgone

crisis.

Institute,

including sex-economy, in your school, in Palestine and in other places.

I

am

engrossed deeply and with

which

me busy

keep

will

all

my

heart in orgone physical research

30 to 40 years.

for the next

July 12
I

gave myself several days' time to

my

re-reading

letter to

you

think

it

let
is

matters sink

right to

send

in.

Now,

and

it,

after

would

add a few more things about my standpoint. I am ready to

work in a factual, rational, work-democratic set-up of co-operation.
It seems as if the principle of politics to unite easily and smoothly
like to

for war, but to be incapable of unity for practical rational peace aims,

applies already to the old Institute of 1939.

to

am

everyone to do what he wants, but he cannot

he wants to and

expect

still

or refuse his spitting.

me

to relinquish

We know

ready to give freedom

spit

my

on

my

mistake real freedom for licence,

when

right to freely accept

from spoiled children how

and how

table

easily they

easily they think they are

behaving freely when they are only behaving badly. Freedom in my life
and work and concept of living does not mean that you can do whatever

you want, but that you can choose among numberless

do what
I

is

free possibilities to

best toward a definite goal.

cannot judge

how

far apart the

have drifted from each other.

If

situation in the sense that there

sense of licence,

members

of the Institute of

you can do something

rational co-operation

is

shall appreciate

it.

1939

to correct the

and not

in the

would appreciate your true

opinion and advice.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 13, 1945

My dear Neill:
I

had

just

mailed a very thick

received yours of June 25th, and

am

letter to

you yesterday when

hurrying to answer

it.

wish to

1945

144

thank you most heartily for offering Summerhill for a conference. But

am

much

afraid

one

at least

to

according rough judgment

before such conference could be
We

time will have to pass

two years

to a

held.

cannot have a conference without having prepared

with

all

home

in

concerned.

want you

Forest Hills while you are in

am

but

stuff,

it

properly together

my invitation to stay at our

New York. It won't be too comfull

is

can be arranged, and

will

The

all

the lectures

to give.

letter I sent off

yesterday confirmed in advance what you wrote

about organization and disciples. But

works

and

of instruments

be more convenient.

sure that Hamilton will be only too glad to arrange

you wish

It

it

to accept

fortable because four-fifths of the house

laboratory

it is

as badly with as without disciples,

I regret that I

had

to bother

you with

not an easy matter to decide.

and we have

this

to find

Scandinavian

our way.

affair,

but

could not do otherwise.

I

have an important suggestion to make as

school, but about that

when you

your

to the support of

are here.

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales

August

1945

6,

My dear Reich,
Sorry for delay
to

in

answering you. In the middle of packing up

move back to Suffolk, and working about 25 hours

Don't know what to say about Philipson. His letter

a day.
is

most neurotic

me the "beloved disciple of the Master" psychology

am the one and only disciple who understands the New

and suggests to

"I,

Christ

Dr P,
who is being betrayed by

letter is absolutely subjective

the other Judases." In any case his

and therefore unanswerable

in logic

and

reason.

young man called Barbikan, or some name sounding

here for a week from London.

He began

at

knows all your works and your work is the

went away saying that he is to write you a
proving that

it is

to

show me any

letter

He

is

it,

came

centre of his world.

full

description of

not working according to Reich Sex Econ.

the school isn't a Reich school.

wants

like

once to attack me.

quite friendly

He
He

S'hill,

I told

him

and honest and

he writes to you. Faint resemblance to the

145

They introduce

p. affair.

when

article hasn't

don't like

it

been printed

now;

always

in the journal

feel like that

all

Tiresome

personalities instead of the work.

have to concentrate on moving pianos and books

my

If
it.

194 5

day long.

ask Wolfe not to use

about writing; by the time

printed I've thought of another way. Yours in haste and worry.

it is

Summerhill School
Festiniog,

North Wales
August 22, 1945

My dear Reich,

A
Many

busy.

Reich.

And
I

think

My
much

short letter because I

am moving my school and am very

You are a wonderful man,

thanks for your two books.*

read you and realise that

shall I try to get a

London

know

nothing of psychology.

publisher for your two latest books?

now that the war is over.

new
own
bookf isn't out yet, and
I

of

could

it

don't like now.

change too quickly.

What

of the atomic

book

hate

its

written during a

appearance, for

war

is

bad; things

didn't see the turn to the Left in politics here.

bomb?

How

does

it

connect with your Orgone?

Death versus Life. Inorganic versus Organic. Death always seems to

win

in science.

P.S.

How is Peter?

Had
you

in

over
is

dream last night in which I came to N.Y. and saw

It was a disappointment to awake. How I am to come
don't know. I have just been over to Suffolk and there

a wonderful

your

lab.

in reality I

work there

weeded and

to restore the place, years of work, for the land

I'll

have to become a gardener

for at least a year.

Character Analysis (1945) and The Sexual Revolution (1945)-

Hearts Not Heads

in the

School.

is

all

1945

146

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

lo,

1945

My dear Neill:
Many

thanks for your kind

letter.

would

England. But why reprint them

books published

in

English already?

Would some

publisher in England

mission for our Press? They are selling

my

like to

if

have

my

they are here in

them on com-

sell

strongly

stuff quite

now

in the U.S.A.

We

have finished the laboratorium building

in

Orgonon.

It

cost about

$3000 more than expected.

Send me your book as soon as it appears.
I had several enquiries regarding the relationship of Orgone to the
atomic bomb. Orgone is, as far as I can see, sub-atomic energy in its
natural form out of which chemical elements arise. The atomic bomb
energy

is

obtained by smashing matter.

energy naturally.
in

We

are gathering the cosmic

don't believe that the mechanists will ever succeed

slowing up the process of smashing up matter to such a degree that

the energy could be used beneficially.

Orgone energy

the

bomb

Somebody

said the other

day that

the only real counteractor to the deathly

is

atom

energy.

New York

Forest Hills,

October 29, 1945

My dear Neill:
I

problem

We
but

it

to

did not hear from you in a long time.

you and

hope you

will continue to exist as

Now,

am

smaller size and

you have

point. It

a better

would be

one of the

an archive under the

will publish the

less pages,

title

would be edited by
as

will co-operate:

present form,

its

title

"Archives of

"heavy" natural

scientific

much

pondering a plan of issuing a periodical of

much

under the possible

If

wish to present a

are stopping the publication of the Journal in

Orgone Biophysics," which

stuff.

all

editors,

of "Living Matter,

title,

fine

and on a much more popular

please

educators

let

New Ways

me know.

who on

This popular journal

if

you would agree

and second, to contribute regularly

I

basis,

Education."

principle agree with our view-

and very encouraging

out of the material of your school.

in

hold that

this

plan

is

to sign

to this journal

of the greatest

147

which would confirm the natural

birth until

grown up. Please

it is

Did you succeed

We
with

1945

life

give

functions of the child from before

me

in establishing at

your suggestions on that

work

that

How

Leiston again?

are functioning full blast again in our lab, but

administrative

promote the development of public opinion

practical importance to

am

is

idea.

going?

it

so burdened

cannot get time for thinking and

theoretical research.

Forest Hills,

New York
November

My

We

had quite a

would not have

considerably,

if

specific field of

you

will

here concerning the further

bit of discussion

We now

upkeep of the Journal.

that

24, 1945

dear Neill,

and

to stop the publication,

you and others would be

could be broadened

it

willing to take care of your

work, editing your specific material.

be interested enough

to help along.

hope very much

imagine that educa-

from your school and your co-workers,

tional material, gathered

We

developed the following idea:

as material about the status of education in

England

as well

would

in general,

be interesting enough for you to be taken care of by you. Please inform

me how you

feel

about

it,

and whether you would

like to

do

this

job

together with your co-workers for England.

I

would take care of the natural

am

conducting

at present a

scientific,

various schools, about the problem of

armored parents, nurses,

I

hope very much

that

etc. It is

you

orgone biophysical

field.

seminar with about 16 educators from

how

the

new-bom

child

met by

is

quite exciting what that does to

your old beloved school. Here are a few photos of

my

life.

up anew

find time for rest while building

son.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

28, 1945

My dear Reich,
I

one foot
short, I

have sent you

in the old

camp

have not grasped

my

book.

You

of Freud etc.
all

will see

and one

by

it

in the

that

have

still

Reich camp. In

your message, possibly because

got

it

1945

too late in

Put

life.

whereas to make
a

new

148

get a

when you ask me

that

my

by one

little

sincerity.

was

not the one to propagate

Some

my

of

to blame, but therapy

But

the patient every time obviously.

be a therapeutic one;

self-distrust

mitmachen [count me

it

stopped coming.

can see that your new journal

be creative for the future rather

will

Much

At Christmas we

began

still

in Hellerau,

fresh, although I

my

have had

Wood

in Sept.

and

it

am

see

my way

the trouble

all

for-

is

was Xmas 192 1

it

is

a long time, but

I

that
I

am

used to be, and

can buy one pound's worth per

if

Akku.

with work that doesn't interest me.

I'd

letters.

builders, gardeners, etc.

I

to building an

am burdened

spent weeks answering

boy

an exhausting one

not so patient of their noise as

every one myself. They don't ask

office

task,

celebrate our Jubilee, for

from working people asking

officials,

was a big

Dresden. 25 years of kids

popular Sunday paper had picture of

could

make. Ich werde

has to be repaired after 5 years of army occupa-

severely rationed, but

now

you

P.S. Like

all

part of the house partitioned off for quietness.

is still

month, and

plans you

so delightful to be back again that

it is

gotten by now.
tion.

me know what

inl

came back here

But

too.

One

must be desired by

than trying to clean up messes from the past. That sort of journal
of course help with. Let

We

mean
new

to take part in the

as things got nearer to vital repressions they

will not

of Reich to S'hill

experience of veg.-therapy with adolescents here.

know how much

Don't

am

afraid that I

little

sex-economy views with complete

comes from

have added a

a complete orgonotic-orgastic school would

So

basis entirely.

journal editing,

way:

in this

it

S'hill

have

me

had 150 letters mostly

children. I had to answer

and

S'hill

their

to broadcast

now

but

when

did

That and interviewing government

fills

too

much

of

my

day. Just an

am.

Forest Hills,

New York
December

19,

1945

My dear Neill:
Yesterday

began

to read

it

received your

new book Hearts Not Heads.

immediately and found

it,

contrary to your opinion, not

only extremely interesting but very important.

every step you take, but there

is

a great

agree with you on nearly

But which not only concerns

149

you and your

attitude but also

my own

work:

1945

more and

learn to see

more how deeply rooted and how complicated the distortion of the
human soul has become through the maltreatment of many thousand
a point where the answer to the question,

how

heaven's

years.

That

name

the masses of the people should actually and practically seize the

is

rule of true self-government

becomes

good to clamor for freedom, to

I feel

that

lost in

fight the

of us miss the point in that

all

misty fogs.

in

well and

It is all

suppressors of freedom, but

we do not

give any practical

answer to the question how and whether the streetcars

and the

will run,

be cleaned and the coal mined and the mail distributed and
the countryside policed, and the subways engineered, if there is no
authority from above. I am only throwing back the burning stick you

streets will

my

once threw into

lap

when you cooled me off by saying rightly that

become bureaucratic and authoritarian. Do

administration will tend to

you remember
book, and
I

that hot potato?

don't see anything about

in

it

your

have been deeply disturbed for the past few months, because

cannot arrive

any practically sound conclusion

at

in

regard to the

administration of such an intricate mechanism as our society.

And

to say

'"responsible freedom" instead of only "freedom," does not solve the

problem. The more you learn about the emotional pest in the depth of
the
is

human

being, the

more hopeful

become

as far as the distant future

concerned, but the more hopeless the situation looks

in

regard to

the near future.

The other day

society.
I

am

suppose

this kind, I shall

rest

that
I

have been elected Honorary

deserved

it,

but

am

haunted by the

holding 3 honorary memberships by now;

hurry up before

hope you
and

joy.

if I

terrible fear:

will

too

more

get 2 or 3

not be able to write a true line any more. So

it is

We

Mark Twain
Member of this

received a letter from the International

me

Society telling

of

have to

late.

succeed

are taking

in living
it

through a peaceful Christmas with

easy too in these days.

Swnmerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

My

27, 1945

dear Reich,

kind of you to say what you do about my book. The

[London] Times in a long review calls me a genius and then proceeds to
It is

194 5

show
as

that

am

150

not one. Also

have been honoured by being chosen

one of i6 contributors to a memorial book of essays

to celebrate

Bernard Shaw's ninetieth birthday. What with your honours too, we are
both becoming far too respectable. Does
date?

mean we

it

are both out-of-

wonder.

Group of young men in London want to start a Sex Econ. journal.

I know two of them, Eastmond and Day. Day has been my maths
teacher and has a very wide craps^ of all your work including the
Orgone side. They want it to be independent of the U.S.A. work. They
you about

are writing to

their getting to

and

work.

it.

see the snags in

hope you

will let

it

although

them work,

am

Day's case very clever. Their journal might exchange

in

for

all

for they are keen

articles

with yours.

Note:

Mark

in slang

means

"^

above.

faeces! I

meant

to write "grasp." I wrote "craps"

hope the Freudian error doesn't betray

which

my

real

opinion of Mr. Day.

I

don't quite grasp your fear that no one will bring the coal or sweep

the streets.

Why

civilisation. I

am

not? Given short hours and good pay in a

new

spending most of the day making gravel paths, heavy

work wheeling barrows and using a pickaxe. I like it, and wouldn't mind
being a navvy every morning if I could do something else afternoons
and

nights.

No, the problem

can't solve

such as you and

much

who

is

heavers and post men. The desk blokes? Yet

is

to direct the coal

feel that, given

education

demand, the Stimmung [mood] among people

to solve all these questions.

feel

that today there

between socialism and the atomic bomb; that

Another problem.

You

is

hold that Stalinism

is

will

do

race

the immediate question.

is

no longer socialism.

Then why is the capitalist world so hostile to Stalinism? Why are so

many diehards openly anticipating the Russo-American war? Why the
fear that Russia is bolshevising central Europe? I don't know the
answers; am just puzzled. I'd hate to live in a Communist state as we
know it, yet I always find that my "feelings" are with Russia against
the Imperialist idea. And, Reich, whether we like it or not Communism
is the next step, and if we and the International Labour Party and the
Anarchists and the Social Democrats don't adapt ourselves we can do
nothing, for we are a small minority. And once Communism is set up
we won't be allowed to differ; we'll be liquidated. Most confusing and
perplexing. Certainly no Communist state would tolerate S'hill and my
work.

We

have

just celebrated the

25th birthday of

S'hill

with

many

old

151

pupils and parents

down dancing

when

have wine and whiskey with

didn't

but a few million were worse

Constance
in

Europe.

is

It is

off in

working hard

is

the

first

my Xmas

Xmas

in

dinner. Sad,

Europe.

money

to raise

a question that

6 a.m. The only snag was that we

till

couldn't get any drink to celebrate with, and this

years

1945

one

is

to feed the starving kids

apt to repress

all

the time.

find

my

wife

myself doing so sometimes.

Your son grows

fast. I like his looks,

does not seem to get pregnant.

She hates

have the

specialists,

aber

fullest in love.

along and want to talk to

This fan business

in the

and no

is

We

to see a specialist at once.

happy together, and both

when my female fans come

are very

But she hates

me

brave and curious. Ena

want her

it

at length.

tiresome ...

often

daydream of

a quiet life

country with a garden, a workshop and some hens and no post

visitors,

but

know

I'd

soon

tire of that.

Well, Reich, every good wish to you both ... to you three in '46.

1946
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 10, 1946

My

dear Reich,
I

hear that The Freedom Press, London,

your books over here.

is

wanting to publish

would be a great mistake.

think this

It is

an

Anarchist Press, disliked by diehards and communists alike and by

liberals.

they publish you then your public will be limited and the

If

big public will be suspicious. No, your books should appear with the

name
sect.

of a respectable publisher

Some

any of them, but not a narrow

anarchists are claiming you as one of

them already, so be

careful.

My
bitter

book
and

selling like hot cakes. Getting

hostile.

The Times

then in the rest of half a page shows that

Re

am

that

proposed

me. No,

its

300 miles

night then flying

I'd like to

leisurely to help

come

pay

my

calls

hustle

me

a genius,

begin to think

lecturing in one city

as a visitor

on Monday

to lecture next night sort of thing

fare

and

I ain't.

U.S.A. on a lecture tour,

trip to

too old.* U.S.A. with

good reviews, but one or two

paragraph

in first

would

kill

and maybe give a few lectures

and expenses. To face

a long tour with

would be appalling. In the meantime of course es

Frage [it is out of the question] for I have much to do

a fixed timetable

kommt

nicht in

here and can't get the right teachers and have to worry a

want

to

* Neill

have an easy

was

life.

sixty-two.

153

lot

when

All

1946

good fortune

lum reek ...

Forest Hills,

154

you and Use and Peter

to

in

1946. Lang

may your

get a Scot to translate that one.

New York
January 12, 1946

My

dear Neill:

December 27th. First of all, I

Eastmond and Day. It is a tough
proposition to decide upon. I am a bad police dog, and I don't like to
supervise. I would say, let them go ahead and let's hope for the best.
There is only one wish I would insist upon being fulfilled. They should
This

would

is

to

answer your

letter of

like to discuss the project of

not use the words sex-economy or orgone biophysics in the

their journal, unless they are ready to cooperate with the

very closely, as Dr.

Hoppe*

in Palestine

and others

in

Orgone

title

of

Institute

other countries

do.
I believe

world and

you are

adhering to an old antithesis of capitalist

still

socialist world,

which

is

a dead past.

are with Russia against the imperialist idea.

that Russia

is

as imperiaUstic as

Iran, Finland, etc.)

say your feelings

wonder why you don't

capitalistic

see

country could be (see

and that the American government has divided up

the big estates in Bavaria.

truly democratic trends

and

any

You

also believe that

and forces

dictatorship. I wish

you underestimate the

in the U.S.A., the hate of imperialism

we had time

to discuss these things thoroughly.

Take my belated congratulations to the 25th birthday of Summerhill.

I wonder whether you know how important Summerhill is, and how
much more important it will become in the future. I don't believe that
there will be a communist regime in the whole world. It is not honest,
and

will die out just

because of

Please write soon again, and

that.
let

me have

a snapshot of yourself

your school.

Walter Hoppe,

German

physician

who had immigrated

to Israel.

and

155

1946

New York

Forest Hills,

January 21, 1946

My

dear Neill:

few days ago

received a letter from

Eastmond concerning

Work Democracy. Of

their plan to issue a periodical

course,

their

I like

They can have all my support. But the danger is

not working practically on sex-economic educational and social

idea and
that

said so.

may

problems, they

slip into ideological,

or

still

worse, political talking

of the old type.

Now

must take your time for something

me, but everybody who

is

else that concerns not only

me and my work:

touch with

in

meeting

with a federal judge at the office of naturalization in Brooklyn.

my

brought again to

consciousness something of which

my

aware for a long time: that

It

have been

swinging back and forth between

life is

police actions

on the one hand and honorary memberships and future

Nobel

on the other hand.

prizes

It

is

rather

though

interesting,

dangerous mixture.

When

me

received the document that conveys upon

membership of the International Mark Twain Society. I

criminal Huckleberry Finn. I felt that I had done wrong

the honorary
like the

felt

in

accepting

or receiving this document of honor, that the illustrious gathering of

well-known names on the letterhead would soon

this
I

new and
have

society or a
is

strange honorary

to confess that

"good

faster, as

just

if

had

am

citizen."

hated and detested

had

in others.

is

called a solid

name, though beloved

When

I see

tires

member
in

a policeman,

just stolen silver spoons, or as

punctured the

embarrassed about

member.

not what

My

feel

if

some

my

good

of

quarters,

heart beats

were a boy who

on the car of the older brother of

bad

friend.

The other day

stood before the bar of a judge in Federal Court of

the Naturalization Office of the U.S.A.

judge, a

young ardent

felt afraid

and

spiteful.

The

officer of the law, eager to gain his spurs early,

books which have been seen or found in my

library; books by Lenin and Trotsky. "And what has politics to do with
biology?" he asked. I could not tell him that if you are a writer on
recriminated

human

affairs

two bad
silent

me

for certain

and

conflicts,

you must have read

citizens of the world! I felt guilty

the writings of these

because the offense was

my

thought that a judge of the Federal Court of the U.S.A. should

not ask such

silly

questions.

1946

To be
the

156

short: I

am

Honorary Fellow

Imagine a

to

some

after all.

It

meadows enjoying a sunny mornjumps over high bushes and broad brooks. It over-

comes seemingly unsurmountable

comer

far in the

might not turn out to be

horse racing over

fiery

ing in the spring.

an embarrassing fellow.

But behind a small bush

obstacles.

of the field, well hidden and protected, a small stick

of 20 inches brings the horse to

That's the course of

life.

fall. It

breaks

its

neck.

Imagine now the honorary colleague of

To fall
know what

Einstein and Eisenhower breaking his neck in such a manner!

over a small, ambitious judge of a small court

a library

is

used

who does

not

for.

Honored and esteemed in the highest terms in many circles, the

danger of a new mess-up of things, emigration, homelessness, is on the
horizon again because the word communism is associated with emotions
which cannot be handled medically

mind
the

in a court.

sham democracy brought about by

I think, quite

Maybe

beyond present

my

that

makes me look

life,

my

explain to the average

democracy of Lenin and

the irrationality of the masses

is,

possibihties.

spent hitherto in about lo changes of domicile,

at things in this

manner.

the irrationality of procedures which

takes

To

the difference between the intended true

It is
I

not the troubles of

life

but

cannot overcome and which

guts.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 26, 1946

My

dear Reich,

Yours yesterday.

had often wondered what was happening

about your naturalisation, and feared

self:

"When

difficulties,

but kept saying to

my-

the world acknowledges the Orgone, R. will be safe in any

and every country as a famous discoverer."

waiting for your public success, and

would whisper

in

my

ear:

have become impatient

confess that sometimes

Mr Doubt

"Perhaps Reich has got hold of the wrong

stick with his new physics." But the doubt never lasted more
moment or two.
What puzzles me is how the learned men of U.S.A. come to reward

end of the
than a

you with
are

their gifts of

known by

the few

membership of exclusive

who have no

societies? It

means you

political influence. I think of

my own

157

1946

am known

case. I

to the intelligentsia of this country; recently a

me

well-known newspapers have called

in court

on some or any charge,

But

a genius.

had

if I

what

financial or criminal or

few

appear

to

not, I'd

etc." The judge and jury wouldn't

enemy counsel quoted from my books they

be "a schoolmaster Alexander Neill

know my name, and

if

the

would

certainly not be in

you

similar.

is

mouth

Any

your writings.

as seen in

challenge a

man

sympathy with

hostile person
It

for having Lenin

my

views.

take

it

the case with

can condemn you out of your

own

sounds insane that any judge should

and Trotsky books

in his house.

You
Communism

wise judge would say that these two authors cancel each other out!
say

am

danger

my

out of date in

versus Capitalism
in

is

your library?

Odd

side, ignoring the fact that

ment than mere

opinion that the old set-up

alive. If

still

it

is

dead why does your judge see

on the

that your judge should fix

political set-ups.

After six years in N.Y. have you no friends at the top?

easier to deal with a lord than with his butler.

You

can't go

moving

before you arrive.

will

come

expelled

to live in

man from

Forest Hills,

political

your sex-economy views are of greater mo-

to another country

which

here admit a daydream

London.

will get all

.

It is

usually

way must be found.

maybe

your dossier

after all

Reich

wish you could, but not as a compulsory

U.S.A.

New York
January 29, 1946

My

dear Neill:
I just

strictly

against

received your letter of January loth.

my

books being published by

That does not mean that

am, of course,
organizations.

have anything personally against anarchists,

communists or even individual

in all

political

fascists.

You

find useful

and useless ones

camps.

am glad that your book is selling well. It deserves it.

Re your trip to the U.S.A.: I would suggest that you hook up with
the Hamilton School in New York which could arrange a leisure-full
I

lecture tour in the U.S. I

American

touring.

am

would advise very much against the typical

longing for a good long chat with you.

still

1946

158

New York

Forest Hills,

February

My

4,

1946

dear Neill:

have yours of January 26th.

You

are absolutely right in

Only one remark does not seem

say.

whom

with

am

associated

now have no

sible that the generals Marshall,

Alexander,

Nimitz,

the

You

clear:

what you

write that the people

political influence. Is

pos-

it

Mountbatten, Pershing, Eisenhower,

Wells,

Einstein,

scientists

statesmen

the

Camaccio [Camacho], Mackenzie King,* have no

influence? They have, but I am afraid that as it happened in

Churchill, Hoover,
political

Norway, a small judge of a small

police court,

is

stronger,

much

and even the power of the few.

As

said,

"they

about me."

And

yet,

My

and academic standing

social

am

deeply worried. Though

power would be of no

munism

am

in the U.S.

know

is

very strong.

the working of the

helpless to cope with

still

avail here. All this has nothing to

And

is

in that respect

it.

Even

do with Com-

god

call

is

still

happened

to dis-

much more dangerous

to

Sex-economy deals "only" with the moral

but orgone biophysics deals with

what people

which

living plasmatic functions

the orgone

the pest than sex-economy.

issues,

terrifying picture.

versus Capitalism, but only with the deadly fear and terror of

armored men of

the

and

a dark

Norway to the FBI before I came to this country, and as

knew all about me." But I don't know what "they knew

emotional pest fairly well,

cover.

It is

fellow in a

little

knowledge of the few

learned directly from this judge, a document was sent over ap-

parently from

he

court, or a small

stronger, than the

God

identical with the

himself, having

shown

that

cosmic energy which really

is

everywhere, penetrates everything, created the world, constitutes the

emotions and religious

and
in,

straining job I

day

out,

am

feelings,

governs

doing, Neill.

My

human

become, even though the picture of a

man becomes

talk things over

clearer
.

and more

a very tough

brain works at high speed day

and very often through the

understand the perversity of

of

life, etc. etc. It is

nights.

The more I learn to

more desperate I

reactions, the

final solution of the social

definite. I

wish

tragedy

had you here

to

* These were all men listed as Honorary Members of Societies of which

Reich had himself become a member. As he took membership extremely seriously,
he considered them his associates.

159

1946

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 12, 1946

My

dear Reich,
I

wrote to an old friend, a lady in

New

York, asking her

she could help a friend of mine in being naturalised.

Today

if

have her

reply ... "I have a friend in the State Department in Washington and

one

N.Y.

in

and means."
but

if

you think

Two
One

in the Office of

don't
it

know

important

War

I'll

who would know ways

Information

you care

if

to use influence in this way,

give her the information.

Danish teachers here for a month, friends of Leunbach,*

of the

Danes

is

being analysed by Philipson

who

is

back

etc.

in

Copen-

leading

hagen.

My

book has had

article in the

good reception

The Times

here.

Educational Supplement says

am

right,

in

and a professor

London Univ. praises me a lot, comparing me with

Rousseau and Pestalozzi. Changed days when my books were sneered
at. But the price I pay is heavy
scores of visitors who make me

of education at

very tired with their questions.

ago with a crammed

lectured to

undergraduates. They asked about sex a

Forest Hills,

Cambridge Univ. two

nights

and a tremendous enthusiasm from the

full hall

lot.

New York
February i8th, 1946

My

dear Neill:
I

hurry to answer your short note of February 12th,

you suggest help

at the State

Department

in

Washington.

visable at the present time to use any such measures.

the U.S.A.
of

all
I

am

very strong, and either

if

not,

we

shall

My

in

which

not ad-

standing in

shall get the citizenship in spite

be able to

fight

it

through

at the courts.

very glad about your success, and would like to add that

gard you

We

is

fiends or,

It is

much

re-

higher than Pestalozzi.

are waiting for a

new

article

from you for the Journal.

Dr. Joyce Leunbach, one of the leaders of the Danish Sex Pol movement;
Buddha, was a member of the group around Reich in Oslo.

his wife,

1946

i6o

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 30, 1946

My

dear Reich,
I

have been long

Am

in writing to you.

many

a busy term with too

visitors I feel

on holiday, and after

and spend the day

tired,

mending the property, which is the best way of taking

The army left the place in such a mess that there are years
of work to do on it.
Not much chance of my coming for some time, I fear. Ena is having a
baby in October, and that means no travel this year for me.
I don't seem to have much to write about this time. My thoughts
wander to golf, and I am prouder of my improvement in the game than
of my fame as a teacher. Golf is to me what skiing is to you I guess.
painting walls and
a holiday.

am

now

trying

bad time with

When

are

to begin to get material to build an

now

enough, but

interest wasn't

sickness, I

we

Ena

that

want one for

pregnant and

is

Self-

having a

is

her.

have a book devoted only to the

to

Akku.

scientific side of

the Orgone? I'd like to give one or two to scientist friends.

No more
talk to

am

knowing

resting,

visitors

Gott,

that

how

summer

tired of

will

them

be one long

I get,

am

lecturing to the University of

London Psychological

Society

May.

Forest Hills,

New York
May

My
tell

8th,

1946

dear Neill:
I

have your

you how glad

letter of

am

April 30th. First of

you have joined us

that

a marvellous thing. Please do not

accumulator very regularly.

that regular use of the

We

to

fail

in

and funnel. Please, don't

one,

when

would

like to

child. That's

have Mrs. Neill use the

now

orgone accumulator helps the mother and the

when

prevents any soreness of the nipples, and

little

have very much good evidence

the direct irradiation of the nipple

and the

all,

having a

child to a very great extent before and after birth.

is

for they

ask the same questions.

all

in

to say.

hundreds of

fail to
it

send

comes.

me

is

Another great help

the child starts feeding.

It

easy to apply with the pipe

a photo of yourself, Mrs. Neill

i6i

Your question

in

regard to a book on the orgone

and earning,
and

decided to

to devote all the

orgone as far as

mary

restrict

my

rest

psychiatric

money to two hours

writing down the story

earning

mainly to

goes up to now.

it

very timely. After

is

a long struggle, and in spite of being at a peak in

It is

work

a day,

of the

very important to have a sum-

of these things published. But the writing alone will take about 2

book won't be here

years, so that the

It will

you that

interest

my

a letter

Luis

Mohr

and

that he

from her father

in

another 3 years have passed.

till

old foes of 1938 in

my

work. The other day, one of

me

1946

ready to say so

in public. I

about 1926. In spite of having gone through

am

still

still

at

am

a swindler

going to write

down and

him

am

publish the whole fight for biogenesis which

blood,

are

which he says that the hereditary biologist

of the University of Oslo has told

is

Norway

students here from Norway showed

that

have had to put up since

it

myself with heart and

astonished and amazed at what people are capable of

doing, saying, pesting, and so on.

Now

a remark as to "free" sex. In order to distinguish ourselves from

damaging pornographic concept of sexual activity, we got used, and
found it very helpful, to using the word healthy or natural instead of
the

When

free.

suppressed people use the word free, they invariably

mean

fucking around indiscriminately.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

My

1946

19,

dear Reich,

By

mad

this

time Barakan will have met you.

about your work.

You may

find

him

[know-it-all] but not an objectionable

as

He

Ena

to bring

a clever lad

one as so many can

think of no special message to give you via him, and

do was

is

all I

be.

could

asked him to

back a detailed method of making an Akku.

pay my expenses

gets big with child. Australia offered to

went out to a conference there in October, but

be away when she

and

did, a bit of a Besserwisser

don't

if

refused because

know what

to say

is having the child. I

U.S.A. Ena wants to come with me, and she won't be
help it,
fit to travel for some time. I don't want to come by air if I can
safe
too
isn't
flying
me,
and
before
lies
fatherhood
especially now that

can't

about a

trip to

yet

which

is

most

likely a rationalisation. I

have noted

in recent

1946

i62

years a fear of death connected with

I

happened

what

will

to

be

happen

in a Bhtz,

to S'hill?

no man can do our job

I'd like to carry

any
I

on

if

my

first

it,

and

my

if

When

am now

If I

the same,

death.

many

things I

am

Or should

teach maths myself, but waste so

weekend.

Good

one time

at

much

it? I

find I can

is

'39 with too

Can't get

little

on,

staff

time entertaining

work

for

me, for

go longer

Calvinism?

and have to

We

visitors.

have

is

much

the girl

to

to give

them

damn them).

coming for three weeks. She

books into Danish. Apparently she

summer

my

week, and another 30 come next

last

for them, but hard

at all.

a long talk every time (free of charge, too,

Buddha Leunbach

to ask

only curious.

it;

doing no psychological work

had 60 teachers

want

62 Vi and naturally there must be a gradual

without wanting any sex. Is that normal or a legacy from

any man

can't find

doesn't matter though, for

It

he didn't he'd show he was a nobody.

process by which sex desire lessens.

I'm not worrying about

in

of course the old silly idea that

long to see you and talk with you. So

about. O. reflex

London
am bumped off

any time

at

thought was:

Which means
we depart. All

S'hill after

man would change

S'hill.

who

is

translating

sat outside

your annoyance

No.

at the time.

my
10*

But

she writes sensibly.

Orgones are

still

outside scientific language here.

How

long

till

they

are recognised?

All the best to self and wife and kid.

Frau auch

want

to see him.

And

die

[the wife too].

P.S. Latest story here:

Young

soldier fell in love with the regimental

goat and was sent to a psychoanalyst.

Analyst: "Let

me

now,

see

Soldier (indignantly)

"A

is it

a he-goat or a she-goat?"

she-goat of course.

I'm neurotic, do you?"

The

street

number of Reich's address

in Oslo.

You

surely don't think

i63

1946

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June or early July 1946]

[late

My

dear Neill:
I

have your

June 19th. The things you say about

letter of

one's worries in regard to the future fate of one's labor are so very true.
I

can understand them perfectly, being

disciples are apt to split their

lower.

It

happened

often

on

really carries

that

was

it

just

will not continue.

But

walls and the kids in

it.

As

to

research foundation carrying

stability to certain

house the whole archive and

my

son grow into

build

up

their

On May

own

28th

it,

all

Orgonon,

it

am

believe

will stand for all times as

And

that

more than

is

the

I intend to establish a scientific

my name

seems vain but the name

(it

central ideas!!), a foundation which will

be devoted to Orgone Science. Should

will

my

the better. But otherwise

children should

lives.

became an American

vote and to function as a juror."

more important

who

an apparent opponent

an example of what education should be.

promises

the best fol-

is

but his way, and not mine or your way.

your school as such

One's

a similar position.

in

head mutually over who

service

Citizen "with the privilege to

told the officer that

hope

by taking the constitution wortlich

to

be of

[literally]. I

glad to have a passport again.

Barakan came. Seems

up

quite a clever

fellov^',

but

shall

have

to clean

his soul quite a bit too.

I

want you

over.

The Org.
desire,

to

come over here by

all

should be possible, shouldn't

It

and

means. So much has to be talked

it?

Refl. diminishes of course in later years.

all is

calm

the

if

life

was and

Org. Accum. will do to you what

and give you pep.

Now

it

running fully as yours. The

is

did to Hamilton:

you are sure

But so also the

make you tanned

have one and to use

to

it

by

autumn.
I

had a nasty

letter

from Philipson

again.

The man mistakes

lack of

The whole Scandinavian situation is a mess. I am

about the lack of ability in people to function
more
more
and
learning
respect for freedom.

and cooperatively, to the point of despairing of human freedom.

people.
I would like to get away from psychiatry of sick messed-up
They are hopeless. I prefer to work with Bions and Earths and life

freely

energy and seeds, that

is

is,

with undistorted

too early for people to write about

it.

It

life.

As

to the

Orgone:

It

upsets the second law of

thermodynamics and does away with too many wrong assumptions and

1946

i64

theories of mechanistic science.

hopefully too. There

is

am

looking calmly into the future and

only one thing

in the

back and destroy

This time
past,

is

my

That

I still fear.

frameup, some abysmal Gemeinheit [dirty

work. But we are

is,

which

trick]

alert

all

some crooked

may

hit

still

me

and watchful.

think the science of living matter, so often frustrated in the

bound

to

come

through.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 2, 1946

My

dear Reich,

Am trying to pick up threads in Vienna.

I

founded

the

Dalcroze

my

had

Schule,

Karl Baer, with

returned

letter

whom

marked

Abgereist ohne Adresse [Left without forwarding address]. Poor Baer;

never realised

till

Ema

me

told

that

Baer

is

a Jewish name.

Your work and mine can be destroyed only

by atomic

idiocy. It

is

an atomic war of east against west. The atomic

hundred years too soon,

tell

time

at a

world seems likely to destroy

I

that

much

gave him the Reich

future to read. I kept out of

am
Re

destroyed

it

bomb

has arrived a few

when an emotionally uneducated

an appalling

itself. It is

advised Barakan to have as

you

if life itself is

incredible that people are talking openly about

situation.

veg.-ther. as he could. I

letter file to read, a file I

any

letter I

must

kept for the

thought personal.

Must relieve your mind a

lot.
our coming over. We'd both like to come when the child is
born. S'hill is like a prison; it is so difficult to get away from it, for I
I

so glad you have got your citizenship.

can never find folks to leave

in charge.

Your remarks about the O. Reflex are good. I can never understand
the ageing men who try frantically to recover their potency with nostrums and exercises; as you

say, the lessening of the sex urge should

be naturally accepted. Such men must have had no other

interest in

life.

Tired, awfully tired.

old

damn

Had 40

fool questions.

hate them and the

staff

wish

are

visitors last night all asking the

I

could shut them

weary of them, but

all

suppose a pioneer

When I
school must pay this publicity price all
walk into the grounds I feel like murder now. And ten
the time.

this

weekend, students. They

will

be deadly ernst

same

out, for the kids

see a stranger

Indians

[serious],

want

come
to ask

i65

about teaching methods

them when

My

God, teachers are

1946

a lost tribe.

flee

from

can.

and the

best wishes to Use

laddie.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 17, 1946

My dear Neill:
We are

making

of troubles.

Barakan

is

am

for your

coming over next month

all

in

to get an accumulator,

You must have

over to you right away.

built here,

how

inquiries about

charge of settling

it.

It will

release

much

this.

possible. I can assure

if

you, having been a father of three newborn babies, that a father

nothing more than a nuisance around a nursing mother,

is

well

and has some

young man you

if

the

really are

Orgonon, the Lab., the working

to see

Kindergarten a few miles away, the marvellous country, and

how
It

to

REST

about

mother

make up your mind quickly like the

and jump over this ocean by plane. August

help. Please

would be good for you

least

is

bit,

far

away from your

unit, the

last

not

routine Summerhill. Well,

it?

would be grand

to

have some real talks as

in

old times.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 23, 1946

My

dear Reich,

also complicates matters, for the

The baby is due in midher present state. The money question

school is paying so badly that we are

having to take paying guests

August, and

I'd love to see

October and

the worry and

you

all,

won't leave Ena

work

alone.

in

all

but not now.

No, Reich,

it

can't leave her to face

isn't yet

time to come.

want

and the child when I come.

Leunbach's wife, Buddha, here for three weeks. With a Swedish
woman also a patient of Philipson. He seems to be an autocrat with

to bring her

patients

and

women are afraid of him. Buddha is

but I am sticking to my point that I must

can see that both

having sex talks with our

girls,

have their mothers' consent before

have them

fitted

with cervical caps.

1946

166

always fear some neurotic mother

ago when

three years

Two

Constance, agreed.

from 4

to

S'hill first
I

am

other mothers whose

had been

girls

6 took them away in fear. So that

and not be led into any conspiracy

that

at S'hill

must always put

might harm the school.

too old to take risks now. Old and cowardly.

It is

wonderfully kind of you to try to send us an Akku.

joyed about
In

round and blame me, for

will turn

asked the mothers for consent, only one,

and

it,

Denmark

I hear.

And

certainly shall use

it

my

believe in that awful

Ena

over-

is

with hope.

Communist Party

the strong

previous admirers of

them because
has gone

is

very hostile to your people

books now

in the C.P.

man

Your

Reich.

won't have

circle

over there

all to hell.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My

think after
it

1946

4,

dear Neill:

was sorry
all

to hear that

you are

that

you won't be here

right in awaiting

your

summer. But

this

We

child.

shall arrange

sometime between October and next summer. All right?

Philipson

is

quite a problem,

and

do not know how

to

go about him.

He "improved" on my

technique without informing anyone what the

"improvement" consists

of, as is

contact since 1939, and

he received from me.

sational ties

and have

physicians, teachers
ants,
I

my

helpers.

in psychiatry

which

my

sphere of

all

my

personal assist-

am

a very bad supervisor and police dog.

The

many

own

great

many

partook for

have to

let life

My

thoughts

years, has

influence

take

its

through their

is

warned me not

of anything. Please,

It is

no

secret. I

know

behind even Freud, too.

tell this

course also in the realm of

that Ph.

to the
is

to

widely spread without

creation. The old international Institute with its

"members" does not exist any more. Ph. does not know

you.

few

influence to a

strict

own

member

old organi-

so

of

any such organisation grow.

I

on the authority

and research workers who are

degeneration

any association.

out of

do not want any international organisation of which

organisations, in which
let

thrives

restricted

would be the "boss."

rotten

still

is

have withdrawn completely from

He

usual in scientific matters.

my

Scandinavian
that he

is

no

Danish people who are with

far off the track

and a track

far

i67
I

don't care whether a few scientific thieves are mentioning where

they got their

thing.

They

wisdom from or

Orgone

Institute,

you wish

Here

not.

in the

U.S.A. they do the same

work based on dishonesty cannot

plans for a new journal. Annals of the

don't last long, because

prevail. [Reich then describes the

If

1946

which

to replace the journal published heretofore.]

is

to publish gathered material about your school separately

in a special issue

would be glad

you would do

if

so. I think

it

would

be interesting and of great importance to have an issue picturing your

school; articles written by you and your co-workers about principles and
single cases. I

To

would appreciate your comment about

would

they would love me.

ment.

living

humans who can claim

truth

and

in

feel rotten

We

human

hope

there

is

any group of

to top everything else in evasion of the

is

The

the communists.

few centuries. The

on
manage

Christians held

communists did not

It is

a long sad

character structure.

to get the

Accu through

help Mrs. Neill quite a

"your own" (to use

first

it

If

only a compli-

is

even 5 years after Lenin's death.

to stick to theirs for

chapter of

if

high politics,

to their principles for a

the

this matter.

be thought badly of by the communists of today

bit.

to

am happy

this capitalistic

day through the

on they grow away on

first

their

you

as

soon as possible.

that

you

To

expression).

two years

is

will

It

would

have a child of
see

it

grow from

quite an experience!! Later

own, but the memory

lasts.

My

daughter

Eva who is 22 years now and married, also studying medicine, is living
at Orgonon this summer and works at the laboratory. She overcame the
terrible conflicts of some years ago nearly completely and I love her as
a

good friend rather than

The
days.

third edition of
I'll

as a daughter.

my Mass

Psychology

is

coming out now

in a

send a copy. All the other publications are sold by

hundreds each month.

Many

state libraries

and

universities are

few

many
among

the consumers. Physicians are pouring in for study and patients for

treatment to such an extent that

we

are unable to place them.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August 28, 1946

My

dear Reich,
I

and family.

am

longing to see Barakan to hear

My brat

may come about

the

end of

all

about your work

Sept. the

way Ena looks

1946

now.

fear

i68

My

be a boy for I'd rather have a daughter.

will

it

work

is

my son.
Spending the days painting doors, making

want

GIVE

and

a joy to

is

it

Laying bricks

much more now than

October

to see S'hill

think

the

me

do something

to

most soothing. The sad

find

they did.
.

come

international

And

at

and

walls, etc.

about education again.

to see schools or think

My

feel I

life is

no thought.

that requires

fact

133 local teachers want to come

depresses

situation

who

control

before education can control the world. But

us

all.

empire, power,
fought, and

want

blast us all to hell

you before

to visit

live in Russia,

builders,
kratie

all

squabbling for things that should be dead

The war against Communism has

difficult to know what to think and do.

trade.

so

but

the

statesmanship visible, no hopeful outlook (why did

oil,

it is

make

to

No

Roosevelt die?);

what

may

and

it,

that Russia and China and everyone

bomb, and then each will be scared to use
poor hope indeed, but what is the alternative? The politicians have

how

the power.

when

it

has

Science

My main hope now is

that happens.
will discover

in

one time!

have the nasty fear that the fools

all

me

that people tire

is

invented the atom bomb, but science of living can't control

it.

never

one long

if

the alternative

what can one do? For the

is

living

[work democracy] or liberalism.

the time
Stalin

what then?

comes

under

It is

easy

it

is

to

be

I'd hate to

kings and empire

entweder oder

security,

still

your Arbeitsdemo-

have to ask myself the question:

wants or for what capitalism wants?

How

oil

alternative isn't

Do

[either or];
I fight

for

don't like either, but

for the simple ones in life

who can

take a

side wholly.
I

am

looking forward to seeing Barakan again to get

wish you would make the

are

making

trip to

in Scandinavia,

Europe yourself

and of course

to see

all

the news. I

what mess they

to see us here.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

My

4,

1946

dear Neill:
This

saying that he

letter is to tell
is

you about Barakan. You were

right in

a very intelligent and capable fellow with a scientific

future in front of him.

think he can be trusted with

work with

i69

adolescents, but

would not

and

advise,

told

him

1946

so, to

do anything

with grown-ups beyond 25 years and with biopathies.

During the past years, we developed here a very

pestilential reactions of people.

We

strict attitude against

have no time and no desire to get

involved in complicated attempts at convincing, or bringing to our side

people whose negative behavior

in

is,

their fear of

life.

We

clearly rooted in their biopathy, that

is

are only a few,

and the prevention of

much more important to us.

danger,
that the London group* may try to
is
also
the
other
There
work hke a political party. I told Barakan explicitly that we are not a
political party, and that we do not want too many followers. On the

biopathies in children seems

contrary, a nucleus of a few selected workers seems the best guarantee

against a too early dilution of the core of our work.
I

am

expecting Raknes here today or tomorrow, and

clear

enough picture about the

mend

the

hope

to get a

situation in Scandinavia to be able to

damage which was caused by

the interruption of our contact

for 7 years.
I

sincerely

that a

hope

meeting

that everything

is

all right

with you over there, and

in the not too distant future will

be possible.

think

it

would be of great importance.

One more thing: Barakan received a loan of $330 from the Orgone
Research Fund which he promised to pay back to you in the course of
2 years, beginning this autumn, on account of the $600 which the Fund
still

owes you.

Please don't

fail to

inform us of the arrival of the baby!

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

14,

1946

My dear Neill:
It

was good

About our

social

to

have your

dilemma:

letter

When

(Aug. 28, '46).

there

was only

the choice between

the Austrian and the English King in 19 18 we chose a THIRD thing, the
Republic. The same applies now: When today there is the choice between
capitalistic

and red imperialism

choose the

The group around Eastmond and Day with

THIRD

whom

thing, the govern-

Barakan was associated.

1946

ment of

down

work and knowledge. These

love,

and without any hope

fully

society

is

170

to survive (I fear that

neither capitalism nor

in

rigmarole.

our present society

communism must

whatsoever that the chances, the

exist.

will

But there

possibilities of thinking

You

countries and not in Russia.

human

If

NOT

and preparing for the future are there only

things over

bogged

political systems are

political

survive!!!)

is

no doubt

and talking
Western

in the

if you
work democracy, but in Russia you do.
The main problem is and will probably be for another 500 years the
Little Man and his ways of thinking and acting. I just labored hard and
painfully on a 60-page "Talk with the Little Man"* which is unpublish-

don't get killed in U.S.A.

publish about

able.

Did you

receive

my Mass

Psychology of Fascism?

am

sent

you a signed

away from it.

According to Raknes, our work stands well in Norway. Its representatives are regarded highly and they live well. Raknes saw the Orgone
in its different forms and is going to take all back to Norway.
Good luck for the great event you expect. Good luck! Write when it
copy. People say that

happens.

You

will see

Give

"capitalistic."

it's

good but

it's

different to

my regards

far

have a child of your own

it's

to Mrs. Neill!

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

1946

4,

My dear Reich,
Your Fascism book
and taken

in

too large doses

is
is

too good;

that after reading three chapters

point of view
are the only

is

easily the

man who

is

I felt I

like a rich

it is

indigestible.

mean

had

most important of

it

to rest
all

Xmas

pudding,

seriously. I

and

think.

found

Your

views today, for you

viewing society from the Sex Pol point of view.

But reading you makes me

pessimistic; I say to myself:

"How

the hell

who is so obviously right, get across to the man in the

What is needed is a book called "Reich without Tears," one

can Reich,
street?"

* Listen, Little Man! (Orgone Institute Press, 1948; new translation. 1974).
Originally written as a private formulation of Reich's outrage over what man

(the Little

Man)

does to himself and to the great

men who

try to help him.

171
in

most

Tom, Dick and Harry can

to say too often are difficult to read

men

smaller

about
so

like Neill

because time

it

lost,

man like
who writes

write simply, a

man

follow, or a

is

1946

simple language that

whose language

Stekel

journalese.

say

power during and

to fight all that, or rather to see

shoemaker can read

Ted

painter and

your message

and understand

it

any war.

after

it.

Bad
want

fight

have
but

easy to

is

psychology
also

the

is

to be quick,

so that the village

it

my

want

get pessimistic

mood and

so short, and the after-war

is

Men who

read.

Freud, Reich

so opportunist, so atomically dangerous.

increase of church

Ena

friends Bill

the

the plumber to get your message.

expects the child in about 14 days. Her pregnancy has been

we

rather difficult and

are both longing for

U.S.A.

P.S. Statistic?

said to have

is

it

to cease.

2000 atom bombs.

How many

Sex Pol members to balance that figure?

Forest Hills,

New York
October

My

14,

1946

dear Neill:
I just

in the

same

received your letter of October 4th.

terrible

mood

are quite right, there

Stalins

is

as

no use

found myself

in

good books,

in writing

have the ways and means to keep the

power and pocket.

man

are too difficult for the

should begin to look

him

as he really

is.

at the

We

man

man

in the street

must ask why he

you are

true books,

in

You
if

the

in the street in their

would only correct the following:

that the Sexual Revolution, or the Function of the

Mass Psychology

find that

already for months.

don't think

Orgasm, or even the

the street.

more

closely

think

we

and to see

listens to trash rather

than

truth, to fanfares rather than to sensible things. That things are not so

simple and become rather complicated

the

little

man's unwillingness and

over. After 4 years of belly-ache, I finally

Speech to the
step out

looks,
all

and

how

Little

tell

the

Man. But

among other things, due to

sit down and think things
succeeded in writing down my

is,

inability to

won't dare to publish

it.

just

cannot

man in his own language what he is, how he

how cowardly he is, and how he promotes
You simply cannot do it, though you ought to.

little

badly he thinks,

the rot in the world.

The problem

of organization and keeping things in check

the toughest I ever

met

in

my

whole 30 years of experience.

is
I

one of
confess

that

1946

172

know whether

don't

control the process which

it

to organize or not to

have put into the world.

am

a very

bad police dog, and

to

feel so badly about

because, though being a good worker and organizer of

I feel that I

how

organize,

that there

my own

no way

is

work,

keep

to

people in check, with the millions of irrationalisms they are falling prey
to every single

By now,

hour of the day.

guess, the

hurry to inform

me

baby

is

already here.

hope

all

went

well. Please

of the event.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

1946

i8,

My dear Reich,
Yours today. The babe
might come on
I

think

find

my

hasn't arrived yet ...

birthday yesterday.

your books

Ena

longing to have

read because

difficult to

too long a load of repressions behind me.

generation.

get tied

up

I can't

grasp

why

You

I feel

to be right.

But again,

am

63 and have

is

a deep thought

to

why

historically, I can't see

be going your way, which means that as a

it

had

am sure I
in my work
thinker I am a

do so or why primitives always had certain sex taboos.

have psychic blindnesses coming from my own history. Yet

seem

new

write for the

to

it

it

appear.

patriarchy ousted matriarchy

and when. Your view that religion stems from sex

which

was hoping

nobody, but as a doer quite important.

But that

man

in the street

the basic chance.

no,

can't agree with you.

Here we have domestic maids from the town,

15 to 20. Their ignorance

They are incapable

woman's weekly. And the

kind.

I feel guilty that I

the millions don't.

is

appalling; they have

girls

of

no culture of any

State schools are producing a million such.

have 72 favored kids who get a

My own

real

education while

books, said to be easily understood,

I

question

if

wrong one. Your Vienna and Berlin

mean

ten workers in Leiston have

read one of them. So that the approach by means of books

hasn't

of reading anything better than a washer-

nothing to the average worker.

the

He

Clinics

showed

may be

quite

a better way.*

In the 1920's Reich had established mental-health and sex-hygiene clinics in

working-class

districts.

In Berlin he had also founded the

Proletarian Sex Politics.

German

Association for

^73
I

Man

don't get your refusing to publish your Little

1946

Why

speech.

don't

you?

amount of hate among my Communist

They seem to have so vindictive a strain about them. I always
that any Communist friend of mine would sign my death warrant

Troubled about the

terrific

friends.
feel

without emotion

the Party required

if

it.

book you strike me as being too optimistic about

American democracy, but then I am not on the spot. Hardly one of the
In your Fascism

many G.I.'s I spoke to during the war was conscious; he could tell me
how many miles of bolts were in the Brooklyn Bridge, but on life itself
he was a baby. And so many were Roman Catholics. I blush to say that
one of

my

old pupils married an R.C. and took his religion in U.S.A.

But she came to

me

conscious of

religion.

now

shall

Though

me at 14 or 15,
my cowardice

back he hasn't come near

is

nor written. Nor has the child arrived but

doctor says by

who

its

Your books have made

about

fight the questioners boldly.

hear Barakan

said he lamely.

in replying to lecture questions

pulse

is

it

a boy, and

it

wanted a

me

nor phoned

can't be long
girl

now. The

and so did Ena

has a boy of 13.

Are you doing anything about having an English publisher? Kegan,

new complete edition of Jung in English, but it

Paul are bringing out a

man who

has nothing to say in 40 volumes gets published.

is

often so; the

If

you agree

to

have England read you.

I'll

try

some

of the other well-known firms.

a handwritten scrawl]

[In

healthy and big.

Ena doing

2nd Nov.

girl

am

impatient

ZOE SUTHERLAND,

well.

New York

Forest Hills,

November

My

9,

1946

dear Neill:

is here. Good luck,

know what it means to you!!
I hope you will bring your family over next summer to enjoy Orgonon
and to finally get at those talks we are both longing for. Please send

It

was

Neill, to you,

a great joy to hear that

your wife and the

little

one.

your babe
I

photographs!

You
limit

have put forth

my

many

basic questions in your letter.

attempts to answer them:

have to

1946

174

don't think that

You

you have

difficulties in

my

understanding

books.

human relations,
Your questions are

only seem to grope too deeply into the maze of

thus proving that you are as good a thinker as a doer.

WHY

of the replaceentirely logical. The one for instance regarding the

ment of natural matriarchy by the unnatural patriarchy is one of the
most complicated questions of human history. I have tried to find some

my book Der

of the answer in

hasn't been translated yet.

It

Einbruch der Sexualmoral* (1932).

is

one of the most

It

tragic events in the

human race: The core of all the misery seems to have

developed when the first mother forbade the first child to experience love
history of the

naturally.

The reasons were

human

of strange hordes of
I feel that

we

of a social nature,
beings. It

too

is

much

human

in the

masses.

cated by the talk of the politicians about the

age."

to

be expounded here.

did not reach bottom yet in understanding the full

amount of mental misery

The human

but also

most probably the meeting

sickness

is

Man

mainly for

from

my sympathy

and

constantly obfus-

"Common Man" and

"his

deep-rooted not only in social institutions

in the stiffnesses of the bodies. I

my own

It is

clarity, in a

my

wrote

my

Speech

to the Little

desperate attempt to free myself

loyalty to the

little

my

man, from

dis-

appointment in him, and for the sake of becoming more objective

in

evaluating fully the chances of a future true self-governing society.

hesitate to publish because

it

puts even to

my own mind

into clear focus in regard to his sickness of the character.

are also

many

little

men, including myself,

in

This funny world of ours has promoted

my
me

the

And

man

little

there

surroundings.

"overnight" from the

status of a schizophrenic charlatan to that of a "big Man," a "Genius."

They change opinions like shirts, don't they? To be affiliated with me,
being a disgrace up to a short time ago, is now not only regarded as a
great honor, but more than that: IT GIVES MY STUDENTS A
TREMENDOUS AUTHORITY in the eyes of this public. The responsibilities become more involved and bigger each passing day, and only
a very few can accept them. The problem of organisation has become

a burning one.

We

cannot

the abysmal lack of

who were

trained

let

everything run

by me. When

try

WHAT HE LEARNED WITH ME

it

for license to

own

course because of
in the

workers

hard to make an educator

APPLY

open an

IN HIS

OWN FIELD,

office, receive patients

dollars per treatment like a physician

its

knowledge and often responsibility

and ask for 10 or 15

on Park Avenue.

The Invasion of Compulsory Sex-Morality.

he mistakes

am

bad

175
police dog, and

do not know what

Institute.

with

decency.

would

also have

like to

be

much

still

my own

who worry about

and

to fight

master

my

in

would only have personal

would suggest the forma-

Orgone

wish to remain free from the influences of the organization

the aunts and grandmothers

all

School.

to do.

professional organization, apart from the

tion of a separate

1946

their daughters'

to pull through. Therefore

Institute as

who

assistants

you are

me

help

to

your

in

perform

my studies and work. I would love to have your opinion on this matter.
You were the one to warn me of organization and pupils. But doctors
are streaming in for training.

my

asked to give lectures on

The doctors who

are trained already

are

work. People are streaming to the few

seminars and lectures that are given by some co-workers. But also envy

and mutual hatred, together with greed are

raising their heads.

Can you

help clarify?

would

basically

like to

human

or truth-loving.

of a Stalinist eye.

when

warn of the Communists.

And

am

the influence of this

capable of everything.

They would

kill

work becomes

them

me and you

not sure that they won't do

know them

don't believe

at a

it

to

be

blink

actually,

They are
more than 20

socially powerful.

well, too well, for

years now.

am

the

life

not overestimating U.S.A. But the chance for development of

principle

is

here,

would be good

It

to

and not anywhere

have

my books

else.

published in England.

not annoy you to get refused and to waste time,

they will be ready to publish

me

try, if

you

If

it

does

like. I feel

very soon.

Write soon again, esp. about Zoe and Mrs. Neill and about when you
will

come

over.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

My

15,

1946

dear Reich,

Many

thanks for your good wishes for Zoe. She

without a blemish on her skin. So far

and won't

is

the devil, and

much modem thumb-sucking.

statistics

of malnutrition

is

Luckily Ena agrees with

among

at 5.

me

very likely the cause of so

have two boys of 16

thumbs since they came here

a pretty kid

don't feel possessive about her,

until she begins to take notice.

that timetable feeding

their

is

And

who have sucked

wonder

if

there are any

timetable-fed babies, for during the

1946

176

compulsory wait the hunger and sex components accumulate

when

that

the babe

comes

libido, so

is an orgasm of sexhim stop sucking before he is fed. The

to the breast there

pleasure outlet which makes

fashionable

London

weighing

the time, and the poor mother has to watch a clock to see

all

birth clinics all have this timetable feeding plus

baby gets so many ounces only, and

that

breast

when he

table

notice.

Someone

in

Dunno who

gets his prescribed ounces.

N,Y. sent

sent

It

it.

me

and

didn't

if I

Russian

state?

The book

who

the hosts

me

ask

questions

find

Must

True,

it.

most exhausting,

it

get
.

hundreds of
.

and worse

past midnight, these

till

frightens me.

lecturing at various towns.

need the money wouldn't do

the

off

Chose Freedom

eager listeners, but the long railway journeys, the hotels

still

him

making her own time-

is

horrible reading and sounds sincere.

is

humanity always have a police

Have been away

book by

hastily snatches

Zoe

make me

weary.
Elected President
Elected

at

last

Saturday of the Progressive League, London.

end of a two-hour meeting.

made my

first

speech which

began: 'T want to resign. I've listened for 2 hours to hear one word
indicating progression, and

You

all I

heard were empty words about nothings.

argued for an hour whether freedom should go

within the school. Folks

who have minds

progressive league." Said also that personally

League, for
Yes,

I live

we must

and work
try to

was

make

S'hill

in

work

sit

living things

in

that leads

note. If she does

and
I

listen for

me

come

to

this

have a

little

couldn't leave

my

valuable

hours to speeches in the Westminster gas

regret that

couldn't be an M.P. and say

about Education.

one of

my

is

who

has set up

at

15 dollars a time.

books: "It should be the prayer of every

he has no disciples."

in a

her home.

wonder who your pupil

wrote

be

don't need a Progress

invited to stand as Socialist candidate for the Scots Universities

works. t But

summer, and

little

by-election. I refused of course, saying that

to

school or

in one.

come over

thank your good wife for her sweet

Spring she must

in the

like that shouldn't

By Victor Kravchenko (New York: Scribner's, 1946).

The Houses of Parliament meet in Westminster.

man

that

177

1946

Forest Hills,

New York
December

1946

i6,

My dear Neill:
don't understand

yet.

why Barakan

did not turn up at your place

heard from Constance that they are building accumulators

London.

It

may be

that he

is

in

very busy with his newly acquired practical

knowledge.
I

hear that your baby develops marvellously and that you enjoy her.

Please accept

Year for

more
due

my

yourself, your wife

and your daughter. One could enjoy

that "peace" has returned,

to lack of ability to

if

one didn't have the sure

this

own

will

and intention

time the highest type of war, atomic war.

times to the

UN

meetings.

don't understand

it

and

it

feeling that,

peace with peaceful action, they are running

fill

headlong, unconsciously, against their

and

New

and best wishes for Christmas and the

heartiest

It is
I

am

am

new

into a

listening

some-

the deadliest kind of corpsy formalism.

afraid of

it.

It

not the future of the

is

world.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

20,

1946

My dear Reich,
Yours today.

have not had a word from Barakan and can

only conjecture that for the

moment he has some

or indifference to me. Sad, for

I

wrote to Allen and Unwin

telling

them

would be

that

fools

wanted

who

you were the only

if

to hear

neurotic grudge against

all

about you from him.

are one of the best

original voice since

they didn't try to publish you.

for truth.

it

and get the Church

have no confidence

in

to

tell

firms,

Freud and they

Your books should

come from a good firm of publishers who will sell them.

Your atomic pessimism is Uke my own. Humanity
enough to have atom bombs, and the stifT-stomached
nations will use

London

isn't

rulers

evolved
of

all

them they are waging war

U.S.A. which

is

ignorant, superficial

in its education, moral in the wrong way, outside world opinion. The
alternative, a Soviet world, is also unwelcome. How powerless you and
I

are.

few military or

and we can do nothing.

political idiots

can destroy our new children

1946

But

178

Xmas

this is

time and

ought to be merry

not so easy with

nothing to buy but weak beer.

Constance comes to us for Xmas. Must ask her about accumulators

in

London.

should like to see Ena

Like

sitting in one.

me

she hates

doctors with their drugs and injections.

P.S.

Zoe

God

help a poor father.

and already

flourishes

Forest Hills,

is

trying to bully us both at seven weeks.

New York
December

29,

1946

My dear Neill!
received your letter of Dec. 20th

I just

The world
civilisation

save

all

gets

There

appalling.

is

for better times to come.

my

Our
month.

in the

we can do

downfall of our
at present

except

knowledge about the human animal

For months

am

preparing in

am

work

at

earnest to save

all

concrete cellar will be built at

material

to pile together the

work, the correspondence, the archives of the discovery

of the orgone.

nothing

is

the archives and the bit of

history of

worse and worse. The logic

Orgonon

what can be saved.

to deposit the important

several thousand tightly typed pages.

literature here

Many

still sells

like

warm

bread.

About 4-500 copies

thanks for your kind endeavours to have

my

books

They will start to print my stuff when it will have

be new, when it will have become commonplace, that is, when

printed in England.

ceased to

no more danger

will be involved in standing up for it.

The communists have attacked my Mass Psychology here in The New
Republic, calling it "psychofascist." What bad consciences these fellows
have!!! What a nightmare of politiciandom!!! They are toppling every-

thing they have fought for honestly only 20 years ago.

I

still

believe

that

you underestimate U.S.A.

militarism and imperialism

is

growing stronger

But the wave of

by the week.

Use has reservations on the Queen Elisabeth around 6th of April.

How

do you

feel

about a

visit to

U.S.A.?

It

could be arranged easily

with the help of the Hamilton School.

I

would

like so

much

peacefully at night?

to hear

more about Zoe. Does she

let

you sleep

1947
Forest Hills,

New York
January 19, 1947

My

dear Neill:

am worried about Barakan's behavior. Some students of the

me that he had made bad, disparaging remarks about me,
did to me about you and Wolfe and others. It will be important
I

Institute told
just as

he

learn what he

to

Orgonon. Please
Use

is

to give

let

is

doing under the authority of having studied

me know

about

going over to England

you

all

as

it

about two months. She

in

the data about the orgone, and also

our situation here. This situation

is

now

years to a most dangerous position from

will

be able

the details about

the

at

wide front

have to switch from having been

all

good and bad

Good, because my work broke through on

bad, because

at

soon as you have news.

same

in the

time.

U.S.A.;

opposition for 25

in

on.

know

that such

successes are apt to soften the acuity of sharp, uncompromising attitudes

in science

and

social matters.

My

doctor students have discovered that

much money can be made by Orgone therapy, and this is very bad
the work and for them. Since the amount of money you make is
measure rod for your greatness here
the

awkward

behind.

am

as

position to ask horrible fees

actually earning less than

10 hours daily with patients, because

with

everywhere

money making, and

if

else,

of my
am working

students

fall

who work

only 3 hours daily

the rest with study and writing.

question of prevention of the biopathies going to

the

find myself in

don't want to risk to

some

for

hell,

and

see the whole

I

see already

fear in the eyes of the workers to deal with the social structure which

opposes healthy
heart to you.

living.

You

don't

Our work, yours

mind

hope

as well as mine,
I

79

that
is

am

pouring out

caught right

in

my

between

1947

i8o

money and madness and

People

frenzy.

political

and are avoiding the

ideologies,

their

live

in

lives

evolved in honest pioneering.

realities

see for instance educators raving with enthusiasm about your writings,

but in reality taking no steps to fight the misery of children

us.

What

the use of

is

struggle,

all this

Am

there

is

is

now

because

to

change our

all

common man,
damn

teacher or

Do

it?

optimist,

and yet

out of everything

this flattening

manner. They

lives in a rational

around

hail

me

introduced the understanding of the Character. They say

accepted everywhere, but

immediate control

is

They

the problem.

me

call

reason to be desperate in view of

meant

that

it is

They

pessimistic?

the

work when he touches

physician, spoils the fruits of hard

exaggerate?

if

know

that

no one who

is

not under

my

actually doing anything practical about the core of

don't mention the issue: Healthy sexual living

still

of children and adolescents!!!!!

Did you

your Orgone Accumulator already?

get

family to have

its

want you and your

benefits.

January 21
I

my

wonder,

dear Neill, whether you are

still

liebhaber [lover of humanity] you used to be?

that

you withdrew from them

to

some

the great

Menschen-

have the impression

degree.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 25, 1947

My dear Reich,
Your

letter

bad way emotionally.

came

He

just after a visit

any co-worker, that you get into

you

question your rightness in anything

All

I listened.

said

years,

and have remained the best of

that

different, for Neill isn't

is

minutes in

all,

your physics,
I

have

electricity,

criticised

friends, but his

maths.

answer was that

working under Reich nor Reich under N.

on his first visit before he started to tell me

was swindling myself, that I wasn't really on the

knowing

in a

hard to be wise about. B. hadn't been ten

that S'hill shouldn't

as a teacher,

is

each other for

S'hill

wrong, that
side at

is

He

will stand

was that you and

This loyalty business

from Barakan.

no criticism at all from

a fury and throw them out if they dare

says that

that he

have any

failures etc.

would continue

Yet

to criticise

it

was

child's

took him on

me. (True,

1947

i8i
[

teachers are so scarce that

physics.

But although he went on with

his criticisms

way, that he didn't ever speak to the kids about me.

him

in this

sacked him,

telling

a luxury for S'hill,

4Vi hours daily teaching he never mended a chair or

sawed firefood or played with the

he was useless.

community man
"And also you are
your endless Warums [whys]

kids, in short as a

was not honest enough

sacked because you

tire

me

to add:

to death with

talk."

My own
his

he was loyal

was too much of

that although he taught well he

for outside his

and

couldn't get anyone else for maths and

view

is

that he needs

deadly serious attitude to

Can't laugh with him, there

me.

etc.

think of
lot of

all

much more

is

his neurotic

V erjolgungswahn

something calculating

wonder

if

can't like him.

him

that baffles

mystery-making with his assumed name

and he said O.K.

said no,

in

him

[persecution mania] in

him about the Akku. "Hasn't one been

surprise.

veg.-T. although

beyond mending.

life is

we'll

I feel.

Asked

from Orgonon?" he asked

sent

make one

weeks, double ply of metal and wood. Price ili2.

for
I

you

in

in

about 3

O.K. for we

said

need one badly.

B's photo snaps were fine.

looks the kind of

just grand,

boy

woman

it

You
will

don't look a day older, man, and Use

be good to meet, while the kid looks

although nowadays as a father of a

rather despise

girl I

mere

brats of course.

This

money Frage

[question]

is

most tiresome. Shortly

four long tiresome journeys to the north of England

make some money.

last year. The loss is

have

just

had

my

100, but that

from Wales, extra repairs

is

etc. Still the

due

dead

loss

can't

go on. The type of parent that believes

class,

and although every new pupil

who pay

nothing

at all

is

make

Accountant for

over .400 and that

is

poor middle

in S'hill is

paying well,

to

expenses of moving

to

have many old ones

or a few shillings weekly, and

can't

out. So that this trip to U.S.A. has an anxious side that

winter

have

to lecture, just to

my

report from
partly

chuck them

don't like. In

could have tried to arrange a few lectures there to raise our

passage money, but lectures don't happen

worse, for

it

summer. Things are

in

to be

seems we are importing millions of pounds more than we

are exporting, and prices here are phantastic

1947

Forest Hills,

182

New York
February

My

Barakan,
I

3,

1947

dear Neill:

had

The

received your letter of January

just

think

In regard to

25th.

already wrote you once that during the past 10 years

between rational and

to learn to distinguish

irrational criticism.

between the two ways of human reaction consists

difference

rational criticism intends to help the task in the proper

in that

way and nothing

but that; whereas in the case of irrational criticism the motive to criticize
has nothing to do with the task in question, and the criticism

some neurotic tendency

forth solely to satisfy

Finally,

it

if

my

wish to do

we

human

say in

and

self practically

from mine,

is

valuable.

my

uneasy feeling about

instantly to

tell

me

in.

Only

When

his

after

man

like

first

is

no good,

ately,

when

made

a mistake in

that

am

many

admit

me

is

I get furious.

believe

a believer

am

me immedi-

right or not. I

and nothing but

love clever and good objections

turn

my

attention to things

even greatly thankful for such "criticism."

my

years ago. But

would

like to

would be one

human

It

have

I
is

believe that this

is

just

most

to

show

etc., is

destroying their

would be

own

lives.

practically to the task at hand.

it

and of leadership of

the people in general to

To show them

to train themselves in

to

did

just said: I think that

crucial tasks of education

on the whole,

an advance.

extend the scope of what

of the

relations

shoulders and to hamper the serious work as

extent loose talk, malicious motives in just criticizing

it

book so-and-so

do not permit people with such nuisance reactions any more

dance around on

who

because he cannot do his job well.

which lead further or which make

overlooked.

when he does not

like a student

see that he tries out for himself whether I

of that begins

Hamilton under-

having acquainted himself with the bulk

hate the student and the co-worker

that,

Barakan comes over

that

of the task and the matter at hand, then, of course,

I

having grown him-

own person and on account

that Neill's school

on page so-and-so, without

hand,

is

cabin at Orgonon, demonstrates clearly a def-

stands nothing of education, and that

On the other

it

have also learned

hand, his opinion, which

skillfully into the task at

from England, enters

inite

relations. I

student has first to learn how to

German unvoreingenommen [with-

out bias], that means just listen and take

differ

brought

criticizes.

my

job well,

learn well and to listen, as

may

is

not only does not help the work, but on the contrary,

intended to disrupt and to besmirch

that

one who

in the

what

and doing nothing,

further,

how

important

rationally putting their shoulders

As long

as neurotic motives

and neurotic

i83

1947

human

behavior will pour into rational

reason to justify
claim that

it is

its

man, who

power

in the world,

should look

He must know what he is doing, just as

must know what he is doing or what he is doing

of.

An

accumulator has been shipped to you and

Queen
week too.

Elizabeth.

leave by parcel post this

enjoy

am

want you

we

my

guests during your stay in the U.S.

it

be only a pleasure to

will

supposed to leave

is

you

box

and healthier

better

think you need the rest and

to accept

We

make your

my

hearty offer to be

have a nice cabin for you

stay as enjoyable as possible.

February

feel the

need to add a few

lines to

my

letter of yesterday.

attitude in the matter of the right to criticize,

previous

Why

letter,

not,

may sound

you may

anyone, and

it

facts evolved to

The

first

fact

tionally rather

to

you

like

and

chatter,

just the

is

in the

way

after a quarter of a century of

facts. It

could

feel

emo-

an exhausting

became obvious

of simple fact getting through to the public

same kind of behavior of people

harmless when you meet

my

hadn't two

this attitude,

tremendous proportions in the meantime.

is a subjective one: I have to confess that

worn out

in

does not harm

it

outlet for their pent-up discontentments.

once even did agree with

struggle to put through most simple and obvious

what

expounded

an old disappointed man's attitude.

ask, let people gossip

means an

agree with you, and

that

1947

6,

dear Neill:
I

My

if

New York

Forest Hills,

My

will

only

will not

regularly.

looking forward to your coming.

both need this meeting.

and

much

no use

wrong.

a small tube

quite sure that

but that you will feel objectively

it,

you use the accumulator

I

am

And

what

first,

It is

any teacher or

pitying him.

with the next sailing of the

just at the

is

himself

at

he never does and what he even hates to be reminded

engineer

have

relations, authority will

existence and social reaction will have reason to

right. 1 think finally, that the little

point to climb to

it

that

is

looks so innocent and so

here and there singly.

found out that

after

personality
25 years people are "enthusiastic" and "enchanted" by my
and their
adolescents
of
situation
and my science. But in the general

main misery,
a very few,

practically nothing has changed, because everybody, except

is

chattering and gossiping around and

same chattering and gossiping and "being

away from

critical" prevents

my

it.

The

kind of

1947

184

atomic energy, the orgone, to save, as

and millions of

allergic to people's

The second

way

fact,

it

easily could,

hundred thousands

cancer and other diseases. Thus,

lives in

of merely talking and doing very

which

is

became

a bit

practically.

little

an objective one, and has nothing to do with

when you listen to a UN meeting or when you read

any newspaper whatever, or when you look back into history of 2000
years, you find the same kind of superficial chattering, being busy with
many words and avoiding the main issue to the detriment of the whole

me personally,

human
would

race.

is

that

could feel easygoing in the face of a gossiping person,

this person's

behavior not remind

reasons for the decline of

human

me

painfully of one of the

society. If

main

you compare the behavior

of the single individual before you and that of the huge political, medical

and other organizations which determine the

being,

you

expression.

No

wonder, since those

individuals with the

I

human

fate of every single

mechanism and
bodies are composed of

will find they are identical in motivation,

hope you understand,

this addition to

my

political

same characterological

my

previous

dear Neill,

letter. It is

structure.

why

I felt that I

who

not Barakan

had

to write

important,

is

but Barakan as a symbol.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

Yours yesterday.
Barakan
by

his

is

your

Little

Man

suddenly

It

strikes

1947

in

your

just

because of their emotional attitude to

no new phenomenon
chuck me out (of
fights

with

me;

to

my own

about freedom

emotional fools

own

phrase. All through

who

I've

and

me. So that B.

is

to

life

to

school) and put a younger

that

furniture,

failures

had him by the dozen. Conspiracies

man

in

my

place,

wasn't allowing freedom, this said by

confused freedom with license, so that one

teacher encouraged ten normal kids of 6 or 7 to smash up

my

alarm that

had a succession of teachers who turned out to be

war

me

plus brains which are rendered almost useless

emotions ... his irrationalism,

the

of

10,

dear Reich,

on the theory that

all

woman

30

worth

children must live out their

Most of these people had had nasty fathers who

never gave any praise, and they accused me of never patting them on the
back and telling them how wonderful they were. I have at least half my
destruction impulses.

i85

1947

staff

work

who

who have this neurotic attitude

And ... I don't know how to

today
here.

my work

are interested in

work because
what the

the age etc.

to rise

With

With

his

he

is all

little

by knocking the other fellow down.

alarming.

we seem

Reichian

a neurotic

is

If

people

or yours, are incapable of helping that

head B.

his heart

therefore to their

solve the problem.

of emotional complexes (and

hell?

me and

to

to attract that type)

greatest scientist of

boy with one motive

It is

Are there no complexless people

so

damned

in

the

pathetic and

world? Einstein

when over here the

Bernals and Haldanes say that your methods are unscientific, are we to
say that their attitude is emotional and not realistic? I think it is emotional to a large extent. Then where is your Little Man to come in? You
say he is almost ready to take over. But who is he? Is he more complexapparently dropped you on emotional grounds, and

free than the

Barakans and Haldanes? B. says

present generation
said he

you

that

is

him

told

doomed and that no one ought to

that the

try to help

it.

must have got you wrong, for the coming generation is to be

if we can't do some-

educated by the stiff-stomached present one, and

thing to change even a tiny fraction of this generation, the

be moulded wrongly

the way.

all

My

new one

will

old pupils won't forbid Onanie

human
way about adolescent
without many of the

[masturbation] in their kids, won't beat them, will treat them as

beings with rights of their own.

Some

will

go

freedom. So that the Zoe generation will

all

the

start off

Man who must

ordinary handicaps, but will the kids of the Little

disciplined

schools where sex

"don'ts" and religion

is

is

go to

taboo and morals are ready-made

compulsory,

will his kids

have much chance

that B. got you completely wrong. Yes,

we

in

are

So that I take it
damned. Granted. Damned and blasted to hell without any atomic bomb.
Tomorrow is a totalitarian one whether communist or fascist, or probably the two in one. And the little man is to be the big bureaucrat, and
life?

he

isn't

little

ready to be

man

electricity,

The

little

will

see

that.
life

and freedom

man

fear the increase of mechanisation, that the

terms of five-year plans and tractors and

in

as

we

won't allow

think of

me

to say

it

won't tolerate your sex-economy ideas.

generation

damage

fear so

this time, the

much;

will cease to

what
It

like

isn't

have even a name.

about education; he

the parents of the

the Fiihrers outside the

home

will

new

do the

Adolfs and Joes. With their radio and films they

can destroy humanity, and have gone far to do so already. So that I

want to know more of your little man. I want to know how to
de-Barakanise him.

Great news about the Accumulator. Please give us a warning time-

1947

table telling us

186

how

long

the safe period at a time

dangerous for Zoe, meaning what

to be

it is

we can park her

is

there?

We've had fourteen days of intense cold with no coke and no hot
baths, with half-pressure gas

and hardly

have spent days sawing down our

food enough. Owing to English plumbing

the walls

people.

we

meal because of

a hot

trees for firewood.

putting

are frozen up, and have only one

We

that.

Luckily we've had

all

pipes outside

W.C. working

on
90

for

Berlin and Vienna must be a hundred times worse.

Still,

New York

Forest Hills,

February 26, 1947

My dear Neill:
have your

added

finally

to

February loth.

letter of

your love of the

characteristic of his

am

was so glad

in the

neck of the world.

man's own

little

faults for his destiny.

fighting quite a battle in this matter for years, to

myself clean of reactionary sentiments without losing

realities.

When you

will

be here

the Hamilton School which

your own
I

you

that

the full evaluation of that

which makes him the pain

the clear vision in regard to the

myself

man

old socialist custom of pitying the poor has obfuscated

I believe that the

little

fits

in the

summer you

excellently in

my

keep

sight

of

hear a story of

will

what you indicated about

school.

never told Barakan that no one should try to help the present

generation.

What

said

500,000 vegeto-therapists
for the

coming

3 or

was
is

that his idea of saving the

4 hundred years each new-bom generation

neurotic than the previous one,

a certain

stretch

traditions

and the healthy future

lesser degree.

But

world with

a completely illusionary one. I think that

less

it is

will

that

will

be

neurotic

be overlapping to a lesser and

true that the presently living generation cannot

be restructured. Only the misdeeds of the emotional pest can be limited

and dammed

summer.

in.

am

There

is

so

much

looking forward to

that

we

will

have to

talk about in the

it.

Did you receive the accumulator already? There are no timetables to

go with it. You sit in it just as long as you are comfortable; when you
feel that you are getting warm, or when you feel that "you had enough,"
then leave
at

all.

it.

There are no dangers connected with using the accumulator

All of us are using

it

daily since

1940 and

it

did us only a lot of

187

1947

good.

would advise not

Zoe stay alone

to let

park her there, as you say, but

her go

let

in the

accumulator, to

with Ena. She will feel

in

when the child gets restless, a sure sign for getting out.
Of course, we would like to urge you not to leave Ena and the child
behind when you come. It should be possible to arrange it somehow.
then

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 4, 1947

My dear Reich,
I

Reise

[trip]

delayed writing until

now and we
inside,

much

over. After
are using

my

whereas Ena heats easily

only observation

pleasant.

The baby has

easy design of

too.

We

a solid thing.

KLEIDER AN

But

wish

As an

[some clothing on] for

make

to

it is

much

am

it

to

sit

never a

the

in sections

it

article of furniture

were possible

it

up

... we have

fire

daily doses with Ena. I like very

are to try all sorts of experiments with

sores, colds etc.

to heat

difficult

it

room without

and had no idea how easy

it,

compared with

as

its

in a

find

and no coal for a week or more. So far

feel a prickliness of the skin which is

lately

that I

is

had news of the Accum. and the

I have got the Accu

hopefully. But

it

had no coke for a month

delay at the docks

looks fine

it

kids with impetigo,

in

it

ETWAS

with

warm

person

in this

somewhere you write that one shouldn't have an Accu

in a bedroom. Why? Why bad to lie all night with orgones floating
about the room?
In seven days the three of us cross to Copenhagen and then Stock-

climate. Also,

holm. Propaganda Reise

pay our losing

[trip] really; I

battle with

money.

cover our fares with the fees

I

want

lecture in

get there.

We

over to help

to get students

will

both

and almost

cities

be away 15 days

don't look forward to travelling Dritte [third] on the ship; at

of

life I feel I

ought to have the best Erste Klasse

[first

in all.

my

time

class] for self

guess the aftermath of war will give us worse austerities.

Say, Reich, if we can't get a passage this summer, would it be possible
to delay visit until winter, when I might get a lecture tour? A few

and family.

lectures might get

me

a public over there.

have

just

had

in the north of England, speaking to about 2000 people

enthusiasm was tremendous.

don't see

why

five lectures
in

shouldn't

all.

come

Their
to

1947

188

advanced" country and wake folks up a

"less

about schools and

bit

children.

By

Eastmond fears the growth of Fascism in U.S.A. "There,"

he says, "Reich's work will be in danger. Can't you (Neill) persuade
Reich to send you sealed information about his latest discoveries so
that you can park them safely in a bank in England?"
the way,

We

Ena and

P.S.

were

have

Ena
good

it

to

to meeting Use in

May.

have talked about what would happen to Zoe

if

we both

an accident. She says that the only people she would

killed in

to bring her
all I

much

both look forward

up would be

Can

the Reichs.

make

trust

a will so? Leaving

pay for her upbringing.

says: "Tell

was of him

Forest Hills,

Reich how much

to

send

how

appreciate the Accu, and

it."

New York
April 14, 1947

My dear Neill:
I

was glad

to

have your

letter of

departed on the 9th for England, and she

April 4th today. Use has

will

be with you

in a

weeks. She will be able to inform you of everything you wish to

few

know

about the orgone.

It is

not necessary to

you obtain the same

sit

in the

accumulator naked.

We

learned that

you are dressed, but, if possible, don't

wear a coat in it. To judge from your description, you seem rather
undercharged I judge from the lack of sensations. In a few weeks your
organism will have charged up enough, and you will feel the heat.
I would like to advise you against relying too much on lecturing here.
America is a tremendous country with tremendous competition among
results

if

lecturers,

and the lecture-tour would have

long in advance.

I feel that

coming

this

to

be thoroughly prepared

summer would be much more

important seen from any angle.

Your

request in regard to

Zoe meant much

best educator of today, have so

that I personally

am

which

is

me, since you, the

confidence in me, but

am

afraid

not a suitable person to give safety to the child,

though children around

position,

much

to

me grow up

in a

good way.

mean my

dangerous and uncertain and open to any

social

pestilent

i89

194 7

attack at any time in any country with any consequence. Discuss the

matter with Use.

and

think she

would help her

Forest Hills,

would be the one

to take the responsibihty,

as long as circumstances permit.

New York
April 19, 1947

My dear Neill:
spoke

what he can

The
is

to

to bring

idea of

Hamilton about a possible lecture

tour.

He

bank

in

new

to deposit

discoveries in a

exaggerating the dangers in the United States. Sometimes

England

wonder

growing, in the socialistic or bourgeois governments,

is

since everything

do

one about.

Eastmond

where Fascism

will

is

topsy-turvy and upside down.

nothing but wait and see, but

am

feel

we can do

preparing Orgonon for safety.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

1947

6,

My dear Reich,
had a wonderful time

lectures,

in

parson of a big church opposite

sented on condition that
sex.

Put

in

Denmark and Sweden. Crowded

Stockholm hundreds couldn't get

me

in a difficult

We

all I

if

didn't attack religion or

dilemma, but

in

saw

every patient of his

half negative. His technique

Stekel;

sit

couldn't

pulpit. Later a smaller party at

Copenhagen. Met the psychology

gang. Philipson very amiable. His ideal

I

the

He consay too much about

disappoint so many

couldn't say in church.

stayed with the Leunbachs

from what

so they asked

they could use the church.

people and spoke for an hour from the

supper got

in

is

opposite and talk.

regulation, having

them

good, for at two the

girl

shit

had

is

to

have no transferences, but

a very strong one, half positive,

primarily a talking one

The

and

L.'s

piss all

like

Jung and

are giving their babies

over the place, and

can handle cups and glasses

easily,

it

self-

seems

and they

automatically begin to use pots for shitting.

Sweden was paradise; shops with everything we haven't seen for years
here. I drank too much Schnapps and ate far too much and enjoyed it

1947

190

In Copenhagen lecture

all.

spoke about your work and pleased the

sex-econ folks there. But on the orgone question

inite.

name

doctor whose

got nothing def-

catch in C. said that

I didn't

was

it

all

phantasy on your part, but as he had never seen nor tried anything
orgonish his criticism meant nothing. Leunbachs say they can't get any

from

effects

far

their

Ena and

right.

Accum, but
back

are

as

have only the skin tingling

anaemia badly and asks

Was

when

puzzled

if it

lined with thin foil

it is

to ours.

The

came

me

to

in

we'd

but replied with a no.

new land under

But
I

it

begin to be sure that

a losing income can

to
I

have the

bring

have more fears than

it

the staff has

try.

to

were a genuine

it

70 kids here to

start in a

am

offer.

Ena and Zoe

scared

should have

in front of

them

over.

isn't

all

zB.

Nor

with

have a neurotic fear

customs

[for instance] the

fear goes even

the type of neurosis that

work and happiness and a good sex

this year.

flew over the Atlantic. Indeed

if

shouldn't have. Partly a fear of being afraid.

thank heaven

if

won't get a passage over

Ena would be

people, yet once

I

my

can't leave

isn't

a Committee, nay, not for 5 million dollars per annum.

was most pleasing

of flying, and

it

Stockholm asking me

be head of Hamilton School. Couldn't make out

offer,

guess

yesterday. So

One woman on

to report.

will help her. I said

a cable

came

small one

if I

have things

neurosis, Reich, but

makes me incapable of

life.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

14,

1947

My dear Neill:
I

received your letter of

May

6th yesterday. In the meantime,

assume. Use arrived and has already told you most of the things about

our

lives that

may

do the utmost

interest you. I also

hope

to get a passage this year

that she will persuade

and not next

utmost importance should be discussed and

who

could

listen better

know no one

and understand better what

present time in the development of our work. There

you to

year. Matters of

is
is

in

Europe

at stake at the

especially

one

which has to be cleared up. For 15 years now my work

has had nothing whatsoever to do with psychoanalysis and its different
first-rank point,

variations.

psychology

For 15 years now a new branch of natural science and not

is

in

full

development.

15 years ago the psychoanalysts

191

1947

wanted nothing of

Today

it.

my own

usurpation of

this

they want

work. In

nothing to anybody; on the contrary,

and mystical concepts

all

this
I

of

it,

but

shall not agree to

orgone biophysical work

had

to

overcome

owe

false idealistic

psychology and psychoanalysis and other

in

sciences in order to find the road to the blistering biological energy

which you can see

in the dark.

Therefore, the issues which interest Philipson are far behind, decades

behind the present work.

human
pick

beings that they

up a piece of
to

possibilities

all

and then

it

one of the most unfortunate habitudes of

It is

come along

for a short while with pioneer work,

down, thus losing

settle

all

perspective and

go along and understand the whole development.

Philipson would not do talky-talk with his patients like Jung and Stekel
if

he could understand that

and

the patients

and seeing

patient

am

not doing psychology but biology with

working biophysically involves undressing of the

that

his

body.

am

fighting desperately against being

looked upon as a branch of psychoanalysis.

to stop doing psychiatry at all
tion

wish

and devote myself

had enough money

fully to the investiga-

and elaboration of the cosmic orgone energy. Unfortunately,

not lose

work.

my

To

independence which

financial

is

provided by

my

dare

psychiatric

discuss the implications of the discovery of the biological

energy for the evaluation of psychology would be one of the main tasks
of our meeting. So

hope

you'll

come.

also be of some importance because we

Europe have spread wrong notions on the

Your coming here would

feel that the Socialists in

educational mentality

in the

U.S.

more open-minded and

rabid European Socialist. There

find conservative

Americans much

progressive in matters of living than the

education

in

Europe; and

the U.S.
it

is

European understands,

even

in the

feel

U.S.

that

eyes.
for

You

in

average

could bring

instance,

much more

much

that

it

in

ideas

all

American

if

back to Europe.

Roosevelt has

most conservative Americans have a

something important

[level] of

higher than in

than any Socialist government

toward labor than the "Father of

is

and

would be a matter of evening out wrong

would see with your own

workers

no doubt that the niveau

is

in general

most

given

you

No
the

in

Europe.

fairer

attitude

proletarians of the world." There

liberalism which

is

inaccessible to

the average European.

I

knew you would

not accept the offer of the Hamilton School to be

their director, but the offer

I

know you

will

was seriously made.

enjoy the accumulator very much, but

used regularly for a long stretch of time to show

its effects.

it

must be

1947

192

I hope very much to hear from you soon again and

Orgonon in about 2 months.

to see

you

at

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May 22,

1947

My dear Reich,
Use

left this

morning.

her very much. She will

Your
self

last letter

a break and

tell

you

We
all

we

hated her going, for

about

S'hill

when

all

liked

she returns to you.

sounded most depressed. Pity you hadn't given your-

come over

you would have laughed

too.

Use has laughed a

lot here,

and

guess

too.

much to write this time. We have been going to bed too late,
and missing our Abend Sitzung [evening session] in the Accu. From now
I

haven't

my

end of July

until

visitors,

most of them

life

will

be one long miserable interviewing of

dull teachers

and problem parents. And they

all

ask the same damn-fool questions.

I

am

glad you at last threw overboard the word analysis. But we'll

talk about

it

soon

hope.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

Junes, 1947

My dear Reich & Use,

I sail

Mary

on the Queen Elizabeth 9th August, and return on Queen

Sad that
would have Zoe vaccinated.
1 1

It will

th Sept.

have to come alone, but neither of us

be a great joy to meet you again, Reich.

193

1947

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

17,

1947

My dear Reich,
Thanks
hope

Had
I

a letter

They might have been worse, but

for the magazines.

this publicity doesn't interfere

from Hamilton saying he

do hope he doesn't keep me there

primarily.

He

me

Building to see the

emotional pest

at the

him

have replied to

moment

me to the farm first.

am coming to see you

to take

is

long, for

wrote that he wants to take

city. I

with your work.*

to the top of the

that

my

has revived

Empire

don't want that.

My

old height phobia.

By the time I sail I hope that the Accumulator will have made me
more balanced emotionally. But apart from this phobia of mine, which
by the way operates on the top of a mountain with sloping sides, and
would operate

if

the

Empire Bg. had

taken sight-seeing. In Stockholm

taining
I

me by showing me

have told Hamilton that

that take

my

N.Y. shops

Now,

fancy,

and

will fascinate

Reich,

arrange that

a wire cage at top,

old castles etc.

I

was

hate being

just

enter-

bored to death. So

merely want to go around seeing the things

guess that after 7 years of empty shops, the

me

and the food.

you can do so without offending the Hamiltons, try to

see YOU as much as possible. I want a quiet time with
if

you and Use and Peter, and when H. writes

a seminar of teachers "at the farm"
sorry].

when they thought they were

Of course

may

like

them a

lot,

but

that

Ranger has arranged

well, es tut
I

mir

leid [I

am

wouldn't have crossed the

Atlantic for anyone but you.

Reich had sent Neill two magazines, each containing an article about Reich's
and his work: "The New Cult of Sex and Anarchy," Harper's Magazine
(April 1947), and "The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich," The New Republic
(May 26, 1947), both by Mildred Edie Brady. Purporting to be objective descriptions, both articles, and particularly that in The New Republic, were virulently
*

theories

hostile.

1947

194

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June 20, 1947

My

dear Reich,
I sent

you a badly depressed

mere

the depression now, but the

is

letter

two days ago.

fact that such a depression

am

out of

can happen

so tiresome.
I

don't

that to

be

know what

New

however stupid or hateful the

have touched the base of

articles, folks will

how

suppose

be led to find out for

more I see that you

Knowing your work makes it impossible to

Hfe.

read books on psychology. But

the past, and

Republic means a wide publicity, and

themselves what you teach. The longer

undo

you sent me.

to say about the articles

Harper's and

in

I see, in

useless

is

it

on

the only thing to concentrate

is

live the

my own

to "cure"

the

new

self,

by any

generation

how hard
analysis.

it is

So

Peter and Zoe,

but Zoe has the better chance, for Peter will get too

is

from the damned schools you

that

will

have to

much that
him
send
to. The fact

has had to be vaccinated, while Zoe wasn't,

freedoms allowed them.

ment

that won't

home

If I live

compel her

to

any fool

will counteract

is

as

it

to

that

false

he

were symbolic of the

long enough Z. will have an environ-

have

on behaviour. Yet your

work done on Peter by teachers.
silly

ideas

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June 21, 1947

My dear Neill:
We are

wondering why you did not arrange your stay in

still

the States so that you could have spent a longer period with us.

Mr. Hamilton

Orgonon by

New

meet you

will

car. I

am

you

at

Orgonon we

as possible (coffee for breakfast

soda). Furthermore,

many heavy

boat and will bring you up to

sure you will enjoy the beautiful trip through the

England landscape, and

able for

at the

problems.

shall

make

it

as comfort-

and plenty of whiskey and

promise not to bother you too much with too

195

1947

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June 26, 1947

My dear Reich,
have 14 days with you

I'll

who

can't take

broken

any part

fuses, for

while you

all

Well,
train

take

it

at

at

work.

Use said she does

work

and some grass to

in the

Orgonon, long enough

You

all that.

microscopes

all

can't let

me

the day. Give

me do

one

for

mend

won't be allowed even to

nothing

a sharp scythe

cut.

that

Hamilton

and next morning

I'll

will

in

me

in

N.Y., take

me

to the

be met by you or Use at your station? Fine.

But have you any shops near you?

and am told that Maine

meet

August

is

ask because

hot as

have no

light clothes,

hell.

going to be a great joy to meet you again.

It is

[Neill arrived in the United States

train to

on August

14,

and took a night

Farmington, Maine, where he was met and driven

Orgonon, Reich's property in Rangeley.

the Reichs

He

to

spent two weeks with

and from there went to the Hamilton school and farm,

where he was to conduct a week of

in Sheffield, Massachusetts,

seminars.]

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

My

We
ing problems.

mail and that

are missing you very much.

am

am

it

hope very much

we

shall

that

was not only good and

we can keep up our

$100 of

the

discussions by

your next

visit.

Orgone Research Fund

living expenses, as agreed

for

upon.

some or most of the people you will meet at

New York pleasant and understanding. Most of them

sure you will find

the seminar and in

It

actually helped to clarify most distress-

continue to clear up things at

enclosing a check for

your traveling and

I

1947

dear Neill:

pleasant to have you here, but

i,

have struggled with our problems.

1947

196

Hamilton farm
Mass.

Sheffield,

Labour Day

Dear Both,
I

am

am

homesick for Orgonon. The drive was tiresome but

still

The gang hasn't arrived yet, and Ranger says they

whole week and will be concerned if I leave before

refreshed now.

have paid for a

next Tuesday, lecture day. Going to be a 2-hour session mornings and

one evenings, and Ranger wants me

have a special hour for

to

dividuals

who want

week

have $600 plus a ruined constitution. However,

I'll

Nice place

typewriter and
children],

looks as

my

by the end of the

I'll

survive

it.

rotten, blunt, set at

were back with your typewriter.

N.Y., but Ranger says

in

Now

the clothes for Zoe here nearby in Barrington.

home;

is

if

is

have only one day to shop

I'll

it

in-

no whetting stone. H. has lent me this nice

go on with my book afternoons. Aber, Kinder [But,

there

I'll

wish

me, so

warm, sunny, but the scythe

this,

wrong angle and

to speak to

vacation ended

I just

may

get

long to get

when they drove me away from Orgonon.

miss the voices of Isabel* and Peter in the early morning, but the

two young dogs started

H.'s

to

heavy footsteps above awoke

Zoe. Nothing

more

bark

me

at

my

again.

to report so far.

How

door

Good

at

6 a.m. and

own

jobs but not

7 the

training for returning to

in hell I

can have things to say

God knows. I'll encourage them

about their own selves. Love to the

in six days 4 hours a day,

their

at

to talk about

three of you,

bless you.

P.S.

Say goodbye to

Tomf

for me. I like him.

Hamilton farm
Sheffield,

Mass.
Thursday, 4th Sept. 47

My

dear Reich,

Many
think of the

thanks for the cheque for $100. Easy

work

am

Maid and nursemaid

Tom

at

money when

doing here to get the Hamilton

Orgonon.

Ross, the caretaker at Orgonon.

$s. I

speak 4

197

1947

hours a day, and

17 hours to

feel that I've said all I

talk.

know and

think,

and

have

still

I can't understand the 5 or 6 ministers here; they

how they can follow Christ and that devil Reich at the
One said when I asked him that they were conscious

don't explain

same

time.

hypocrites.

Well, there goes the gong for the morning Seminar.

keep thinking of you three and the quiet of Maine.

my book

but have had to give

it

God

try to

up; no energy after so

me.

'elp

go on with

much

talking.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

My dear Neill:
We have
and

it

your

letter of

turns out true what

Labor Day.

We

are

still

4th,

missing you,

wrote you before you arrived, that

be much too short. Well, we

shall

have to wait

1947

it

would

guess for our next

meeting.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

8th,

1947

My dear Neill:
Monday morning, and I guess you are just departing for
New York. I am sure your lecture will be a great success. I shall await
your telephone call on Wednesday evening in my little cabin.
Again I wish to tell you how much I enjoyed your visit here at
It's

Orgonon.

It

is

always invigorating to be able to speak out, without

reservations and facades.

The

best of luck to

you and yours

in

England.

1947

198

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September 20, 1947

My

dear Reich,

Home

again with happy memories of a wonderful

The poisonous

article in

Evening News, and

own FBI
God,

soon.

I feel

down from
is

Our

good

shouldn't be surprised

greatest danger

is

if

have a

visit

Lost

my

all

neurosis; looked
at all.

simply can't be bothered talking to

after

London
from our

the yellow press.

after that visit to you.

seems such a waste of time

trip.

the

in

high windows in N.Y. without any vertigo

be dull now;

to

Time* has been printed

Orgonon and

my

But

life

staff for

it

Sheffield.

What about another visit next year with Ena and Zoe? We think
we could arrange to come out in early April and return end of June.
That would give me a chance to make all expenses by lecturing before
schools in U.S.A. went on vacation, and then we could recuperate in
Orgonon
but I don't know when you go up there each year.
.

Zoe

a darling.

is

Taking a few steps now, and,

waking us

alas,

at

6.30 a.m.

When
ms.

I finish

my bookf

I'll

start translating the Little

Man, whose

got safely.

Cheer up, old Reich. You and

insidious propaganda.

am

I will

beat the press gang with their

writing a letter to

The

tacking the yellow press and asking them to leave

New
me

Statesman
alone.

at-

don't

believe in taking attacks lying down.

Wish

could have seen you again to give

my

impressions of the

Sheffield crowd.

Back

to cigarettes at

85 cents for 20, and rumour says they are

going up to a dollar for 20. Must stop smoking,

damn

it

all.

And no

whiskey.

Time magazine (August 25, 1947), reporting on Neill's trip to the United
made derisive fun of him, his school, and his ideas.
t The Problem Family: An Investigation of Human Relations (London: Herbert
Jenkins, 1949). Neill pleads for more openness and honesty within the family
and describes the ways in which personal prejudices and social pressures can
*

States,

distort parents' attitudes to their children.

199

1947

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September 26, 1947

My

dear Reich,

My

book

is

nearly finished.

have more than once quoted

you, giving the quotation from the Orgone Press.

make
and how
to

many

be Greek to

will

a reader,

it

up with the sickness

links

wouldn't dare to write

it

name

against

...

it

Damn

in

can cure

it

me

you, man, time

atomic energy

kills

us

is

It is

how

know

to

for years,

and

abundance

known

can

70 kids then?

have

will

do much

wish

in

here.

get in with the O. before the

all.

an English teacher and

How

seen

you, to get some of

in great

School begins today, and 70 noisy brats have returned.

long.

it is

Akku, how the sickness of

in the

You must

I
in

not say a thing

time that your message were

short.

Use

it.

do so want England

Maine.

dictate to

will

is

think?

book would be

literary style so that the

the inspiration you have given

two weeks

What do you

you could

if

good idea

what the orgone

of the discovery of the Orgone,

tell

how

The name Orgone

would be

of humanity.

unless you approve of

The chapter could

the

it

send you galley proofs of the book, for

I'll

in biological life,
is

thought

myself, but

it

my own

in

involving your

man

the final chapter a simple description of

could put
unison.

and

to teach

can't get

maths and English

day

all

to clear the onanie [masturbation] guilt of

had a Saxe*

Cold, and your wooly coat

is

here.

a blessing. I guess

Maine

is

cold too

now.
Lots of real love to both ... to the three.

one)

wish to

God

(Orgonotic

were nearer you.

Forest Hills

New York
October

My

3,

1947

dear Neill:
I

appreciate very

orgone energy

* Felicia

in

Saxe.

children's tensions.

much your

your book.

You

Worked with Reich

offer to

will find

include a chapter

many important

for a time;

devised

on

data sum-

exercises

to

loosen

1947

marized

200

in the last part of

The Function

few basic characteristics of

of the

Orgasm.

am

adding a

later date.

Orgone can be seen pulsating and moving West-Eastward on calm

lake surfaces and on stars by means of the telescope at about 80
magnification. Arrangements which accumulate orgone energy show a
constant higher temperature as compared with the surrounding

air.

This constant temperature difference can best be obtained through

burying an orgone accumulator

accumulator and

in

in the soil,

and measuring above the

simple earth. Orgone energy in

concentrated

its

form can be demonstrated by means of the Geiger-Miiller counter

[the

Geiger counter], the highest speed so far obtained being around 25 to

100 impulses per second. Of course, without any

artificial

radiating

substance in the neighborhood.

Orgone charges blood and

tissues biologically,

removes secondary

anemias, causes expansion of the vascular nervous system, thus helping

in cases of high

blood pressure and angina pectoris.

general condition of the organism,

extent,

fertility

is

the

in the

cancer

not to be confused with the cancer tumor.

(humus), the expansive processes of growth

of the soil

and development are due

air.

By improving

counteracts to a greater or lesser

depending on the case, the process of deterioration

biopathy, which

The

it

to natural

orgone energy

Orgone can be drawn from humus

into water

in the soil

and

in the

and by a process of

made to concentrate into flakes of a biological nature

(Experiment XX). These flakes constitute true plasmatic matter.

freezing can be

Orgone can be seen

in

complete dark rooms as a bluish-gray shimmer

and moving shining clouds.

The

earth

is

surrounded by a rotating orgone energy atmosphere,

west to east. This "Orgone Envelope"

is

physically the

corona of the sun. Orgone energy has been used

of mother
quickly.

many
is,

and child

It is

in pregnancy.

being used by

countries. It

is

many

It

is

in

same

as the

promoting the health

capable of healing wounds

physicians, physicists and biologists in

present everywhere and penetrates everything, and

most probably, that which was for many centuries sought for

as the

"ether."

The universe
is filled

is

not empty as assumed by classical physics, but

it

with the pulsating cosmic energy, the orgone, out of which the

matter of the heavenly bodies most probably developed.

Orgone energy
means, and,

at the

is

a true physical energy demonstrable by physical

same time

it is

that energy

which we

feel in

sensations as pleasure or anxiety, depression or elation.

our organ

Our emotions

20I

1947

are nothing but subjective perceptions of objective changes in the state

of

body orgone.
Orgone energy

is

within us and outside of us.

The health-enhancing action of sun and fresh air is due

The same is true with the hitherto ununderstood

energy.

orgone

to

action

of

vitamins and natural foods.

The

orgasm corresponds

biological

orgone energy through a

Cosmic and natural

physical link-up of his

to

a discharge

series of involuntary total

feelings of the

human animal

body orgone with

of biophysical

body contractions.
are

due

the cosmic orgone

to

the

around

him, a relation which cannot be accounted for by mechanical physics or

Orgone energy

chemistry.

is,

in

contradistinction

to

atomic energy,

present independently of matter and before matter. Atomic energy

secondary energy, derived from matter. Orgone energy

is

is

primordial

cosmic energy before matter.

Orgone energy was not discovered by mechanistic physico-chemistry

because

it

ical laws,

known mechanical or chemunknown functional laws such as pul-

does not function according to

but according to hitherto

sation, lumination, attraction of the

etc.

weaker body by the stronger body,

Natural phenomena such as the aurora borealis, or the function of

the divining rod, are due to orgone energy.

It

is

to

be emphasized that orgone energy

neither mystical nor

is

mechanical, but a truly physical, functional energy in the universe.

I

think that's enough.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

My

8,

1947

dear Reich,

Thanks
spite of

Visit

my

a lot for

your

letter.

I'll

woeful ignorance of anything

from Barakan.

He

Claims he has discovered a

is

try to write that

doing therapy but not under your name.

way

to eliminate all

and Vbertragung [transference], and explained

didn't understand

Ena and

chapter in

scientific.

Widerstand [resistance]
it

at

length to me.

it.

use the Accumulator daily, but often with difficulty to

find the time, for life in a school

is

one long dealing with people. Every-

194 7

202

one says we are both looking

and happier since

But

am

well,

look years younger

came back from Maine.

the political line-up before the military

Communism

one, and I foresee a universal bloodbath.

my work

end, and

very anxious about the world.

new Comintern means

This

and Ena says

and yours

will

win

will

in the

be negatived by hate ... for the

chained workers must react with hate when they get what they think

is

from

it

freedom. The outlook

to U.S.A.

am

can't leave

my

carry on

is

black indeed. But, Reich,

70 kids when there

is

can't flee

no one

know who could

work.

maths teacher and

getting at last a

My

kids individually.

will

you convinced

visit to

be free to work with the

me

that

have to get back

to contact with the individuals as I used to do, easing their

as

much as I can.
Let me know

The Time

article.*
is

article

about

me was

what

to see

Sad

My

am

to think

book

how

wish to goodness you could

just

about finished, and then

start to translate the Little

book

difficult

Still

much more
I

want

tecs [detectives]

Orgonon.

all left

that

the only one of yours

Re-reading the Function of the O. while

Gott,

stupid

least there

doing.

you have

a great

It is

tonia.

that

guilt

your therapy work.

get out of

FBI and

poisonous too. At

freedom here, that Scotland Yard never sends

this

Man.

of any developments re the

Onanie

do

it is

get the

for

me when

most of

it.

I sit in

meet a word

And

I fully

understand.

the box, but,

mein

like sympathetico-

after seeing

you again

I get

out of your books.

to write a chapter

on

Why Does Man

Hate Sex and Life? But

have not enough knowledge to answer the question.

can see

what you mean when you say man changed from matriarchal to patr.
society when he began to have private possessions. But that doesn't
tell

me why Brown

wish

is in

beats his boy for Onanie, or

were a scholar and knew things

your books, but where

Lust-Angst [pleasure-anxiety].

dunno.
I

knew

why mysticism persists.

know the answer

historically. I

My

cat Jeep has

that I'd think of a

no mixture of
100 questions

* Neill here appears to confuse the FBI and the FDA. The article he refers to is
"The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich," by Mildred Edie Brady. On the strength
of that article, an agent of the Food and Drug Administration, acting on instructions from his superior in Washington, had visited Orgonon during September to
find out all he could about the orgone accumulator.

203

194 7

should have asked you in Maine.

later that I

things:

do things

and can't

You

think

and do

think. This isn't false modesty;

a real pain at not being able to explain what

it

is

see to be truth in

children and adults.

Guess

in the

me up. I can't
And Use and Peter who is

need a whiskey to cheer

All the best to you.

He

work.

surely bright, but

is

get one.
likely to

succeed you

didn't like his being so

alone without other kids in Maine. Apt to

make him

much

old before his

time.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

My

9,

1947

dear Reich,

Posted a

Re

see me.

letter to

call his firm the

Biotechnic Press.

Eastmond, carry on
sponsibility,
I

work.

He

they get

He

think

ON CONDITION

it

that

is

very keen. Says he will

might be best to

you have no

let

is

reliable,

and

certainly he

is

me

here and told

is

pub-

most keen on your

has a steady sale for the journals and your books.

known; today a student from

him,

financial re-

and must be consulted before anything of yours

think he

lished.

you today. Then Eastmond came down to

publishing your books here.

Odd how

a teachers' training college

came

the lecturer in psychology talks about Reich. That

mid-England.

in Stafford in

Next time you write

let

me know

if

you want E.

to

go ahead, and

if

so

with Char. Analysis and not the Function or Sexual Revolution or

Fascism.

More work

Forest Hills,

for

you

sorry.

New York
October

16,

1947

My dear Neill:
was agreed with Wolfe that Character Analysis should be
England and that the American Orgone Institute Press would

It

printed in

order and

sell

should build

Character Analysis here.

up our

own

press in

My

many

private opinion

is

that

we

countries to be independent,

194 7

even

if

204

the beginning

Our own name

We

small.

is

should not be impressed by big names.

big enough by now. 10,000

is

not too big an edition

is

for Character Analysis, because our press has sold

3000 copies within

one year without any propaganda.

What you wrote about Barakan's work without any

part of the patient points to charlatanism pure-

Barakan from our

to exclude

resistances

on the

and simple. Please help

circles completely.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 27, 1947

My

dear Reich,
think

to lecture.

I'll

There

have to give up the idea of coming out

my

no one on

is

staff I

two or more months. But Ena, Zoe and

and be back

to

enough lecture
I

reopen

could come out

September.

the school in late

and confident, and more able

who

are

could get

men

as

felt

much

stronger

to face the opposition of all the anti-life

becoming more

aggressive.

The

School, in a long article in

that such

in latish July

If

fees to cover our expenses that's all I'd want. I feel that

need to see you again, for since seeing you I've

people

in spring

can safely leave in charge for

Grammar
me and suggests

headmaster of a

Fortnightly, mentions

should not be allowed to teach children because

children need religion.

I

don't

lectures.

Maine

know

We

at that

if

time of the year enough people would want

could have longer in Orgonon too.

affected

Orgonon.

wonder how the fire in

away from the trees

think you were well

me know; I am anxious about it.

how much the kids enjoyed the

but not possibly from the dry grass. Let

Letter from Mrs. Sharaf saying

much

seminar, but they were

ministers suggested
stories, saying

we

which

upset about

discuss

what

is

simply sex repression of

when

it

had wit or a ludicrous

schoolmasters, anything.

saw no humour

my
in

pornography.

The

filth,

but that

situation

at all.

am

Today

of the

My

point was

few
that

could laugh at a joke

whether about

interesting thing

One

at a session. I told a

was

sex, religion,

that the older genera-

witty or ludicrous sex stories while the

them

funny, and find that

my

por-y

thought por-ic and which not.

por-y

tion laughed at

is

young one

do not think hardly any sex story

bored by people

who

tell

them.

205

194 7

mention

this

pornography because you

have heard of

will

it

in

your Stunden [treatment hours] probably.

Box

use the

daily and read your books in

the books are very clear to me.

you again meant

1

to me.

You

long for a glass again, but

it

London shops

in

io

at

God's sake] don't

[for

on both

it.

You have no

Since

are a better tonic than

it

most of

can't be got;

it is

me any

send

exported.

um

a bottle (40 dollars). But

try to

met you again

how much meeting

your whiskey how

idea

see

Gottes Willen

or any cigarettes; the duty

prohibitive.

is

Seeing Eastmond this weekend.

have become a director of the Bio-

technic Press and will see that your interests are fulfilled.

Re Barakan.

him a charlatan; he is only a poor devil seeking to solve his

inner problem in his work. A charlatan is a man who consciously knows
Don't

he

call

swindling. B. believes in his

is

Am

feel sure that the

our work

me

whole world

finished.

is

that S'hill

will

theories.

see C-ism growing in

become

Three ex-members of

was of comparatively

no educational reform
what

own

worried about humanity.

still

until the

little

Europe and

C-istic in our time

my

and then

C.P. members, told

staff,

importance, for there can be

economic factor

settled.

is

Mein

Gott,

fools!

Your wool coat you gave me is a great boon now that

And Ena is delighted with her green leather coat.
I lecture to the Sex Society (President Norman Haire)

winter winds

blow.

in

February

on "Sex and the Adolescent," in London.

Love to the family. And I long to show you Zoe, who under selfregulation is fine, but we have to go against her when she wakes at
2

a.m. sometimes and yells because

games with

No

her.

She has a tremendous

we won't
will,

but

signs of her wanting to play with faeces

Forest Hills,

is

and

take her up to play

95%

quiet and happy.

urine.

New York
November

My

Orgonon,

Your
one.

9.

1947

dear Neill:

have your
it

idea to

You

the cabin

letter of

October 27th. The

fire

did not affect

was about 100 miles away, but it could have happened.

come over to get some money and to rest is an excellent

did not

tell

on the big

me whether you would

lake,

accept

where you would have

my

all

offer to live in

the comfort

you

1947

206
]

room

need, instead of being cramped in one

me

Orgonon. Please, give

your idea about

lower building

in the

at

this point.

Don't worry about the pornographic business.

know you

are not

pornographic.
In regard to Barakan,

make him

important.

He

what he does, and not

be

to

to

man

We

what he

succeeded in making us
judge a

man

according to

understand that we have

talks. Please,

about unqualified people doing the responsible job of

strict

psychiatric treatment.

physicians,

feel that the

not important.

is

if

always

It

hits

back

me, and our responsible

at

something happens.

Whether or not the C.P.

people like you and me.

and

out-democratize

world depends on

will ever devastate the

depends on how clearly we

It

out-freedomize

these

shall

be able to

who went

fellows

little

berserk at the smell of political power.

Did you

get

some American children or prospects

for Summerhill?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

My

have two of your

lake hut, the

would be

letters to

2nd asking why

man

is

progressing ...

off to the printers yet

number

of words.

and

Your

it

lecture.

home." Hence
It just

from

None came. So

yourself. U.S.A.

next year.

letters

it

(little

half

isn't

make it the correct

man) aloud to Ena.
hoped

that

me

my
to

visit

come

to

damn

if

you come or stay

Ena: "I don't think

I'll

try to

at

go back

reception there."

shows you how easy

The Problem Family.

little

sometimes think: "Neill, you are cheating

doesn't really care a

my

to

the

my book*

colleges, schools etc. asking

sometimes say

over-rated

yet, for

have more to write

have begun to translate

Of course it
you

how

other question about

haven't started to
I

offering us the

first

car, for I couldn't ask

have moods about coming back to U.S.A.

would bring me
and

answer, the

haven't replied to the offer.

need to hire a

delightful, but I'd

or Use to fetch us each time.

1947

17,

dear Reich,

it is

to get depressed again.

know

it

is

207

largely the state of the world that gets

his fascism

is

two camps, fascism

in

ing fascism.
in

your

Who

book

The

communism, with

the right-wing labour join-

is

up

[Oswald] Mosley and

think Britain will soon be

walking through Europe and when you say

men

to

you and me

like

ask

how

to shortage of paper,

and

to stop

it,

will listen to us?

owing

me, for by that time what

write

now

will

be out of date

me.

editor of the

how

about

it is

can't appear for a year

that depresses
at least to

vs.

fear c-ism

letter that

can we?

My

me down.

again to the fore here, and

194 7

Times Educational Supplement has written

He

to be a teacher.

me

other teachers can't reach, which

calls
isn't

a genius

on

book

a pinnacle that

very true, but nice to hear from

one of the conventional leaders of education.

Haven't any more to say tonight. Life

hours a day.

Zoe
far

I'll

flourishes,

example of

fine
I

is

very

full,

but

have

at last

term won't have to teach maths 5

get back to dealing with the individual kids.

got a maths teacher and

after this

walks about everywhere and

self-reg'n.

wonder how my

have no desire to have

my

is

no trouble

at all,

friend Peter progresses.

hut outside the school. Tonight

So

have

played games in the lounge with the small ones, played like a kid myself.

How

is

Forest Hills,

G-M

the

counter doing now?

New York
December

My

dear Neill:

the

work from

This

is

is

only a short

investigating the accumulator

a state official

who

this.

This

on the suspicion of a vice

Just like a

his

cow can

ring.*

We

will

are

say nothing but moo, so

ail-

pornographic mind.

be necessary to publish the

form me whether you

articles,

We are engulfed in work to save

The Food and Drug Administration

deals mostly with swindle drugs against sexual

ments, cannot go beyond

It will

1947

letter.

the emotional pest.

taking action against

i,

Little

Man. Would you kindly

in-

be able to make the translation as you

is the first mention of the FDA harassment, brought on by the Brady

which lasted for the rest of Reich's life.

1947

208

intended? Also,

know whether you

us

let

Man

think that the Little

should go out only to influential centers or to the general public.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

My

why

Can't think

necessary to publish l.m. now.

is

it

Chamber

connection with the enquiry into the Orgone

it

Meiner Meinung nach

will help.

for

it

enrage

will

ONLY

public

many

attitude

cheeky devil."

[In

my

people, and such a

when you

would meet the

off,

opinion]

your own

weapon

to the

"Who

the hell

Reich guy

is this

who

you

tells

us

your name were as widely accepted as that of

If

in it." If

it

be published

to

is

would say: "This l.m.

am

and there must

it,

for

all

its

being for

That book would give your enemies the best

circle ... at first.

you possible

against

can't see

in

how

would do harm,

it

book should be given

strong meat to swallow, but the great Reich says

be something

If

are accepted as an authority. Otherwise

Einstein, Shaw, Freud, even Chaplin, then folks

is

1947

13,

dear Reich,

"Crucify this blasphemer" would be

the cry.
I

wired you that

even write

hadn't begun to translate. In school time

my own book

would be a job for a long summer vacation.

get

someone

in

U.S.A. to do

write a chapter

I tried to

decided that

I couldn't. I

and

me

struck

it

Neill

and

his

that

work,

if

I'd

I can't

unless in snatches, and to translate the l.m.

it,

much

as I'd

fear that you'll have to

have liked to do

on your work and

do not know enough

anyone were

to

after a

it

myself.

page of writing

to present

your views,

have a chapter in a book called

tremble with fear, and would be sure to find

it

faulty.
I

am

worried about you,

to investigate every

damn

am

completely in the dark. Has the State

thing in U.S.A.? If in England,

you could

hire

out your Accu's without anyone investigating, especially since you are
not making a profit.

Longing to hear the

this. It

latest

must be impossible

orgone energy
pile, i.e.,

is

to

about the

counter. Just thought of

measure atomic energy

stronger than atomic

a nuclear reactor] not the

Ena and

G-M

it

must be that

bomb,

in a

bomb, so

in the pile

if

[atomic

nichtl

are both very tired after a term. She badly needs a rest

209

and treatment, the snag being

who

doctor

Box

kids that often she leaves the

tion
If

see that

I'll

no one

you need me

is

don't want to call in the local

pills.

She

is

so conscientious about

to attend to them, but in this vaca-

me

at

my

expense.

New York

Forest Hills,

December

My

there to interrupt her.

hurry phone

in a

we

that

simply prescribe

will

194 7

i8,

1947

dear Neill:

We

Food

are in the middle of a court action against the

need the

Little

Man

other material pertaining to orgone energy.

From

the communications

and Drug Administration.

you receive you

I

just

will get a picture of

read your

for a thorough

I shall

letter of

what

it

is all

November 17th

answer because

keep the Food and Drug Adm.

we

about.

We

had no time
work necessary to

again, having

are drowning in

at bay.

as well as all

are

all

under a

terrible strain.

Things are coming to a head and are burning around

question of either high up or deep down. But
I

we

us.

It

obtained 3000 impulses per minute, or 50 per second, or as

as a strong atomic pile

device,

We
write.

and

that's

would

would

is

are fighting bravely.

give, already with the third

much

Geiger-Muller

good news.

like to

know about your

plans for the summer. Please

1948
Forest Hills,

New York
January 12, 1948

My

dear Neill:
I

agree with you that you should not include any chapter on

orgone energy

We

in

your book

had a Christmas

with lawyers, doctors,

investigation

is

still

if

etc.

you

feel that

you cannot do

of strain and worries,

full

it.

of conferences

full

because of the pestilential attacks on

us.

The

going on, and our lawyer will take court action

against the administration.

Thank you very

heartily for the picture of Zoe. She

and a new promise. Peter

is

growing into a smart

a lively child

is

little

fellow.

We

are

very good friends.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 16, 1948

My

dear Reich,
I

have been

how you can

to Scotland seeing

my

folks.

don't understand

take action against the Administration, for

it

is

seldom

if

ever done over here.

I

am

feeling lonely again;

trouble again, with a

a

word

my

take
.

to

me. But

man

S'hill

no one

criticising

to talk to here,

me

to visitors

and

have

staff

and never saying

has always attracted neurotics

who want

to

place, the fools.

Most depressed

at international
2

news, and can see no

Ausweg

1948

212

[way out] other than war, since

and

Zoe, although here again

We

has in store for her.

"You

said:

should

let

men

her

girl as

fall

asleep

on the

floor

ness;

what would you do then?" The Dane

fall

asleep; she

STOPPED SMOKING

getting worse every

But

at

after tea I feel the

therapy with a few problem kids

from

wonder sadly what

life

you do not practise

The

it;

you

would cry

hour with

for an

didn't

tired-

know.

My

the end of the year.

throat

cigarettes. I feel

was

much

want of a smoke.

am

are stiff-stomached

get great joy out of

housemother, an admirer

day with the strong English

School opens today and

and then put her to bed." Ena

"She wouldn't

better.

power

her to take her to bed.

lifted

talk of self-regulation, but

said:

in

often look at her and

had a Danish

Zoe was sleepy and Ena

of Philipson.

Dane

the

all

But on the other hand, Ena and

anti-life.

back to work,
if

this

they will have

it.

term to do orgone

Love

to the family

this family.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

12,

1948

dear Reich,

Many

By*

thanks for the Cancer

which

devoured, every

work was beyond my comprehension. Do you

want to have it reviewed over here? It was so good to have it, for when
one keeps hearing "scientists" say that you don't know the elements of
page, even

when

physics, etc.

one

the lab

feels so alone, so hopeless of science.

I've written to various folks

[But] I don't
is

want

to

who have

the lake cottage with trips to

Orgonon with

possibly by that time cigarettes; at the

and have no throat

Constance

is fine,

moment

me

my dream

of course whiskey and

I

am

still

you

all
is

non-smoking

our news.

am

glad she has gone to see

loyalty spelled with a large L.

a lovely advertisement for self-regulation,

others around here

in the past.

at all;

at all.

will give

you and the work, for she

Zoe

contacted

keep hopping about U.S.A.

who

are reared in the old vile way.

compared with
But Ena needs

* The Cancer Biopathy (published as Volume Two of The Discovery of the

Orgone, 1948; reissued in a new translation, 1973). Defines and discusses cancer as
"a systemic disease due to chronic thwarting of natural sexual functions."

213
looking after and

Ena would

that

am

would be good

Warum

having a bedroom

So Peter grows?

we

if it

with her about the Akku.

have

to

get an O.-laden atmosphere.

bedroom.

in the

strict

and wonder

office

little

it

1948

nicht [why not]?

my

in

it

bedroom so

orgones?

full of

be fun to see him again. IF

It will

in the

it

You said once not to have

What is the objection to

IF the British Govt, allows us

get a passage,

have

get lectures,

IF

to travel.

New York

Forest Hills,

February 20, 1948

My

dear Neill:

Many

thanks

for

your

of

letter

February

Constance on Wednesday. She has changed quite a

The
try to

make

12th.

saw

bit.

some Cancer Biopathys. But please, do not

make any propaganda for it. If the book is good, then it will
Press will send you

way, and

its

if it

is

not, then let

underestimating the recognition

confess that

is

it

it

die. I

enjoy in

this

am

you are

afraid

world. But

still

have to

a quite different type of recognition, a noiseless one,

so to say.

We
with

shall

be very glad to have you

Ena and

cause

the child. But I have to

need the money

a nice place for

the way,

The

you

to put

at

Orgonon again
the cabin on

sell

this

summer

the lake, be-

up a building on the Hill. We shall find

Orgonon itself if it can be arranged. By

to live in at

stopped drinking whiskey.

Little

listened to

Man

will

be printed and distributed,

after

all.

If I

had

what people told me about the Sexual Revolution and

in 1928, these books would never have been pub-

Character Analysis
lished.

It

took them 20 years,

will

artist*

enjoy them.

William

is

The same
make some drawings

did break through.

known

it

Steig.

When

true,

to

break through, but they

is true for the Little

is

for

it.

They

your book coming?

Man.

are very

had a

well-

good and you

1948

214

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 24, 1948

My

dear Reich,

wish

could grasp what your attitude to publicity really

is.

me to try to interest any scientist in the work.

Good. I got that. But in my book I've given a Ust of your books and
where they can be got in London. Is that allowed or isn't it? Let me
know so that I can cut it out of the proofs if you want me to. You say:
you don't want

see that

Let them come to

not the other

us,

your books out to be reviewed by

Re

our

trip to

U.S.A. nothing

about living when

we come, but

way round, but

settled yet.

is

am

I'm sure we can

fix

up

alarmed about your no longer

my non-smoking

drinking whiskey, for with

you do send

still

scientific journals.

and your non-drinking

from 4 p.m. onwards is going to be a bit dull.

can't make up my mind about it ... I advised

that talk in your cabin

The

Man.

Little

waiting publication because

owing

to the

Brady

for they might cry: "See, this

and implies that he

thought that

article, the Little

is

man

is

Man

was against you

mad; he thinks we

man. The Brady

a big

the State

if

might play into their hands,

woman was

are

little

right,

so

men

let

us

crush this man."

You

say

I still

underestimate your recognition.

you are always alarming

me

giving

me

about

Food & Drug Dept,

enemies than your friends, and

My

possibly

the enemies

and

do because
their

work,

who "recognize" you are

me more about your
summer actually gave me concern

the impression that the chief ones

the FBI, the

that the

all

Ku Klux Klan

etc.

in

You

tell

or hired gangsters might invade your Orgonon.

book* is being printed but it may take a year to get it published.

I want to change what I wrote, and in a year's time it will be

Already

painful to

me

Had

good

to look at

lecture

it.

on "Sex and the Adolescent"

200 people were turned away. Haire

that

last

in conversation at his

week. Over

house said

you haven't given proof that cancer has any connection with sex

repression.

Ena and

find that the chief result of the

Akku

in cases of grippe is

* Neill sent Reich a copy of The Problem Family in manuscript. In his diary,
Reich comments: "A very good book written by a child 64 years old; honest;

playful; frank; full of love for children."

215

1948

the curing of the head pains,

going

down

and

seems

it

to stop the nasal cold

from

to the chest.

Worried about

my

school

out having trouble with

chuck them out

staff. It

staff

seems that work

unless one

is

is

impossible with-

a disciplinarian

who

will

at the first sign of trouble.

[Reich never sent the following.]

Forest Hills,

New York
February 28th, 1948

My dear Neill:
I

just received

important that

clear

up

your
a

letter of

February 24th.

think

it

will

be

few points:

Of course, I want you to announce my books wherever and whenever

you can. But that has nothing to do with trying to convince people and
to beg them to accept my theories. You only become saddened and disillusioned if you do this. But I never meant to say that our friends and
co-workers should not do all they can to make our work known.
I do not think that our discussions would be dull if you don't smoke
and

I do not believe that our discussions deand luminosity on smoking and drinking alone.

don't drink, because

pended

in their subjects

The most complicated matter I have to deal with in my relation to

you is the question of my recognition. When I said in my letter that you
underestimate the actual recognition which

To my mind, a man is
when he made a very great
ing:

discovery

greatest in the history of science

about everywhere

Your

enjoy,

recognized in the

in scientific,

to

would not

enemies as

like to

man

talked

men who
I

should be adored, or

They

are meting out

did not accomplish anything,

would not

like to

be

in their

shoes,

To have so many
knows what I am doing,

be mistaken for one of them.

have, alone proves that the world

namely overturning

is

educational as well as political circles.

except complying with the rules.

and

one of the

and when, accordingly, he

receive prizes. I don't think this is true recognition.

and recognition today

the follow-

sense of the word,

as a matter of fact,

idea of recognition seems to be that a

prizes

meant

strict

heap of

stale

and wrong self-damaging

beliefs

about nature and man.

The

"State"

is

not against me. There are a few pestilent

are a disgrace to the

American

administration,

who

officials,

who

are against me.

If

1948

216

the State were against me,

gations of

my

activities

would

it

New York State.

most humble when

I feel

made. Then

my

humble and

feel

child asks me. But

"Heil" or ""Rot [Red] Front"

my

Of

any simple honest

utterly simple at

when

a pestilent,

all his life,

annoy me, then

toes in order to

with the

compare myself with the discovery I have

man, but a curious child which wonders

don't feel a big

and ponders.
question

fellow

little

who

shouts

accomplishing nothing, steps on

know how

big

am compared

rat.

course,

am

telling

my

you more about

enemies than about

My friends don't endanger or impede my work,

friends.

investi-

me to the country and given me

my research activities, exemplified

citizenship as well as recognition of

by the charter from

many thorough

not, after so

have admitted

my

only the enemies

more important. And to count representaRussian red fascism among one's enemies is quite an honor.
Why should I go around bragging that at my 40th birthday I was hailed
at a dinner as another Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, Darwin and Galileo
do and,

therefore, they are

tives of the

taken together?

don't find

much

only Wilhelm Reich and that

try to find out
in

joy in such comparisons, since

head

telling

tightly

shall I

medical journal called

the fact that there

not talk about

go around

me

telling all

the fact that I

is

knowledge and on the way how

psychology

whom

about me,

know

you too

of

apply

felt

am

human

this

Or

me and

shall I publish

human
you met

relations?
at

my

that she felt

peculiar

due

When you

lab last

master over a vast

lives

depend on

knowledge

not your great concern about

to true friendship, but partly also

in truly important

about

work, in America and abroad?

true recognition I enjoy

due

who wrote

people that in France a

scarcely a scientific or intellectual circle that does

is

me and my

in the future. Is

my

go around bragging

the continuator of Freud?

field of natural functions, that millions

partly

go around

compiled from our archives, comprises some

typed pages of books and magazines

my work? Or

and

Why

was the best

people that about 300 universities and libraries are using

that a recent bibliography,

The

accomplished.

telling already in 1925 that I

Vienna Psychoanalytic Society? Or should

books to teach people to think straight? Or should

40

people always

brag about Freud

in the

am

with this or that great one,

order to feel safe, instead of really grasping what

should

And

me.

sufficient for

is

me by comparing me

about

my

to a

in the present

being recognized

wrong perspective

asked that professor of

summer, how she came

most peculiar about

when your audience

in

my

it.

And

New York

to hear

think that

broke out

in

217

1948

when you mentioned my name.

cheers

change your ideas about

recognition, but too

me

from making

my

much and

full

use of

am

status in

It

find myself together with

the world hails today as their true sages and

enjoy.

help you

not lack of

is

great social influence.

persecuted, burned and slandered

recognition

all this to

world.

a too responsible situation which prevent

my

great recognition lies in the fact that

men whom

writing

this

through their

all

would not give one

iota of

it

who have been

lives.

This

the

is

for recognition

which

Norman Haire could bestow on me. Don't you see that people
Norman Haire, who claim that I have not given proof that cancer

like

any connection with sex repression, belong

has

to a dying world, to an old,

worn-out group of people who did not dare to touch the natural sources
of

life,

sexuality,

and instead brought phalluses, condoms, f)erverted homoand bananas and cucumbers before the world as the true

human

issue of

love

recognition? Is not the

going

down

Do you want me to beg or

fact that my orgone can stop a

life.

to the chest

more important than

all

to ask for their

nasal cold from

the brass-heads and the

academic fools of the world taken together?

I

hope you don't mind,

Neill,

when

spoke out

this

time about

my

be enjoyed, handled and

The cosmic orgone energy will

human generations of the next few thousand

true feelings.

studied by the

when

years,

have remained of any one of present people whose recognition today is demanded. And, therefore, my Little Man will be pub-

no trace
lished,

will

come what may,

state or not state,

or FBI, this or that pestilent gossiper.

discovered by

govern

itself.

official will

man and put to use

And the mention and

GPU

[Russian Secret Police]

The orgone will

for the human
the

memory

exist

race

and function,

when

it

will

of a dictatorial state

be a painful and shameful one.

Forest Hills,

New York
March

3,

1948

My dear Neill:
I

had written

the recognition

keep
I

it

am

you concerning the question of

decided not to send it off, and to

a long letter to

enjoying. But

for a personal discussion this summer.

want you, of course,

to

announce

my books whenever

and wherever

you can, but that has nothing to do with trying to convince people

who

1948

218

them
harms the work.

are ignorant or inimical, and to beg

the

first

helps, the second

The orgone work

is

to accept

my

While

theories.

progressing fruitfully and spreading steadily day

by day.
Please, keep

me

informed on your plans,

in order to

enable us to

provide quarters for your stay in Maine.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

1948

7,

My dear Reich,
I

and depressed about the world, and can't

feel pessimistic

The dilemma
a Communist police state.

avoid the conclusion that atomic war

to die atomically, or to live in

is

near.

is this

We

adults

we
we can try to change it for
something better. My point is that we may be ready to die for a
principle but have we the right to drag our kids into the death we
choose? Rather like the familiar case of the bankrupt man who shoots
might say: better dead than

want

to live even

Communism,
is

in a

that,

but

but Peter and Zoe might say: nay,

bad police

and then himself.

his children

sure

if

state, for

hate the idea of Zoe growing up in

hate more the idea of her not growing up at

a difficult dilemma.

think that

Communism

is

coming

all.

all

It

over

the world, logically following your argument of a castrated society. Its

anti-life discipline will

make

it

conquer, and politically

disciplined force, whereas against

it

is

capitalism and British social democracy.

to each other.

Well, we'll

Forest Hills,

it

is

Two

elements that are opposed

What a dilemma for us who don't believe in either camp.

have much to talk about when we meet again.

New York
March

My

a sternly

only a loose union of U.S.A.

12,

1948

dear Neill:
I

world.

The

do not agree with you

forces of

life

are

and dictatorship. Red Fascism

went down.

It is

that the

much

will

conquer the

go down just as the black fascism

how many innocent human lives they

will

only a question of

Communists

stronger than the forces of darkness

219

1948

will take with

ability to

You

them.

underestimate America

change and to adjust to new

in

its

youthfulness,

situations.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

My

me

Please send

a formal invitation to

the auspices of the O. Institute.

for a visa.

says that

As
I

1948

19,

dear Reich,

all

booked

berths are

it

my

on

all
I

lecture under

apply

for the

Cunard Line

pessimistic than

you because

we can come,

summer.

am more

doorstep now, and

if

country will be a chaos of death, for

No.

come and

need written evidence before

certain that

communism, maybe

to

have

It isn't at all

war does come

it

will

means

it

be U.S.A.'s

that this

aircraft carrier

I.

Ena

is

so keen on helping

me

with the small children that she thinks

she might stay on for a few months to get O. therapy

in

N.Y.

after I

go home.

God I am
I'll

P.S.

longing to see you again, even ohne fwithoutl whiskey!

telegraph

when

Most wonderful

get dates of landing ...

is

hate or destructiveness.

has a

girl

if I

do

get 'em.

self-regulation with Zoe; she

It is

shows no sign of

a joy to watch her grow.

One

of two and the difference between the bodies

as loose as a kitten;

Forest Hills,

Deborah

as tight as a

is

of the

great.

staflf

Zoe

is

drum.

New York
March

25,

1948

S4y dear Neill:

I

am

in a turmoil, since

during the past two weeks

in demonstrating the orgone energy

in a

succeeded

complete vacuum (evacuated

obtained blue colored lumination and up to 25,000 impulses

per minute on the Geiger-MUller counter. (Please, don't ask Bernal
what he thinks of it. He doesn't know anything about it.)
tubes).

Ena wants to study orgone therapy, she should make arrangements

already now with one of our doctors. Their time is filled to the utmost.
If

1948

am

sending you by separate mail the invitation you want for your

visa application.

ference,

But

and not for a

the press

on your

happened

as

220

going out for an important con-

this invitation is

lecture.

May

ask you,

arrival, not to forget to

last year.

know you

you are interrogated by

if

mention the Orgone

don't

mind my saying

Institute,

The

this.

omission of the Orgone Institute from the press conferences has puzzled

many people, including me. I would rather be frank about it.

The conference at Orgonon is meant factually, and not merely
formally.

volved.
will a

responsibilities

and

difficult

have beaten

in-

critical

Emotional Plague, but

off so far the attack of the

are not sure whether

it

The work is in a very

now. With the exception of a

will continue or not.

and promising development

right

few impertinent psychoanalytic business men who

feel

theory of orgastic potency in their commerce with

threatened by

human

my

misery, and,

become aware of this problem to a great

Here Kinsey's book,* which was sold in 600,000 copies and

therefore, fight
extent.

it,

the public has

deals with the orgastic function in the

bit to

questions

Palestine will be there too, and so

few medical orgone therapists from the U.S.A.

We
we

There are great

Most probably, Hoppe from

human

male, has helped quite a

break through the Chinese wall which had been erected and

is

being kept up by psychoanalytic merchants and red fascist politicians

in unison.

What you

write about

Zoe only proves the correctness of my

state-

ments during the past 30 years. This is the only hope left to us, and it
is wonderful to have something so important to fight for. Including, and
not excluding, the core of the matter, that

is,

the sexual development

of the child and adolescent.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

30, 1948

My dear Reich,
Both

And we want
atomic war

letters

to

come very much,

may be

Sexual Behavior

delphia:

W.

from you today. Thanks for the

very near

in the

Human

B. Saunders, 1948).

for

we

official invitation.

are depressed.

We

fear that

Tito has only to march into Trieste

Male, by Alfred C. Kinsey and others (Phila-

221

and you have

U.S.A.

etc.

The

it.

may

1948

fools in parliament are talking of defence dug-outs

get off lightly but this island as an air base for U.S.A.

would be wiped out with death

cleverness and beauty

make

rays.

2^e's delightful happiness and

the picture terrifying for us.

don't get you about the Institute not appearing in press notices.

Can you imagine my

sitting for the first

them the main object

a bit unfair to

me

of

my

here, for

never

fail

NOT

time in U.S.A. and

... to see you?

visit

acknowledge

to

telling

think you are being

my

debt to you

you came here to lecture under the auspices of

Summerhill, not one paper would mention S'hill; all would simply write
about what you were here for and what your message was. Also consider
that the Orgone Institute may be on the black list of papers. Here the
and your work.

If

my name to be mentioned; they refuse

wish to God I knew what your attitude

Times would never allow

publish any letter
publicity

you think

New

If I

is.

write.

don't mention

School where

to say about you.

my

I'll

to

it

some
summer,

journalists

lectured last

give

you

if

you

said that your

if

get annoyed. In the

lecture again

work wiped

know what
when I come

won't

a fatherly lecture about this

lad.

Your new news

G-M

of the

counter

is

fascinating.

But

won't

Bernal!

tell

won't earn enough.

have put our names down for passages on a slowish

ship, the Britannic,

As
I

to

mention your work to a Bemal you get angry, but

out the old psychoanalysis, but

over,

to

for

Ena and

treatment,

for the Q. Elizabeth

anxious in case

we

fear

it is

and Q. Mary are

can't

impossible.

fully

booked

go (the Cunard can demand

already.
full

And

payment

am

if

we

don't go).

Am
sit

having

staff difficulties,

with sneering faces

am

when

an old out-of-date fool

most tiresome

thing.

Some new ones

talk of children,

and one of them thinks

... and

do

can't

a thing, for teachers

can't be got.

want very much to be

mention, especially Hoppe.
I

at that

conference and meet the doctors you

we should start a home for mothers and children

of a week old. The more I see of stiff stomachs the more I feel that the
start should be made with infants. Ena has been an ideal mother for
Ena and

often say

Zoe, and the result

is

just excellent.

1948

Forest Hills,

222

New York
April 5, 1948

My dear Neill:
received your letter of

I just

The

depression very well.

you seem

that

hope whereas

to lose

principle in children and

of

hope and pep for a

March

difference between

30th.

understand your

you and

me

seems to be

on the untouchable

life

on the discovery of the cosmic energy, am

full

relying

I,

whether

Please, don't worry about the publicity business.

future, better society,

am

going to

live

through the holocaust or not.

it

you because

to

Institute but are afraid of

mentioning

orgasm function, you know.

when

very often

how

see

only mentioned

happens so often that people love the Orgone

it

may

in public. It

it

confess that

has to do with the

have to

my

grit

the fear of natural love and

teeth

distorts

life

people's reactions.

My

attitude towards publicity

possible, but not in the

first

of

all,

we

wrong way and not with

the

understand your situation with your teachers.

am

mind

home

the only real

tion of armoring.

The Orgone
contrary,

its

for mothers

way

publicity

all

wrong people. And,

You have

entered the

and children

last

sentence and Ena's idea

right after birth. It

Whether you can

is

my

to

still

do

it,

don't know.

not only not on the black-list, but on the

publications are ordered and read by most of the

and
wrong view on

is

of doing something lasting in education: preven-

Institute

college libraries, a total of

universities

want

this time in the form of teachers.

completely in agreement with your

of starting a

still

We

clearly this:

are not begging for recognition.

age of the "Little Man,"

I

is

my

about 300 or

so.

American

You have

standing in this world, due to the lack of

publicity noise.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 4, 1948

My dear Reich,
I

note what you say about

for humanity.

But

and

and

flourish,

3000 A.D.

life will

am

I
it

my

pessimism and your

taking a narrow view ...

doesn't console

be grand. But

me

to

think

own hope

want Zoe
that

we'll leave all this for

in

to live

the year

our talks

223

although

won't enjoy

you drink orange

You

always complain that

pest

saying.

is

[But,

fear that

for therapy.

mistake

underrate your popularity

friend],

life is

joy

that

shows what the

it

very well done,

is

Ena

to

go back

that without therapy, she hasn't

The

is

quite a lot at 16 months. So Peter

is

is

much

he and you have to waste time and energy with

result

there

get

going to be impossible for

it is

One

U.S.A.

in

seldom ever get from you any

so appalling.

Zoe's case.

in

have read Wolfe's booklet* and think

but, oh, the idea that

Bradys of

my

acknowledges you; but

literature that

your cabin drinking Canadian rye while

sitting in

juice!

Aber mein Freund

the

1948

made

pure delight to me. She

reading!

U.S.A.

to

a single

is

talking

Both cases make me think

nothing in heredity!

Forest Hills,

New York
April 28, 1948

My dear Neill:
have your

popularity:

letter

To my mind

it

of April

is

obstacles than to rest on one's laurels.

print with positive
friends.

On

12th.

Again, in regard to

much more important

I

could

fill

to

about 200 pages

in

acknowledgments, but that would not bring any true

the other hand, to put forth the attacks of the emotional

plague makes for fighters, and keeps out the chatterers. That
scious policy, but just
like

my

emphasize the

my way

of living.

May

also

is

not con-

add that booklets

Wolfe's are not a waste of time, but, on the contrary, they

reflect

our task as physicians against the emotional plague of the 20th century
in

an unequivocal manner.

We

shall

during the

most probably have the 6-10 day conference

last part of

at

Orgonon

August.

Emotional Plague versus Orgone Biophysics: The 1947 Campaign (1948),

written in response to the Brady articles.

1948

224

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

I,

1948

My dear Reich,
am

letters

over

seem

not pleased with the

more

to get

way our

say that Wolfe's booklet

it.

diverting creative
differ.

I've lost

work

is

Our

going.

We'll have to agree to differ

this publicity-recognition business.

about

relationship

aggressive and argumentative each time, chiefly

a waste of time in that

is

to defensive war.

You

say

it

isn't.

it

is

Our methods

thousands of pounds in bad debts and could not take

any case to law, because the lawyers would simply read out passages

from

my

books (out of context, of course), and any judge or jury would

conclude

my

work.

had an immoral school and

BUT,

books appear

in

Japanese, Scandinavian, and

lished in India in native languages.

I

grant that your situation

Spending
can

all

in these

my

is

That

would

kill

the fact that

my

that sort of publicity

Reich, against that negative aspect

is

now

is

they are to be pub-

what matters to me, although

different to mine.

time gardening, trying to grow as

hard times. The kids return from vacation

much food

as I

in three days.

look forward to long talks with you. Just have a vague feeling

you are

that

critical of

me

some reason ...

for

it

began to

what you said about the press conference and the O.

mentioned. But speaking

is

arise

from

Institute not being

better than writing.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May 25,

My

received yesterday the copies of your correspondence with

Marika Hellstrom.*
would not be easy

how

it

to visit

had a

feeling before the matter started that

to arrange lectures during vacation time.

it

But some-

must be accomplished that you come over with Ena and the child

Orgonon again
you

It will interest

to

know

about two months. She was a

1948

dear Neill:

that I

have worked with Constance for

bit astonished to find that

over the past ten

Hellstrom was trying to arrange lectures in the United States for Neill.

225

1948

or twelve years

my work

had developed quite a

with a score of im-

bit,

portant medical practitioners around and being talked about

U.S. and abroad.
years of

work

Please

let

would love

was

It

to eliminate, could

be cleared up

few sessions.

in a

return mail what you are deciding to do.

Zoe and Ena, and have you

to see

over the

all

would have taken

clear that difficulties which

me know by

for talks with

and not

May

25, 1948

without whiskey.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

My dear Reich,
Yours today.
expenses. Meanwhile
that

guess we'll

come on

else

my

have

troubles with

make our

our stay means

to give us dollars to travel

should think that O. therapy

the opportunity to have a love

look forward

if

don't

these terms.

Regarding Constance and others,

ohne [without]

we

if

won't cancel the passages. But

you or Hamilton or anyone

etc. I can't

come even

much

meeting you again.

to

staff etc.,

and a

visit to

life is

not successful.

get depressed with

you bucks me up a great

all

deal.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June

My

5,

1948

dear Neill:
I

agree

fully

with

you about your statement

that

therapy without concrete establishment of a satisfactory love

orgone
life

can

only be a partial success.

I

want you

family.

to accept

Thus,

the

greatly diminished.

my

danger

offer to

of

The funds

not
of the

be

my

earning

guest together with your

your

expenses

Orgone Research Fund

will

be

are ex-

hausted, and extremely strained by the construction of the observatory

building* which

we

are putting up at present. But

don't doubt that you

This was the second major building to be put up on the Orgonon property.

1948

will

226

have enough seminars and lectures to cover expenses

in

connection

with your travelling.

Summerhill School
Lets ton, Suffolk

June 29, 1948

My dear Use,
Yours today with the great news of the motor turning.*
Wonderful. Longing to see
days.

We

only anxiety
today.

it.

both look forward

We

We
a

sail

lot

to

August 3rd and

seeing

it

takes

you both, and

my

the international situation which looks as black as hell

is

are both very tired out with the constant flow of visitors,

muck up our lives ... for instance,

come out of the Akku to deal with some

mostly dull Scandinavians. They

four times last week

new

I had
Most of my staff
you both.

to

arrivals.

Love

to

P.S. I can't get over the big

the idiots

who

say that Reich

are too hopeless to

news of the motor.

is

do even

I'll

that.

flourish

it

before

all

a charlatan.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 9, 1948

Dear Both,
We've

all

had a war scare again over the Berlin

affair, f

and

hear that schools in London are seeking castles in Scotland to evacuate

I don't think

it

will

come

just yet,

idiot starts shooting in Berlin I

to.

but in case some Russian or American

am

posting on to you the page proofs of

Reich recorded this event in an affidavit which he had notarized on June

1948: "On June 26, 1948, at i p.m., I succeeded in setting a motor into
motion by means of the Orgone Energy Motor Force which I had discovered by
way of the Geiger-Muller counter on August 8, 1947." As witnesses he lists his
wife, the caretaker, and three of his associates.
t The Soviets had blockaded the city, hoping to force the Allies to abandon the
Western sector.
*

30,

"7
my new book

... so that

the worst does happen,

if

humanity! But I'm not quite so pessimistic as

the danger here and our anxiety

come our

wiped out

island will be

is

1948

it

won't be

sound.

We

lost to

are nearer to

naturally greater, for

if

war does

this time.

Delighted to hear that the wheels are

still

turning.

Summerhill School
Lei St on, Suffolk
July 17, 1948

Dear Both,

We
Only bother

Bank

that the

all

is

set to sail

on the 3rd Aug.

me any money,

of England wouldn't grant

we are allowed to take is 5 each so that we can pay our

journey when we return. So that we shall arrive without any dollars

so that
rail

got our visas easily and

is

all

at all.

The war cloud comes and goes

long.

Oh

and

boy,

to

it is

be good

to see

you

again.

cream sodas and smoke cheaply

up and began again. Weak guy am I.

rye

Love

ice

to

you

all.

Farmington,* but
car

it

will surely

if

And

hope

that fool

we can't forget it for

Good to taste Canadian

here, so that

to see

damnation,

gave

your cheerful faces one day

man Reich

starts to

it

at

brag about his new

break down.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 27, 1948

My dear Reich,
I

Little

Man.

can't wait
It is

excellently translated.
I

think

you were

The town with a

till

see you to say

how much

enjoyed the

brave, true, a shattering indictment, and,

right

was against
and

its

publication,

was wrong.

It

you

forestalls the

railroad station closest to Orgonon.

tell

Wolfe,

will recall,

but

plague folks.

1948

228
]

them before they

hits

hit

circulation in England.

The only
I

thing

have nothing

same reason.

am

to

you, so to say.

Good

hate

the voyage of 8 days.

is

do but read and

eat,

and

hate the sea because

hate train journeys for the

be a great joy to meet you again. This time

It will

up

babies.

And

Men who

the Litde

let

want

may

again beg

book on

to write a joint

try to forget the

war-makers and

them make wars. God, what a

hell of a lot of

I'll

that book.

Peter. It will be wonderful to see

you and Use and

to

Ena and

for a time

you have packed into

Love
and Zoe

could have a wide

static.

for the use of a typewriter, for

truth

it

can drive a car 400 miles with much pleasure because

doing something, not being

bringing

wish

woick, wise guy!

him

together.

Ena, and Zoe arrived in the United States August 10. After

[Neill,

spending several days at the Hamilton School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, they

went to stay with the Reichs

where Neill took part

pathies. In the

Orgonon

at

middle of September,

Ena and Zoe

for the beginning of the school term. Neill stayed

till

end of September.

the

in

Maine,

Conference on Prevention of Bio-

in a

He

returned

on

New

spent October in

at

home

Orgonon

York, part of

and gave a number of

lectures and seminars before returning to England in early
November.]
the time with the Reichs in Forest Hills,

New York
Sunday [October

3,

1948]

Dear Both,
hated to leave you and the loveliness of Maine

Peter's milk
I

think

day

in

&

was

my

the whiskey

&

right to leave you, for there

jeans and no collar

on

discipline for the

on Tues. Guess

that

means

and

is

so

much

to

do

here. Yester-

signed a contract with the Hermitage

Press and got 500$ advance royalties.

article

of course the arguments about Stalin, but

Now

down

sit

to write

an

N.Y. Times Mag. and lunch with the editors

a suit

and

tie

though

damn

'em.

229

1948

My love to the observatory.

that

me

was a great

treat to

a picture of the finished building,

by the time the roof

friend Collins* isn't too old

is if

It

Send

is

put on.

be so long with you.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

Octobers, 1948

My dear Neill:
When you
emperor

left,

there

was quite a gap

at

Orgonon. There was no

walking slowly and meditatingly up the road towards

figure,

the lab, there

was no one playing around with the

for having

there

it;

pour drinks

We

shall

shall call

into.

we

Well,

be back

you

was no one
in

shall

and envying

lathe

me

could tease with Stalin and no one to

have

it

New York some

soon as we are

as

again.

time at the end of next week, and

settled.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October

My

7,

1948

dear Neill:
I

It will

These
First,

hope

interest

that

you

your plans are proceeding well

to hear

facts corroborate fully

in

New York.

what happened with Peter

my

after

you

left:

statement as to the core of his troubles.

he developed a great love for

his doll Erica.

He

takes her to his

bed every evening, caresses and hugs her and shows clearly that he is
longing for a girl. Second, he told Use last night the following: "I have

dream about being grown-up and married with a woman. We undress

and go to bed and I hug her breasts." Well, you cannot have it more

clearly than that. All the other aspects of the

this core.

am

ready to take

all

problem are secondary to

responsibility in public for the overall

important and crucial point in the education of small children. Peter

very

fine,

lovely and healthy again. But the problem

not solved for millions of children.

Rangeley contractor

who

The evasion

built Reich's observatory;

is

not solved.

of the

he was

It

is
is

words orgasm,

just

out of college.

1948

230

orgone energy and orgone

human

institute, is closely

connected with the general

evasiveness in these questions.

We are slowly preparing for home-coming (and hate it)

We shall call you at the Haymes'* soon after our return. Your
at the table

looks

still

empty, and so do

all

place

the whiskey bottles.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November
Dear Both and Peter Thumper,^
I had a great welcome; whole school
cheering.

Thanks

to

deck with pursers

and

had an

Bloody king

Found

the

back,

have

good

to

me.

Haymes's pal

official
I felt. I

come
liked

to

it

part of

suppose

Cunard

was transferred

to

to

of course.

Stimmung [mood]
still

in the

and

at station shouting

me and giving me fruit in the cabin,

take me off the ship before all the others.

bowing

etc.

1948

14,

my

of S'hill lovely. But, fine as

heart in Forest Hills.

carried off the door

it

You were

key because

is

to

be

far too

wanted

to

open your door again many times.

Reich, a Nature Cure Chiropractitioner said at the British Naturopathic Conference, 1948, that healers must go to Reich for their funda-

mentals. That
practitioners

is

good

saw your

to read.

light

It

would be odd

my very dear friends, now I must go down and

all about my trip. Blessings to you all.

Well,

school

if

the unqualified

before orthodox medicine did.

tell

the assembled

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

i,

'48

My dear Reich,
I

am

sending on a copy of the Sex Journal with a review of the

Sexual Revolution, a good review too.

American

friends,

Duncan and Angelica

stayed until the Reichs returned

t Neill's pet

name

It will

from Maine.

for Peter Reich.

(Geli)

be read by many people.

Haymes, with

whom

Neill

231
I

1948

am

also sending

It isn't art,

doing

for

you a watercolour picture

am no

but

artist,

Lots of Orgone blue

that.

Have been working hard

in

since

it

it
I

made

specially for you.

splashes color about, and

enjoy

too!

returned, finding satisfaction in dis-

covering the tensions of kids. Worst case a boy of 4

who

can't speak.

He

screams when frustrated by a closed door. Parents beat him for shitting

etc.

bad case

steel tensions

that

may be beyond my

with some success

but

skill,

am

attacking his

believe.

box for a girl of eleven who is anaemic, and one of my

staff (a Communist woman!) sits in it daily for she is also anaemic!
Another staff woman with chilblains used the funnel* twice and all

am

using the

pain went.
I've forgotten

Bourbon and

smoking broke down even

is

Chesterfields, but

at the

my

resolution to stop

awful price fags are here. Part of

me

over there with you both, in dear old Orgonon and pleasant

still

99-06. t
Haven't heard a word from U.S.A. since
letters sent to

my

& Unwin, one

publish

of

article, J all

took the liberty of sending a Little

Allen

Times about

came home. Yes,

a few

them favourable.

Man

of the best publishers in

to Sir Stanley

London.

If

Unwin

of

he wants to

advise you to agree.

it I

keep damning the ugly

fact that

we

are

3000 miles

apart.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

My

am

moment

leave you

worried about Reich having to devote

while

Damn

wait here impatiently for

'em

The

Reich's

"Love-Discipline, Yes

into trouble again.

energy to pest people,

orgone motor to make

my

light.

small, hand-held accumulator that Reich sent to Neill.

November
That

my

you get

all his

all.

1948

dear Use,
Tut, tut; the

5,

home
7,

is,

in

Forest Hills: 99-06 69th Avenue.

Hate-Discipline, No," The New York Times Magazine,

1948.
the enemies of Reich's work; in this case primarily the agents of the

Food and Drug Administration.

1948

Times Mag.

232

tells

me

of

my

they had a lot of letters about

schoolboy wrote asking for 50 copies "so that

One

article.

can send a copy to each

my teachers."
Ena very

You

tired;

has had too

say that Peter

much

to

that our self-reg. kids are problems to

ment. Pity

S'hill isn't

do owing

to

isn't quite all right again. I

my

absence.

guess

we

some extent owing

near Peter, for he'd find

all his

love

shall all find

to the environlife

here easily

enough.

Young doctor
and

literature

is

here this weekend, a psychiatrist, has read

very keen, says that the Freudians in

all

the

London

are

alarmed about Reich. One said to him: "I want to believe

work but

if I

did I'd have to admit that

all I

in Reich's

have learned already

is

wrong."

Our

And

love to you. Use.

tell

Reich guy that he

that

The moment I leave him

know who the enemy is this time.

standing alone.

long to

Forest Hills,

his

is

no good

enemies begin to attack.

New York
December

6,

1948

My dear Neill:
I

had the

I was rather taken up with

and also suffered from a very reasonable depression. I

did not write for so long because

difficult stuff,

feeling that I

am working

were to turn up, either a big task

attack

in a desert,
in

and that

if

anything big

mental hygiene or some horrible

by the plague, no one would be there

to help

me

to fight

it.

am

recovering slowly from this not too subjective feeling.

I

ings
I

think you will find great satisfaction in learning to diagnose armor-

and blocks
still

in kids

and

in

removing them

at least superficially.

think back with great pleasure to the

chatting about everything

Forest Hills,

from Heaven to

many

evenings

we had

Hell.

New York
December

My dear Neill:
We just
everywhere and

received your

it is

now

rather

letter.

much

Yes,

my work

9,

1948

has burst open

to handle, since I feel quite like in

233

no

a desert with

to

defend

are attacking

it

There

is

real active, eager fighting helpers around.

basic hesitancy or reluctance to stand

work and

1948

it

in public just as

up

clearly

and

some

faithfully for

our

work

eagerly as the enemies of this

by defamation.

some psychoanalysts apparently ran to the

District Attorney to stop my work. They pulled out some law from the
books which said that whoever directs mental hygiene work must be

The

latest

licensed to
since I
I

am

news

do

the one

known

no answer
tion

to

that

or something similar. This

so,

found and teach.

widely

is

who
I

licenses doctors

would appreciate

that the psychoanalysts

my work

of course, nonsense,

is,

and educators
it

highly

if

what

to practice

you would make

it

and some psychiatrists who have

are cowardly enough to use defamation, distor-

and denunciation.

There
witnesses

is

no doubt about

it,

who have sworn

concerted effort to smash

as

we have found out

lately

through

many

to their written statements, that there

my work by

denunciation. For

is

instance, the

rumor was circulated about 2 weeks ago in many places that a woman
patient had been masturbated at the Orgone Institute and thereupon had
a breakdown. The woman, whose name was mentioned in this connection, had never been here. We went after this story immediately with the
help of our lawyer and the man who spread the rumor took it back immediately. Well, that is what I call plague. The greatest riddle is what
blocks us ourselves from standing up for the truth and decency just as
vigorously and determinedly as Ivan the Horrible stands up for the

and defamation. This

When

proceed to

shall
finish

is

have answered

my

lie

the big headache.

this

question practically, then

shall

orgone motor and to install a very large one in

your school. Only, watch out that the nationalized

England does not come down on you

electric industry of

as a cheater of "public interest."

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

12,

1948

Dear Both,

Re

Peter.

Have you considered

kids have been breaking

all

the sleep angle? Recently our

bedtime laws.

them, and for a week they have gone to bed

bad tempers, destructiveness

etc.

meeting was

strict

about

early. Result: most of the

have lessened greatly. Zoe,

if

too late

1948

234

up, owing to the exciting

ill-tempered

and

here,

life

her case there

in

Peter goes to bed far too

at all.

is

no question of anything

Here

late.

problem next day, whining,

is

genital

Cottage he'd be bedded

in the

by 6 or 6:30
and in Orgonon he was often up until ten. I'd play
the heavy parents about sleep if I were you. Self-regulation be damned
.

sometimes

Ena

frock.

today

is

very cold; Zoe wanted to go out in her thin

must wear

said no;

and put on the warm

overalls.

Anger,

tears,

human

don't like to challenge the greatest authority on

world, but

think that no behaviour

is

"nothing but."

show

still

knowing

signs of problemicity.

man

that the great

and argue the head

isn't

going to lay

lot

puzzled about having an

Our

is

here by

love to you

if

late,

to write that,

his glass of

in a

my

all. I

desk

all

room.

room?

Do

Bourbon

the orgones, concen-

most important point to

day.

got both your letters.

Of course you

Come

have

this depression.

some

protection; enemies suffer from heat and thirst.

Forest Hills,

up

sat

with kids' sores with marvellous results.

Akku

trated in the box, stray out into the

me, for mine

down

think that

me.

off

Using the small Akku a

Still

insisted

nature in the

still

and easy

nice

It is

AND

him

Pete could have his real Erika in bed with

he'd

Ena

but

things.

off

it,

Reich.

won't

are in a desert, but a desert has

New York
December

14,

1948

My dear Neill:
I

have yours of December

healing effects of orgone energy.

2th. I

am

glad you discovered the

only ask myself

why

it

was not

discovered by you some 3 years ago?

In regard to Peter's situation,
course, lack of sleep will

make

must continue

to argue with you.

a child nervous, but

we know

Of

perfectly

well that the child will hesitate to go to sleep, will even develop a
sleeplessness

out being

if

his

satisfied.

biosystem

is

frustrated, that

In Peter's case

he began to stay up

late

when

it

was

is,

excited sexually with-

quite obvious and clear that

his genital excitation

began to disturb

him. Old Ferenczi* said that Schlaflosigkeit [sleeplessness]

Sandor Ferenczi, psychoanalyst, and member of Freud's inner

is

Beischlaf-

circle.

235

and

losigkeit [lack of intercourse]

afraid there

that

is

very true. No, Neill,

no escape from the one conclusion

is

1948

am

that the core of all

these difficulties of children and adolescents, whatever their variations

might be,

the genital frustration as far as their energy metabolism

is

concerned. Everything else depends on

sleeplessness to infantile paralysis.

Zoe

there

And

this
I

not some kind of frustration,

is

if

they don't want to??

the way,

No command

is

from

would not be too sure that

genital or otherwise, which

And by

responsible for her being ill-tempered.

get children to sleep

energy metabolism

in
is

how do you
will achieve

that.

As

far as the plague

disquieted because
All the best to

Forest Hills,

all

is

don't

concerned,

know how

of you,

to

am

not depressed,

make our

friends fight

am

only

it.

and a very good Christmas.

New York
December

17,

1948

letters of late to

you.

My dear Neill:
I

had qualms about

You know I am
genitality

my

argumentative

not a fussy person deep down, but in matters of infantile

somehow

feel easily

challenged.

am

sending you a color

photo from Orgonon to cheer you up.

I

received the review of the Sexual Revolution.

poisonous review about your Hearts Not Heads.

also read the nasty

What

fools they are!

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

20,

1948

argument anyway.

You

My dear Reich,
But why shouldn't we argue?
kept saying to
I

agree.

making sex
too.

me

in

Orgonon

that

agree that genitality

right will not

Take Zoe.

am

is

the central point, but

is.

argue that

be a success unless the other factors are right

convinced that her bad temper after too

has nothing to do with any

might also apply to Peter.

little

sleep

thwarting of genitality. I say that lack of

sleep will cause unhappiness in her case,

it

It isn't

no one knows what a normal child

and

made

the suggestion that

1948

236

say again that our gangster group of boys, 8 to 12 or so,

and destructive

if

late to bed.

must watch

to see

if

hateful

is

periodical

their

times of love-making coincide with their feeling rested bodily. Fancy

me

trying to be scientific!

Pomerans.*

who

take

when

talk to him. I've

impression

that he

is

one of the young men

is

me

for neurotic motives, but let

give a report

impressed on Eastmond that no one

therapy using your name.

practise

to

My present

up your work

is

allowed

Dunno how you can

protect

yourself.

My

adolescents after 5 weeks' treatment are

but there

a snag about adolescents

is

the jaw and a

me

gave

girl

brightening up a

all

me

one of them biffed

considerable scratches. I've

lot,

hard on

moved my

chair

back a foot or two now.

warm

thinking of America with

Still

feelings

even tho today's

paper says there are 20 inches of snow in N.Y. None here so

far,

but

party. I acted in a Scots play I

had

bitter east winds.

We

had a lovely end of term

written.

And

our kids act wonderfully well.

hope you have a merry Xmas with

me

[former pupil] brought

won't be a dry

Xmas

P.S. Use, Peter

from

fled

play

is

life,

Pan

after

An

old boy

mine

all.

a most demoralising story. Barrie, the author,

is

was impotent, but had a great

produced every

Xmas

who never grew

bald heads

lots of rye

a bottle of Scotch last night, so that

(in

childish phantasy.

London) and

Here the

the stalls are full of

up, like Peter Pan, and children

who go

for

the Indians and the Pirates.

Next morning. Pomerans went

promiscuous, so

No,

am

off last night

with the neurotic

girl

who

is

work in S. Africa.
the movement, but then I

haven't heard his tales of orgone

don't feel he

is

we want in
men who visit us and

the type

always prejudiced against

take no interest in

the kids or work, and only use S'hill as a place to have their promiscuous
free love in.

However, don't take

the fellow ... he

is

just

my

opinion as yet;

may be

misjudging

over 20 and wears a beard, and the estabUshed

Jesus in S'hill doesn't want any rivals.

young man from South Africa who called himself a psychoanalyst and

claimed to be

much

interested in orgone biophysics.

1949
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January

i,

1949

Dear Use,

Zoe tiresome

at bedtime,

keeps getting up. Ena suggests owing

to her genitality not breaking through. Since there has

no repression and her

due

genital interest

for her to make play with. I am

don't know when a girl reaches
for his apparatus

wonder

hope you

is

is

and

enjoy a

who have

applause of audiences. Very

Forest Hills,

little

genital interest.

boy

older

simply

earlier surely,

Happy New Year.

U.S.A.

nothing to say
likely.

Love

to

you

Personally

I feel
.

I feel

a bit

so lonesome with a

Ena

says

miss the

all.

New York
January

My

if it is

so outstanding.

will all

visitors

no boy her age or a

so ignorant about babies that

dull. After the great stimulus of talk in

staff

been absolutely

to the fact that Ena's milk gave out after three weeks, so that she

missed the oral orgastic phase. There

hasn't awakened,

5,

1949

dear Neill:
I

was so occupied with big and petty things during the past

two weeks that

prove to you

could not answer your

letter sooner.

that the question of children's genitality

of the theory of

human

main body of knowledge

disease.

that

With

it

is

could easily

everything that pertains to the

have created stands or

237

a basic question

falls.

The

genital

1949

238

disturbances in children as the cause of trouble are to the incidental

lack of sleep as

the water in

all

incidental break in a water-main.

trouble.

But

that

all

Of course

is

lack of sleep will

is

to the

make

for

nothing compared with the tremendous background

is

during

of children

of the horrible genital frustration

Genitality

the oceans of the earth

first

puberty.

a total bodily function with special qualities of energy

discharge.

am

glad that you are working with children again therapeutically.

They need

it.

Things are

my work

moving

fast in a

slow way,

if I

may

The talk about

The other day we

say so.

does not stop, but increases considerably.

had a message from the West Coast that the Director of the Veterans
Administration there and a score of physicians have ordered Character
Analysis and are eager to get our literature.
fight the gossiping psychoanalysts.

hard. Great interest

Peter

tells

now

is

We

have also started to

of our physicians are hitting

popping up everywhere.

nearly every day about the children in school not

He shows

breathing.

Some

exactly

how

they keep their mouths closed and

their chests up.

Yesterday we had a report from Sim Tropp* that an X-ray taken on

Bill Steig's

mother,

who had developed

a cancerous tumor in her chest,

has shown a great reduction in the size of the tumor. This will get around.
I

hope so

in the

name

of the thousands of cancerous people.

Write as often as you

and pushing through

like, Neill; this

year will be one of hard fighting

to the top.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 21, 1949

My dear Reich,
I

went to see Eastmond.

He

says he

knows

of

no one attempting

therapy in connection with his end of things, barring Barakan of course

who

isn't

as a

book

considered a Reich

man anyway. Eastmond now

counts only

distributor.

Simeon Tropp, M.D., for a number of years a student and

Reich's medical orgonomy.

practitioner of

239
I

am much

worried about money.

bank and

the

year and

and

1949

the school has

my

have been paying out of

do not cover expenses.

career. Fees

We

the school.

a loss every

savings into the school's account,

for sickness,

left

If I

unemployment, Zoe's

go on losing

have to close

Til

must think of ways and means.

All private schools have to be inspected by the govt,

within the next i8 months. With

as

hill

Oh

or shut

it is

that genitality

discharge.

me

it is

is

down.

it

can't follow you.

You

say

try to think in terms of Zoe.

how and why

is

a total bodily function with special qualities of energy

All her interest seems to be in things, in

all

authorities

no compromise; take Summer-

you run away from me again;

dear,

private account in

own. Lately there has been

its

have hardly anything

my own

have

out-going.

everything

Now

Her play with

there.

is

making toys work,

boys and

little

have come back

that the kids

in seeing
girls is

after the vacation she

so excited that she can't wait to eat a meal, and wakens at night

unusually often. Watching her makes

thing about kids or

confused

That

So

don't

know

more I think of the word

in Zoe is Life-ality.

that the

get. All

see

wonderful news about

is

convinced that

human nature. She seems to me to behave almost

we have
just delighted to be alive to chase a

exactly like the kittens

bit of string.

me

Steig's

genitality the

mother. But

take

it

more

you

still

hold that no box will cure cancer so long as the psychosomatic condition
is

a tied-up one of tension.

I

gave up smoking three weeks ago because the English cigarettes

were making

my throat
When I

very bad, and also were costing

dollars a week.

return to

carton of Chesterfields

will

already saved 21 dollars

Love

to

you

Forest Hills,

all,

tempt

you

me

summer 1950

in

to

smoke

again.

me

about 7

wonder

Anyway

if

I've

said he mournfully.

and write again soon by

air this time.

New York
January 31, 1949

My

dear Neill:
I

agree fully with you

Peter behave exactly like kittens.

is

about.

Human

now since you realized

And this is exactly what

that
all

Zoe and

the quarrel

beings are born healthy because they are born as

animals and nothing

else.

Now,

the only difference between

little

the later

1949

240

grown-up human being and the newborn

and

sole difference

that the

is

little

little

baby

human

later

and

in a disastrous

manner from

cally this exclusion of genitality

the rest of living nature.

the other differences which justify the claim of

he

is

"different

from the animals."

only the local function, but

It is specifi-

later

armoring and

homo

normalis that

which causes the

all

and

organism and the

being has not. In other words, the exclusion of the genital

function from the rest of biological functioning distinguishes

its

man

the only

and the newborn baby has

kitten

genital function in proper coordination with the

its

I repeat,

Genitality, therefore, involves not

whole impact on the whole organism,

its

in this sense genitality equals life-ality.

wish that people would have more trust in some of

my

statements.

make clear on several occasions that the war of classes

new war is on, on an international scale: that between life and work on the one side and politics and emotional plague
on the other side. Seen from this angle, you will understand better why
your school is in danger of being closed by a socialist government. Your
I

is

have

tried to

over and that a

school represents

life

and work and those

socialist state

represent politics and plague far worse than anything

That

is

before.

not exaggerated.

Please write

can

governments

we knew

more

often, since

you are one of the very few

to

whom

talk.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

Yours today. See your point about

use

it

in

two days when

subject

the

Orgasm, getting confused

is

"Sex and Self-Regulation."

neurosis and psycho-neurosis,

tween conversion hysteria and,

whole

just as

genitality/life-ality. Will

lecture to Sex Education Society in

My

the

1949

5,

dear Reich,

as
etc.

Am

London.

rereading Function of

usual in distinctions between

just as I

well, all the

literature of psychoanalysis

never can distinguish be-

and

is

months was sent

just

me

terms used. Seems to

and psychiatry got

lost in

words

ordinary medicine did. So in psychology. David here aged 4

can't talk

real

who

beginning to notice people after being here 3

to a clinic

which gave a long verdict of

rather than mentally defective" which doesn't

mean

"spiritually

a thing to me.

To

241

1949

me the only question is: Can this blocked kid

And that is what has resulted from your work

under

that define in sections

diseases are the

and when the

specific headings.

can't read

You

life?

books
"All

really say:

blockage took place." In other words,

anti-life

To

hell with disease; let's think

That's what your books are doing as

full

penis and what not.

opposed

To

read her

Question ...

in spring.

to

para-

this

only of health.

new book by

of castration and anal characteristics and mother's

graveyard with open

like being in a

is

putrefying bodies; to turn to your Function

meadow

that

same disease fundamentally, and cure depends on how

graph simply means:

Melanie Klein*

ever catch up with

is

going out into a

like

Death

Is there after all a

Instinct

which

confined to psychoanalysts?

is

My Cambridge
sex.

Now

that

makes

S'hill

know
but

meeting was good. Full

Oxford wants me

to lecture there.

the govt, inspect private schools has

can be inspected any day now.

I

Came out all the way on

On the other side, the law

hall.

shall refuse to

can't fight

them

many

or that too

if

am

compromise with
they say

come

into force

and

not worrying too much.

their standards of education,

haven't enough bathrooms or W.C.'s

kids sleep in a room.

haven't the

money

to

make

the place perfect from a medical officer point of view. However, they

may be

kind to

socialist govt,

remember

me

because of

has put the

that in

my

little

long experience and grey hairs.

man

the saddle, the official,

in

all

wish that

my

Forest Hills,

S'hill is that

visit

it is

who were once

The typical Com-

the politicians

manual workers must hate the private school's

guts.

a class school not for the workers.

were not so far away

1950.

New York
February

My

You met
an

Bill Steig, the

Schwarz of the

article

"I've just

11,

1949

dear Neill:

Breit and
in

and

England the private school has always been for the

upper and middle classes only, and

munist criticism of

The

famous

cartoonist.

New York Times

about me. Here

is

what

He met

the editors

Magazine, after he had sent

Steig wrote to

me:

had lunch with Breit and Schwarz. They say: The subject

is

Contributions to Psychoanalysis, 1921-1945 (London: Hogarth Press, 1948)-

1949

and not

'controversial'

wary of

242

'timely.'

Schwarz admitted that they have

the subject of sex. They've just

had

made

'though a good deal of the sex remained.' Breit

the magazine section does not

and accepted

familiar

me what

asked

things.

the point that

him about my mother, he

told him they dropped the
X-rays. Both seem friendly to you

When

I told

the orthodox doctors said.

and are enthusiastically fond of

Breit quoted

Neill.

you are one of the world's

really great

a statement of

men.

Problem Family for review

"Breit has sent Neill's

be

announce discoveries but deals with more

subject after being surprised at the

Neill's that

to

to edit an article of Neill's

to, I think,

John

Dewey."
Steig's

mother had a malignant cancer tumor

in

her chest and was

by orgone treatment by Simeon Tropp.

Things are moving fast here. The other day, the Orgone Press received an astonishing letter from the famous Mayo Clinic. They wrote
from

freed

that the

it

Mayo

Clinic

establishing a Reich Clinic in their psychiatric

is

department.
Please keep
school. I

of the

me

informed on the

wonder when these

human

soul.

They

little

socialist state

measures against your

fellows will start thinking in terms

are horrible.

have

still

the opportunity to

utter such an opinion freely, without being arrested for lese majeste.

What

a holy crowd! thriving

on the

utter characterological helplessness

of the average citizen.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 20, 1949

My

dear Reich,
Writing

or after
for

is

remember if I wrote you before

remember what news I gave you,

so confusing. I can't

my Cambridge

lecture; can't

never keep copies of

letters I send. All I

am

yours the other day. The news of Steig's mother

certain of
is

is

that

got

staggering, as also

that of an organized body actually taking up your work officially. Fine.

The movement grows. At my Sex Society lecture last Monday in Lon-

don the

hall

was packed

few communists. One

tonight?

me

to

You

full. It

was a good meeting, marred only by

"What good have you done talking to us

us what to do." I asked: "What do you want

said:

haven't told

do?" "Organise, organise

in a political party like ours." I got a

243

when

of cheering from the audience

lot

1949

no nearer freedom than any

answered that the C.P. was

and spoke of Russia 19 17 as com-

party,

pared with Russia 1949.

My

book came out a week ago* and already I've had a few reviews,
I'll send on to you. Most you send sit on the fence; they are

which

come

afraid to

out, just as here

sex in the book.

side

It

he or she

if

is

my

going to keep the job.

Life rather worrying at present.

teachers

by

who

has managed to get

flattery, football etc.

moment

the

two do

my own

or

it

may be

that

many

orgone therapy

can't

I shall try to

satisfying me. Only

at fault

owing

But

in the school.

to a

in

be

one or

poor technique

be Neill the headmaster and Neill the doctor

same time. A big worry too

income is to overtake expenses.
like the idea of

him emotionally

kids attached to

isn't

may be

at the

Don't

one of the

can't bring myself to sack

There would be a revolution

get any reaction. I

can get someone better to take his place

brave. Also

reviews don't say a thing about the

seems that a journalist must always be on the safe

Geld [money] and

is

John Dewey reviewing

my

book.

don't see

He

is

how

90, and

very unlikely to have any truck with self-regulation.

No
that

news of

when

stating

state inspection yet.

comes

it

how many

life

I'm not worrying about

won't be worth living;

it

will

be

full

it,

but realise

of blue forms

cups of tea have been served per month to age group

9 to 12, and similar important items.

It will

will

soon be time for you

to

go north again.

hate to think

be another year before we see you and Dodge Pond and the Ob-

servatory. f

And

the rye. Ah,

feel fresher in the

you should

stop,

& baracans &

Forest Hills,

stopped smoking seven weeks ago ...

morning, also

I feel

more

aggressive.

Herr Doktor, for you might be dangerous

to builders

bradys.

New York

7,

1949

dear Neill:

am

in a great hurry,

short only.

don't think

March

My

it

The Problem Family.

the Wilhelm Reich Museum.

Now

and

tired at that, so

my

letter will

be

1949

All the

244

work

in biopathies, including cancer, has

physicians. I practically

ing medical doctors.

overcame me,

as

if

out at once. Use

Somehow

this

hard to get

me

be happy

shall

longer vacation which

you back here

can find nobody to take over the

you again very soon and

Institute. I shall write

to see

two decades had broken

effort of

off for a

have not had for nearly lo years. But

agenda of the Orgone

train-

coincided with a great fatigue which

whole strenuous

the

tries

been delegated to the

do not do any medicine any more, except

summer

in the

of 1950.

enjoy

the success you had in the U.S.A.

I

read through your

new book

again,

and was happy

economic problems so very well presented

in

to find the sex-

They have sold 1000

it.

Character Analysis, even before the announcements went out.

my

Please give
trip

to

regards to Ena.

show you

hope she

with you to the U.S. next year.

And

on

I,

be able to make the

will

my

part,

hope

to be able

by then.

the finished observatory

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

My

1949

12,

dear Reich,

Yours
mention

is

this

morning.

obviously nature's

burning yourself up

all

don't like

way

the time.

The

it.

you

great fatigue

of crying: Reich, you fool, stop

You

say you can't take a vacation

because you can "find nobody to take over the agenda of the Institute."

Um

Gottes Willen [For God's sake], man,

so violently and drop

matter?

Is

I don't like

put

it

it

down

dead, what does the agenda of the Institute

too late for you to take three weeks' skiing?

it,

Reich.

very

neatly and bluntly

much doubt

refuse to allow

and worry, and you damn well

yes, I

know you can

enough.

You have

to U.S.A.

if

if

got to live

you

you are

there

at least

selfishly,

if

you

90

how

That

etc.

for there

could

was no dear warm friend Reich

To

work

can't relax

own nose

you

tell

either.

to kill yourself with

will kill yourself

till

you use the Box

relax in body, kick your

to carry on your work, and speaking

back

you consume yourself

if

is

isn't

no one

come
me?

ever

to greet

Sorry to act the part of the heavy father, but someone has to bully

you

into taking

some care

of yourself.

245

1949

from lecturing

returned

Just

Birmingham with 350

students.

Awful Stimmung [atmosphere]

staff all religious

and they attacked

away depressed,

for they

of kids.

And

all I

mean

Teachers Training College

to

me

two hours on

for

EDUCATION

religion.

in

there;
I

came

and power over millions

got for talking for three hours was 5

20$ plus

train travel of 14 hours.

No

sign yet of govt, inspection of S'hill. Since inspectors will have

the mentality of the Training College staff

about

feel

very uncomfortable

it.

Zoe always a delight, but we both worry about her having no chance
of good sex play. In the train I read part of a book on Oedipus, giving
a synopsis of Freud's ideas. It struck

me

that

much

of Freud's theories

about babies are just wrong, for instance, a baby's attitude to father's
penis and mother's envy of boys' penes seems to
solely

on a family with

[reality principle]

tion

seems

seems to Freud

Peter? Will

authority. Indeed

to

Zoe fantasy

to

someone has

me

to

be based

Freud's Realitdts Prinzip

be based on the family as

be a normal fear
that

all

it

now. Castra-

is

in every boy, but will

cut her penis off?

Oh,

it

be

in

wish

could talk instead of write to you.

I

have slowly come to

feel that

if

your world ever comes, people

read about castration and incest and anal eroticism as

witchcraft.

make him

have forgotten much of

my Freud

will

read about

but this book seems to

consider sadism a normal part of sex, which

Forest Hills,

we
is

absurd.

New York
April 12, 1949

My

dear Neill:

The problem of how to go about organizing and training

becomes more urgent with every passing day. It is

teachers in our field

of life-importance that the self-regulatory principles of education should

become

teachable, so that they can be transmitted from generation to

generation.

am

planning to hold a preliminary conference of American

educators to clear the rubble

off the field of survey.

ing to hold a similar preliminary conference

development of the healthy child?

shifting the

would

in

Would you

be will-

England concerning the

like to stress the necessity of

emphasis from the handling of sick children to the handling

of healthy children in our environment.

We

could then proceed to the

1949

246
]

arrangement of a thorough discussion of

all

pertinent questions at our

convention in 1950.

me

Please inform

about what you think of

this.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 12, 1949

My

dear Reich,
This cutting*

man

fool of a

got

much

may mean

The

the beginning of a witch hunt.

has started something that

may end badly

for others.

He

publicity recently by inviting a cane merchant to visit the

from

school, and then at a signal from him, the big boys took the cane
the

man and

the

power

We all

wonder if S'hill will be next to be enquired

into. I at least have 28 years of work to show, and have a lot of supporters, but if you get into the hands of the law, some little judge has
I

have

beat him.

your work.
been to a conference of co-ed head teachers. The con-

to kill
just

ference depressed me; they are

The
place.

kids are

And

all

home

this threat of

pressed too.

To

for a

all tied

to religion

and

their morality.

month but we have much

government inspection tends

to

do

in this

make

us de-

to

go against the stream of education requires

much

courage and anxiety.

Since
that I

my

am

stopped smoking
worried about

seem

to eat

Your Rangeley

it.

more and am

meet round

waist now.

Questions are being asked in the House of

schools,
I

getting so fat

belts will hardly

and

Commons

expect to be enquired into very soon.

MAY BE TEMPTED

to

compromise

so that

about private

My

fear

Zoe can

is

that

stay in a

my making. If I have to shut down I don't know how to live.

You'll say Come to U.S.A. but if my school were closed by authority
here, U.S. authority wouldn't likely give me a visa. And even if I came,
school of

with no capital,

but

make

am

how

could

I set

up a school?

may sound

sure that bad times are soon coming. Financially

S'hill

pay, but that

is

pessimistic,

we cannot

minor matter. One question about adoles-

newspaper report of an event

in a self-styled "free" school.

247

1949

make

cent sex in Parliament and any Minister will at once

urgent en-

quiry and of course take the side of reaction and anti-youth.

I enjoyed the Bulletin very much. It makes such a difference now,
knowing people who were only names before. Only Mickey's* report
of the Conference doesn't convey the vitality and life of it, not Mickey's

fault;

simply the necessity to condense.

How
to boss

about that vacation you are to take? Sad that

you around

P.S. If S'hill IS closed

what could

Honorary Compost Expert

here and

am

sure

won't be there

summer.

this

shall

for the

Tom

earn as

Ross's assistant plus

Frau Doktor? Reaction grows daily

soon be on the carpet before stupid

official-

dom.

New York

Forest Hills,

April

My

I just
it

will

school.
if

1949

8,

dear Neill:
received your letter of April

12th. I

be easy for the reactionary government

It is

much

they did try

and action

is

it.

too well-known and

But

in

would

England

raise quite

is

statism,

feel that

your

to take

an upheaval

admit that the situation for progressive thought

rather bad in the face of advancing statism.

matter that this statism

since statism

it

do not

is

It

does not

carried mainly by socialists and communists,

no matter who advocates. Furthermore,

by now become quite obvious

that the masses, comprised of Little

it

has

Men,

are basically reactionary.

I

believe that the only

way

to stave off

danger coming from reac-

tionary officialdom against free education of children

sex question quite into the open, to stand

up

for

is
it

to get the

and

whole

to fight

it

through, but of course not by beating up the sadist.

the

Myron Sharaf, a young adherent of Reich, who

Wilhelm Reich Foundation.

for a time

was employed by

1949

248

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April 21, 1949

My

dear Reich,

Your

letter brings

up

we had

the old conflict

in Oslo.

How? One

say to get the whole sex question into the open.

wrote that the police in C.'s case* hinted to parents that

back

their children

to his school, they

if

You

parent

they sent

might get their children taken

away from them as unfit parents to have children.

The dilemma is so. To say m a law court: "Yes, my adolescents can
have a love life together," would mean the closing of the school, and if
they were under 16 (the age of consent in law) the teacher would go to

wonder the teacher and school would be

and also many Zoes and Peters would have to go to more

prison. After the nine days'

forgotten,

or less anti-life schools.

questioned I'd want to say: "I have said and

If

written publicly that love should be free to children

the beginning.

The

pupils in

my

school

know my

all

the

attitude

way from

and they do

They fall in love with each other in a

never spy on them nor do I make any super-

not consider sex sinful or smutty.

natural, tender way,

and

vision at all."

The dilemma was voiced

son next term, aged
lescent love

doesn't
S'hill

life,

seem

freedom

Give

me

but

4.
I

He

by an old boy who

is

sending his

said: "All very well, Neill, to fight for

my

want

fair to risk

to

last night

kid to have ten years of

S'hill,

ado-

and

it

being closed when the babies risk having no

go to."

your opinion on the great dilemma

and honesty plus martyrdom and

loss of

work,

OR

complete bravery
conscious hypoc-

The dilemma would

be less urgent if I didn't think that martyrdom here would likely mean
no visa to try freedom in any other land. Put it this way: in war to be
taken prisoner means that you are out of the battle. If S'hill were
risy,

plus the chance to help a hundred or two Zoes.

ended, on what front could

Do

give

me

your answers.

Copping, the headmaster

with his

own

I fight?

canes.

who had had

his

schoolboys beat the cane merchant

249

1949

Forest Hills,

AprU

My

New York
25, 1949

dear Neill:

Yours of 21.4.
lescent genitality

at

hand. The problem of

how

handle ado-

to

of course, a trying one. Seen from the standpoint

is,

of an educator or a physician, neither keeping quiet nor running the

gauntlet will help.

It

is

human

a basic question of

society,

and basic

questions have never yet been solved without great danger and anguish.
It

not a question only of whether one wants to submit to such

is

dangers.
I

If

one does not, the only thing for an honest worker

We

believe, simply to state the facts in public.

as

it

we

stands today and add that

to

do

is,

can state the problem

are not capable or not willing or not

strong enough to do anything about

it.

This, at least, will save us

impeding a future solution of the problem,

fusion and delaying the final answer.

It is

i.e.,

from

of adding to the con-

most unfortunate

that these

in themselves, are made so much

more complicated by the fact that educators or physicians who are supposed to handle them are themselves structurally not able to do so.
I would suggest again, as I did in my last letter, that we prepare a

problems of

tough as they are

living,

thorough discussion and,

discussion by the

if

summer

possible, arrive at a final solution through

of 1950,

when we

shall

devote a whole day

of the proposed conference to this problem of adolescence.

be willing to help

Would you

in that?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

My

self-reg.

Ena and
The snag

I like
is

the idea

1949

how

you suggest of a conference here on

to exclude the element

Barakan-Copping-Eastmond element, or
to argue not to construct.
to see

if

How

am

one might

call

the

who would come

the enemies

trying a letter in the journals as a kite

anyone would come.

sad

feel that

Collins and Son, for

hell

10,

dear Reich,

you are

am

in

Maine without

sure they are

still

as

us, sorry also for

bad as

ever.

poor

But give 'em

anyway.

Yes, you are right about the N.Y. Times. They paid

me 200$

for the

1949

second

250

and never used

article

mean in U.S.A.
Use, if we are coming

So

it.

my book

far

being killed by

is

silence. I

Say,

this time? I

must earn 1000$

time

on paying

I insist

one

limited to
I

for

1950 who

in

am

if I

my

And no

food in Orgonon.

and

this

presents

belt.

have written Eastmond saying he can't

and practise any therapy

Wrexham. As

me

to arrange lectures for

is

to cover all expenses

same

at the

Oxford, there

in

time.

will again

books
tomorrow
in
again

Orgone

sell

lecture

Institute

be enquiries about

how

to get

your books.

Thanks

Do

as:

We'd

for the reviews

me

of Little

better be careful

the

isn't

Zoe running

what we say about

madman we wanted him

this

Reich man, for ap-

woman coming today

Post wants a woman

ask about self-reg. Picture

to

etc.

to be.

over the place. Daily Herald

all

and

see her

Man, Fascism book,

one that can be expressed

detect an increasing change of attitude,

parently he

to

you sent

photographer to spend 8 days here photoing Zoe, saying: "Nowhere

England has any baby the environment and chance

and we ought to make a record of
will

now

be bad for Zoe, for up to

Our

self-consciousness.

Buddha Leunbach
self in

in the

it."

But

fear that

Many

if

Ena

all this

worship

she has shown no narcissism or

unself-reg boys are too sadistic and rough.

when

talked rot

she said a baby self-regulated

cold weather re clothes. Zoe would die of

world

in

to be self-regulated

the acute diseases

all

on her wearing warm

didn't insist

thanks for the Orgone

Inst, leaflet re

my

it-

things.

book, and for the

kind things you say there, Reich.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

My

8th,

1949

dear Neill:
I

Orgonon

just received

since

May

your

letter

have mobilized
America.

all

Due

of

May

loth.

We

have been

at

3rd.

There are no doubts whatsoever

in

to

my mind

their forces to counteract

that the psychoanalysts

our influence

to this, they apparently did not print

in the public

your

article in

the Times.

The problems

as presented

by Copping are quite tremendous. They

251

1949

bad

are not

fellows, basically,

and yet

natural from the slightly neurotically pornographic. But

out the neurotics from our

movement

is

so hard to keep apart the

is

it

how

keep

to

surely a hard nut to crack.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

My

1949

3,

dear Both,

At last we are to be inspected by an H.M.I. [His Majesty's

on June 13th. The H.M.I, is called Pemberton and he was

Inspector]

chief inspector for Suffolk in 1939.

He came

and we got on so well together

week

later

dug out
anyone

we had

else.

it

am

Now

to flee to Wales.

if

he

bad

as

out of the wood, though.

visitors.

Norman Haire wanted me

And

dreadful cold and wet weather.

sells

to

have an open debate with a man, Wild-

canes for teachers and parents.

debate with a pervert and lend him publicity. The

called

Corpun, typewritten, the most

Copping got cheap

never

THINK;

left

Wildman

his

own

man

do

trips

V4 inch

refused to

publishes a sheet

to his school

up

and then

it.

to the Observatory,

say. Use, I find

the gaps between the boards too wide. Get

them with only a

canes. In a case like this

don't want to

Orgonon
the
the compost heap
at

the rows with Collins,

I

him with

just feel that

keep picturing you

said

utter sadistic rubbish imaginable.

publicity by inviting

getting his big boys to beat

So

thought. I'm not hallooing

sun or sea bathing yet ... a lousy climate compared with yours.

man, who

and has been

retired

is

would rather have him than

that they find the Ministry friendly to S'hill.

things won't be so

Usual summer trek of

No

then

officially

have also contacted the Ministry of Education through

looks as

until I

me

to see

wrote asking him to come again.

to inspect the private schools.

two friends who write

that

that

gap between boards.

Tom

Ross

now
to

that

move

did that this year and

up strongly without any animal manure. I'm scything

long grass daily and have four heaps. But without anyone to cut grass
and gather it I don't see how you will make a good heap. Cover it up;

the heaps heat

a night's rain soaking

only

is

very concerned

promise not

sell

completely stops

all

chemical reaction.

in case you drop him altogether. I think

do any therapy should be enough. He will then
the books. Barakan I never hear of or from, and I begin to

Eastmond
that his

it

to

1949

never see any

think

I'll

Don't

know

252

she

if

is

am wondering
As

are snags.

girls, at least it

happier.

going to work or at what.

should continue treating adolescents here. There

if I

layman

money from him. Constance seems

daren't treat

naked boys or bathing-costumed

might lead to bad gossip, and treating them with layers

my

of clothes

on

anatomy.

could easily mistake a swollen gland in the neck for a muscle

rigidity.

isn't

Perhaps

some of them do

satisfactory.

should stick to

bigger snag

my

get a lot of relief

job

from

is

teaching.

my

On

ignorance of

the other hand,

treatment.

A bit early to make plans for next summer trip over. With my book
more or less a flop in U.S.A., with training colleges paying poor fees
(some of them anyway), it may be that my name won't get me enough
income to pay our
but

if I

Ena

travel expenses.

and Zoe

can't bring her

I ain't

says

if

not

should go alone,

coming.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June loth, 1949

My

dear Neill:
I

have yours of June 3rd, and

appear together with

Copping, though

it

this

was

am

sadistic pervert.

irrational

from the standpoint of

pears very rational in a deeper sense,

Such fellows who produce and

glad that you refused to

Somewhere, the action of

sell

if

success, ap-

you understand what

mean.

canes for teachers and parents to

beat up their children, deserve to be punished severely by society. But

since society not only does not punish them, but gives

even that of appearing

in public

them

supported by organizations,

all

honors,

can un-

derstand the action of an idealist like Copping. The law and public

opinion unfortunately will for a long time be on the side of the pervert

and against the one who rebels against

defend Copping's action, but

it.

understand

This does not

In the question of your treatment of adolescents,

advice.

To my

that I

it

is

hard to give

conviction, only medical men, well-trained in orgone

biophysics, should do medical orgone therapy. But

other hand,

mean

it.

how

don't see,

on the

educators like you or Hamilton can avoid treating

adolescents.
I

am

postponing the decision on the Eastmond

discussions will have taken place.

affair until further

253

1949

when you come over in 1950 you should not

beyond the minimum necessary to refund the travel
expenses. You and Ena and Zoe will be welcome guests at Orgonon,
I

agree with you that

give any lectures

and we

shall not accept

any pay for your

Your book Problem Family

is

is

no

stay.

whatsoever

flop

in the

U.S.A.

It

being sold steadily, according to the rules of biophysical organic de-

velopment which characterise

my work: No

flare-ups

and no comets

which come and vanish, but slow, steady, patient conviction of people.

Your book is going very well, seen from this angle.

The roof on the observatory will go up next week, and
exhausting process will approach
I

hope

all

is

you and

well with

thus a very

end.

its

you survived the Ministry of

that

Education.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June 23, 1949

My

dear Reich,

Our
days.

inspection

over.

is

Two

oldish

men were

Both very friendly but obviously puzzled how

here for two

to inspect.

As

had

expected they bypassed the big question of character, balance, sincerity

etc.

and concentrated on French, maths

in these

we were

etc. finding, as I

inferior to State schools, not so

expected, that

much because

lessons

are optional as because of the difficulty of getting the best teachers at

the small salaries

report,

and

that I

can pay. They said they would not give an adverse

had nothing

sex or anything emotional.

to fear. In

think

two days they never mentioned

we were lucky

to get them, for

we

might have had nasty men. Interesting to note that they had no real
interest in kids.

When Zoe

hardly noticed her.

We

The conference on

can

entered the

at least

room

for the

first

time they

breathe freely now.

self-regulation

you suggested we think would be

best at Xmas or Easter. Summer is hopeless, for people book up their

holiday months ahead. Ena and I and Zoe are to go to a seaside village
in Scotland for 14 days. The rest of the 8 weeks vacation we spend
painting S'hill etc. We keep looking forward to next summer in Maine,
bless
I

you both.

lectured to 60 students last

Dept. Later over tea the

staff

week

asked

me

in

London

University Education

questions about your work.

One

1949

254

Mrs, a practising Freudian, said she disagreed about sex for youth (she
has two adolescent daughters). Youth not ready for

it

and

all

that bunk.

And my old friend Thomson the Naturopath in Edinburgh

of my old pupils that her miscarriage was due to her starting
course too early
the damn fool.
.

any

one

told

sex inter-

long to see you send a description of the motor working without

electric current at all.

That would be the most convincing evidence

possible.

No more

now. Too many

on

visitors etc., so that I can't concentrate

writing.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June 29, 1949

My dear Neill:
am

glad that the inspection which you dreaded so

much

is

over and that no damage has been done.

Now

want to

tell

you a

in the face of this righteous

political journal

made

Among them he
my cancer work.

story. Storytelling, I hope,

is still

permitted

world of ours! The editor of an American

inquiries about

my work among American

people.

asked the head of the American Cancer Society about

This gentleman referred him to the latest authority on

who

natural scientific matters in the 20th century, Mildred Edie Brady,

my work and

did not like

many

hated the fact that

it

was commended

in so

places.

The phantastic
become a habit of

thing about

it

is

that in this

20th century

it

has

so-called scientists, instead of looking into a micro-

scope and seeing the blue in the bions and the blood corpuscles, instead
of putting cancer patients into orgone accumulators and seeing whether
it

works or

about
I

this

think

not, they run to biopaths in order to listen to opinions

work, as
I

if

natural functions could be judged by opinions.

shall concentrate, as

soon as the observatory

is

finished,

attacking these gentlemen in public and exposing their sabotage.

of

American pathology and biology

geneticists

who

is

on

Most

under the influence of the

are utterly hopeless in their scientific outlook.

They

are

the heirs of the old mechanistic and mystical hereditarians. These people

255

are the worst enemies of anything that

social, biological or otherwise.

and had Lysenko*

this issue

Now,

1949

moving or changeable, be

is

American

fight against the

it

up

the Russian dictators picked

on

geneticists

the basis that acquired characteristics can be transmitted to the next

generation. This, in
this case.

any

It is

However, the motives are decisive

itself, is true.

in

a purely political issue and has nothing to do with deciding

scientific matters.

It is

quite clear that,

had the Americans represented the idea of the

inheritance of acquired characteristics, the Russians would have de-

fended mystical geneticism.

Would you be kind enough

you can

to gather all the material

England on the healthy

find in

child,

and opinions

and bring them over here

next year?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July i8, 1949

My dear Reich,
Thanks

for the Bulletin

and Character Analysis. Owing

of term and countless tiresome visitors

thoroughly, but your schizophrenia case

it

the most fascinating case

is

future.

treated

There
it

a man's

is

work can

isn't,

It

is

a classic of the

man who

could have

the question of

how much

there another

effect of that case

o.

is

demon-

called Neill

after a

heavy term

therapy.

And
makes
me
up when Zoe
all

man

that a

have both that exhausted feeling we get

difficult to get
all

is

end
both

to read to the end. Reich,

get across to others. Incidentally, the case

giving out to the kids

can dance

had

to

to read

your point that orgone therapy can be done by doctors

has decided to give up trying

I

and that brings up

and one good (or bad)

Ena and

have ever read.

only one big snag:

so? There

strates finally

only,

haven't had time

the time.

begin to feel age now, find

lie

with her on the floor. Yet

it

night.

Trofim Lysenko, Russian agronomist and

biologist.

of genetics which declared that characteristics acquired

influences are inherited.

Leader of Soviet school

through environmental

1949

We

256

Akku on

used the small

up

cleared

in 3 days,

It

leg. It

have her in the big box next term

to

Congratulations on your English

English.

on her

a girl of 15 with a boil

and we are

in this

flows freely and no one

your

first

too.

book published

would ever guess

in

wasn't your

it

native language.

We

Zoe

are concerned about

getting fears

and complexes from badly

reared kids in the Cottage which houses the smallest children.

problem to you and us and

all

the other believers.

to hear a kid say to Zoe: "Let's shit here but don't

No

official

report from the Educn. Dept. yet.

tell

am

my

instruction. In the report (I

.

life

here, in view

saw a rough copy before they sent

very decent of them to show

sentence about sex opportunity and then

says that in 28 years
in conversation I

no

girl

Nay, Reich,

to

me

privately) I

can see they are trying to be

many in one room

liberty

is

to

When

he asked

fair to

fear interference

fact,"

me, and

more W.C.'s,

etc.

disappearing from Britain, and to anticipate

fast

your answering: "Socialism, Neill,"

inspecting private schools

do

it

saw a

"The headmaster however

pupil has been pregnant."

don't fear being closed: No, but

baths, too

this:

it

added to that statement: "I'm not proud of the

and they both smiled.

the

Mummy."
One

published views on child sex, also about the absence of religious

headquarters

more

your

trying

furious

not safe yet.

inspector was worried about the opportunities for sex

of

makes me

It

hasten to say that the Educn. Bill

was made by the Tories and handed on

to

Labour Govt.

We
wait

are both sad at not

till

Our

love to you

with, I take

some

coming over

this year. It

seems so long to

next summer.

it,

outlet for

all.

Send

me

Collins hanging

a picture of the completed Observatory

from the top balcony.

We

all

must have

our murderous wishes.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

My

9,

1949

dear Neill:
It's

a very long time since I

very hectic one. There were

lot of visitors,

many

have written. The summer was a

physicians in two cancer courses.

nuisance and good ones.

257

1949

Washington* did not turn up for work as scheduled, the motors

appeared together with Washington

much

in a

too long and complicated story to be told

in a letter.

tory has been completed with the last few touches

beauty

A
at

dis-

most mysterious fashion

still

to

The observabe done.

(A

nurse from the

Simeon Tropp's

New York Memorial

office with a

lump

in

hospital for cancer turned

up

her breast scheduled for opera-

and was freed of the tumor within a few days.

tion

Peter went to public school here in Rangeley on Sept. 6th for the

time and loved

first

it.

Preparations are being

made

for the convention in 1950.

Dr. Raphael! has fallen in love with this region and with Orgonon
and has conceived the plan of a hospital at Orgonon (I had made the
plans for it in 1943 already). Several doctors want to transfer their
lives here.

new worry

of

where to

get

200,000 dollars arose. Selling of

Christmas trees and bringing to market of accumulators

I

wrote

We

my first

is

contemplated.

paper on orgonometric equations.

hate to go back to N.Y. and would like to stay here. But

Tropp

me that I must go back to N.Y. because I am still

needed badly since I am "so handy."
This is not all. Now, how have you been and Zoe and Ena? Why did
you not write lately? You are not cross for some reason, are you?
Would you like to review Anna Freud's new papers in the book on
and WillieJ told

education? Thanks for your nice

little article. It will

be published

in the

Bulletin.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

1949

15,

My dear Reich,
Your

letter today. I

wasn't hearing from you.

Your news

of Bill

surprises

me.

why

Am

Washington, a mathematician who was working for Reich.

Chester M. Raphael, M.D., student of Reich's and medical orgonomist.
James W. Willie, psychiatrist and student of Reich's.

* Bill
t

wrote you weeks ago and wondered

1949

258

walked out with the two motors?

to believe that the mild Bill simply

Unglaublich [Unbelievable]. So glad to hear of the Observatory.

for next

summer

Bulletin j

policy

to see

One

very good.

is

tumour

long

me

thing astonishes

the Institute

in

page 114: "Wherever a local tumour can be removed by

radium we advise to do so."

the

it.

is

don't see the point

when you claim

that

only a symptom.

Speaking of

diet,

still

think diet or absence of

it

might help to

solve that problem (also page 114) of the clogging of the excretory

know

pathways, but here the layman

talks. I

sex-economy

is

thing, but I

stodge, takes

no

the

won't have the

first vital

exercise, drinks too

effect

it

The N.Y.

should have. Yet in

Xmas

my

subsidiary, that
if

sitting in

man

eats

the

Box

native village a

her

woman

life!

book Love and Death, a study in

and makes much
sex is suppressed in U.S.A. while murder is approved
literature). The author. Legman, mentions you on the

you haven't seen

shall I

it,

Box.

trees versus sales of

much, owing

sure that

liquid,

all

is

gives a grim picture of sadistic comics,

state (in

last page. If

me

publishers sent
It

of the fact that

by the

am

much

died at 104 last month, and she ate stodge

censorship.*

that food

Barakan paid

all

the devils

me

if

the former

would bring

in

And

to sell the Box would mean

who would cry: "Quackery!"

to cost of transport.

guarding against

send you a copy?

doubt

another 20.

haven't seen

him nor Eastmond.

reread your Character Analysis with great pleasure.

wish

it

could be

read by millions.

Our

love to you

Yes, send on

all.

Anna

Hope
F.'s

the

compost heap

papers

if

is

a success.

you have them.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October

6,

1949

My dear Neill:
from

my

The book on Love and Death by Legman has stolen the sugar
it in a very bad way to put something over

Function and used

* Love and Death: A Study

Breaking Point, 1949).

in

Censorship, by Gershon

Legman (New York:

259

1949

on the "U.S.," not mentioning the

individuals

and

stuff

who

against this misuse.

Legman

is

the

that

single irresponsible

is

it

misuse freedom of expression to put out the murder

furthermore, there

that,

fact

It

is

man who

is

typical

called

a heavy fight going on in the U.S.

red

up our

fascist

Institute

on the telephone about

started to insult us

the orgone accumulator." This means,

fascist

and a nuisance

above,

we

in

manner of smearing.
some 2 years ago and

"this

summed

obvious quackery of

up, he

that he has just read

it

am

Mass Psychology

its

much

Death, wrote

of Fascism and found that

&

Love

Death and

better than he.)

the Healthy Child." In this context your nice

little

paper

will

proper place.

I shall

send you

Anna

Everything points

Freud's book for severe criticism.

in the direction of

my

pros and cons are too entangled to be set

remaining

down

is

great

at

Orgonon. The

The plan has

Orgonon and
enthusiasm among the doctors of the New York area to
in a letter.

shaped up to build up an Orgone Energy Hospital

there

&

preparing a special number of the Orgone Energy Bulletin,

"Towards
find

You may

received a letter containing the following passage:

Dr. Reich had already said everything he wrote in

had said

a thief, a red

is

addition to that. (After having dictated the

be interested to know that G. Legman, author of Love

to

pitch in, economically and otherwise,

My

and

to

at

have the hospital function-

Orgonon would be the first serious step in

the direction of building up at Orgonon the University of Orgonomy. If
things go wrong I might break my economic neck. But it is tempting
to jump once more over a wide abyss, as I did so often before, but this
ing by 1952.

staying in

time at the age of 52. Use

is

all

for staying here,

public school at Rangeley. However,

As you know,

we must

and Peter loves the

wait and see.

have reserved a whole day for the discussion of the

Healthy Child Problem next summer. Would you be willing to prepare

a lecture of about 45 minutes or i hour duration for
whole emphasis should be on the problems of health
arise in

occasion?

The

in children as

they

this

an environment of armored parents and teachers.

Write again soon.

1949

26o
]

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October 21, 1949

My

dear Neill:
I

number

received the

Sex Education* which

wondered why you did

of the Journal of

contains the slander, together with your reply.

not say point blank that you are using an orgone accumulator for yourself

and your family with some

Would you

benefit.

kindly try to find out the name, profession and back-

ground of competence of

this fellow

who

to

is,

appearances, either

all

a pervert or a delegate of the C.P.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 28, 1949

My dear Reich,
You

ask

why

I didn't

mention our own use of the Accu

in

reply to that interview. Simply because such a reply would cut no

my
ice,

Whereas your doctors can give

tumours lessening or disappearing. But I
definite seeable results
wouldn't have done so for myself [i.e., written a reply to the bad
review], for, as you know, we differ about fighting back, and I have
and would be attributed

to blind faith.

seldom

if

ever replied to a bad review of

do so much of

this

to

me

my

negative fighting;

books.
it

away from

takes you

genuine work, and the papers and journals have always the
I've always ignored
real

harm. But

this

argument.

my

enemies, and

this will take

The

J.H.H.'sj

are

me down

hoping that education

for a talk
will

and that the medical and

to

last

don't think they ever did

up an evening

annoy a cow but they don't seem

Sure, put

in

0[rgonon] next summer,

unbedeutend

[insignificant].

hamper her milk

come more forward than

men

word.

me any
Flies

supply.

on education next conference.

scientific

you

regret that

it

did last

am

summer

will share the talks with the

self-reguln. guys.

Life goes on here as strenuously as usual.

Norman

Edited by

The author whose review had so angered

Haire.
Reich.

We

sit in

the

Accu

daily,

26i

but Zoe won't mitmachen [join

in]

she

1949

too energetic to

is

sit

still

Ena and I both feel the result of the sittings, and we find we
sleep more deeply than before, maybe also due to the Accu being in our
bedroom. By the way, the Bulletin says keep the room well ventilated,
for long.

but
I

if

0[rgone]

is

everywhere can a draught of

have so many questions

want

to ask you.

air drive

About

from a room?

it

disease for one. I've

never discovered in orthodox medicine any philosophy of disease. Has

the disease a function? Is

it

an attempt

cancer idea and

it

is

feel

Brown

cancer while

that

right,

at self-cure?

takes [gets] diabetes?

can see your

why does Jones

but

am

take [get]

not asking you to answer

bore you with questions when we meet.

Meanwhile my ignorance troubles me about the Akku. It gives health
but what gives unhealth?
all this,

but

warn you

that

I'll

long to see the Observatory but with the anxious thought: "If

can't grasp orgone physics in the lab

when Reich takes it to

The latest Bulletin

how

the hell can

have a hope

the stars?"
is

grand.

Your own

article

was understandable

my

advice about staying

even by me.

Good

that Pete likes his school, but don't ask

the year in O., for

all

Your

P.S.

letter to

wrong about

am

the

have none to

give.

Haire [protesting the bad review]

man

pretty certain that

being a communist.

Few

is

almost certainly

doctors here are, and

none of them ever heard of your work.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

November 4. 1949

My dear Neill:
I have yours of Oct. 28; you are quite right saying that flies
annoy a cow but do not hamper her milk supply. But any normal cow
will try to get rid of the annoying fly by wagging her tail. This seems

quite natural. I have never answered any pestilent attack, not even

during the long-drawn-out Norwegian campaign. However,

do not

intend to keep our hardworking people from protesting the action of

rats.

Would you be
lecture at the

kind enough to

let

us

know

the exact

1950 conference. The educational problem

title

of your

will

be quite

1949

in the

262
]

men

foreground next summer. Our medical

are keenly aware of

the urgency of the educational task.

am

still

Orgonon, but

at

go back

shall

There are too many obligations

in

N.Y.

N.Y.

to

in

about lo days.

be attended

to

to.

During

October every weekend 4-5 doctors came up for courses. Also the plans
for a hospital are taking shape.

We

lookmg forward

are

summer.

We

shall discuss

and similar types

be taboo.

will

Ena and Zoe here

seeing you,

to

whatever you

We

next

However, mentioning Haire

like.

are looking toward the future

and

not toward an ugly past.

You know more about Orgone physics than you are

you could follow my latest article on orgone and ether.
become more and more

every book on

wide interest

it

that

ready to admit

fascinated by the Christ story.

can reach.

It

becomes quite clear

Am

if

reading

that the world-

due to the clearcut disaster due to emotional

in Christ is

plague; though not a single writer so far seems to have grasped the true

The murder

secret of this horrible story.

through the millennia.

not

To

of Christ goes

reveal the secret will

on unperturbed

mean more

killing,

and

less.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

My

wait

till

Re

colleges etc. reopen in

a lecture tour.

wonder

if

don't

Why

One snag

October and lecture then.

that I

is

am

not well

known

in

U.S.A.

an ad or two in the best educational journals would bring

forth offers, but

I

1949

Yours tonight. Our names are down with the Cunard for the
Queen to sail after end of July. I'll have to do what I did last year,

first

8,

dear Reich,

know

don't even

know what

title

their

to give

names.

you for

not simply "The Pioneer School

&

my
Its

talk at the Conference.

Problems"? The

title

of

course doesn't matter much.

Re

the Christ story. I once read

had no

religion at

that Judas

all.

had had a

it

to a

group of children who had

Their opinion was that J.C. was a fine guy, but

some way. The interesting point was

guy for someone else, and one of
[George Bernard] Shaw had said it before,

dirty deal in

that they thought Judas

was a

them, without knowing that

fall

263

said

was odd

it

had

that Judas

Jesus was anyway. Interesting from

your angle that Judas must have represented the

saw

that the

man who

master with a kiss when

to betray his

known who

every cop must have

1949

carries out the dirty

miore of a weakling than a villain.

work

pest. Possibly the kids

of the pest

generally

is

much

guess your study will go

deeper than Stekel's theory that Judas was a homosexual jealous of the

beloved disciple John. The difference (or one of them) between Reich

and Stekel

S.

could think only

while R. thinks in terms of

terms of the personal (jealousy)

in

life itself.

was 66 the other day and hate the idea

am

that time runs so short.

hoping to have a local conference on self-regn.

Parents and teachers but no doctors

that I don't

know any

not that

Easter.

at

exclude them, only

to ask.

Oh, have you seen the news

stated that they will not give divorce

to the judges to decide

if

Poland and Czechoslovakia have

that

a divorce

on personal grounds;

is

it

will

beneficial to the State.

be

left

Brave new

world indeed.
age ... I find my love powers
am fairly philosophical about it.

Re

P.S.

but

diminishing too fast for

my

liking,

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

23, 1949

My dear Reich,
But
months.

And

don't want to

come

to

U.S.A. and do nothing for three

don't want to take any salary or

want to reach

as

many

students as

money from

the Institute.

can without over-exerting

myself with travelling long distances.

Lectured to 300 people

young

in

Watford outside London

psychiatrists, doctors there, all interested in

about the

difficulty in getting

your books

ianism has gone barren and Reich

influence
I'll

is

growing among

am much

cows

young

is

Lot of

Reich. All grumbling

England.

in

the

One

new discovered

said:

"Freud-

land."

Your

fellows.

send you the government report on

favourable and there

I

these

is

last night.

S'hill.

On

the whole

it

is

no chance of our being closed down.

A child frightens Zoe by saying

troubled with a riddle ...

will eat her.

We

tell

her that

is

nonsense but she doesn't believe

1949

264

word of the badly reared child of 5 has more weight than

anything we can say. Why? In spite of her fearless life of 3 years she is

us

the

prone to accept fear even though

baby

structural feature in a
I

if

know

with a

girl

minded
I

of just 6.

the roar

A lion

saw the

me

the answer, but even

took her to the zoo yesterday

Zoe who hadn't

roared. Amarilla fled in fear.

other's alarm,

and she also showed

"Go away, Daddy,

not a good father, distributing

my

What

her stomach.

stiffen

the elements of child nature. Puzzled too

times says at bedtime:

am

does not

can't eliminate that fear.

it I

knew even

it

reacts to fear? Tell

don't

fear.

wish

when Zoe some-

LIKE

you."

Maybe

love to 70 children, but that

Ena too, even more so. Ena asked her who said that
Daddy and she answered "Debby" ... the "trained"
girl of 5 who makes Z. taste her shit and threatens to beat

would apply

to

about not liking

stiff-stomach

her

if

she doesn't. Again apparently the self regn. child accepts what the

spoiled brat says even about Daddy.

only Zoe, Peter, Pussy*

appear. Prophylaxis has
I

etc.

it,

but even then

for an island with

guess fears would

see.

word to your letter, for he will

Reform League where you wanted (according

fear that Haire will have the last

revive the story of the Sex

to

on

snags

its

Makes me long

him) the Communist

remain middle

which he has the

Forest Hills,

last

line,

while he and others wanted the League to

Never argue with a guy who owns a journal

class.

word.

in

IGNORE 'EM ALL, man.

New York
December

i,

1949

My dear Neill:
The convention will be
August, and we want you to be
directly,

and lecturing

held from August 20th to the end of

there. I suggest

coming

to

Orgonon

after the convention.

The understanding of and enthusiasm for orgonomy is growing everywhere by leaps and bounds, not only in England. It sometimes seems
frightening to what dimensions the responsibilities have grown. One of
these responsibilities

children

who

is

exactly the problem which

you pose regarding

accept pestilent thoughts and attitudes so

than rational ones.

When

said in

Dr. Wolfe's young daughter.

1947

that the

much more

easily

Brady attack came from

265

communist sources, nobody wanted

I

1949

to believe

was the one who knew the communists

it,

best.

in spite of the fact that

When

say, out of

good

experience, expose and fight the emotional plague wherever you can,
lest

But

you be smothered by

we

if

its evil

are ever to save the

doings,

life

the claws of the emotional plague,

fears
still

economy. The red

told not to

worry about

knows

well that

was

me

right in

never wanted the communist line

was no communist

Norman
came

line in sex

my

predictions which

in the

me

in natural

came

true.

reform. Always, the red fascists, the

when

it

sex-economic insights into the necessities of a rational

Norman Haire
is

am

Sex Reform League. There

And
vision. He

sex education of children and adolescents.

famer that he

then on this issue as they fight

Haires and the Catholic Church embraced each other

to fighting

vicious

shed our

start finally to

start fighting the evil-doers.

now, because everybody who has some knowledge of history

science

it.

did 15 and 20 years ago in matters of sex-

fought

fascists

am

we must

and wrong considerations and

advocating fiercely what

and health of new generations from

or

blur your clear

tries to be, to discredit the

please, don't let the

will not succeed, de-

revolutionary insights of

sex-economy by stamping them communist. They never were and never

will be.

The only mistake

really

made around

the early thirties

was

believe that the communists, on the basis of their proclamations,

be the ones to establish a rational sex-economy

what happened
I

am
first

Russia.

We

all

would

know

there.

afraid, Neill,

of childhood and
the

in

to

we

are in a bitter, desperate fight for the rescue

young adulthood. The sex-economic movement was

sexology and natural science which put the

in the history of

severe problems of natural genitality to the foreground and into the

consciousness of the world; and the representatives of condoms and

pervert homosexuals never could swallow or

That
I

is

am

why

they

spit.

And

the last

word

trying very hard to convince

therapists to

go over

to

We

will

condone

this great

be ours and not

advance.

theirs.

one of our good medical orgone

England and

to start a serious job there in

have requests also from the Middle West, the West Coast,
South America and other regions of the globe. Things are moving very
medicine.

fast

and

well.

My best to all of you.

195^0

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January

4,

1950

My dear Reich,
Your New Year telegram

warm
I

glow.

We

think,

Ena and me

a very

reciprocate the wishes sincerely.

some

haven't written for

grippe

of good will gave

and

time.

We

both had breakdowns, a sort of

we have taken a long

The Nemesis of our work mostly, for we
time, and since we left you in U.S.A. over a

in spite

of orgones and rest

time to get back to normal.

have to give out

year ago,

all

the

we have met no one

to give out anything to us.

parents
It is

so

doesn't

on

the Q. Elizabeth
I'll

not

possibly

Summerhill

after

we

hope.

hold

all.

that

To have

Easter

there

is

no one

else

who

a nightmare.

many

As you know,

finish a

isn't

my

at

busy term of

idea of fairness,

could or would take over the domestic

who

S'hill attracts

times that neurotics can't work.

right all the

conference

Self-Regulation

an exhausted Ena

side of the conference. This finding people

is

to that

are losing

school and then switch over to be a hotel keeper

AND

Add

money every day. Some

we
could make ends meet.
and
if
they
did
cannot or won't pay
tiresome to think in terms of money when intrinsically money
mean much to us. I long for the first of August when we'll rest

the terribly exhausting fact that

My

can be trusted to do work

neurotics and you have said

experience proves you are

way.

Today I have no worry about State interference. The only worries

and here Ena and I are up against a difficulty:
are money and health
we both hate all drugs and have no faith in them, so that we don't call
.

267

1950

268

doctor because

in a

all

doctors here automatically stuff you up with

M&B

(Sulfa) or Penicillin whatever the trouble.

there

always the nasty thought

as

is

opposed
Just

to dry

had a

Is

it

And

enough

effective

as for the
in

Accu,

damp England

Maine?

letter

woman who

from a

has a son here. She

is

one of

Raknes's patients. Criticism in Aftenposten [the Oslo afternoon newspaper] was aimed

at

him and

the Reich method. Dr.

out with a reply in which he defended Reich.

lectures to students but the authorities

Raknes then came

He was booked

have cancelled

his lectures.

blow for he may be forbidden ever again

to speak to students

may

is

lose his licence. It looks as

if

have nothing much to say in

rather kidneyish. But

Zoe

is

P.S. Just got the appeal for

he alone

opinion

is

Orgonon

2000$
that

that

feel dull

my

Orgonon.

for the hospital in

could help, but while you think in thousands of dollars

to raise the

and

dull

and too clever for

bright as hell

money

am

and

taste.

wish

have to struggle

would pay up our adverse bank balance.

you should have begun with a school for

instead of a doctors' therapy building.

A bad
and he

Norway.

to fight in

this letter. I

to give

My own

self-regn. in

The design seems very

good.

Forest Hills,

New York
January 10, 1950

My dear Neill:
1 just

had your

letter of

word yesterday of your coming

much

in

January 4th,
August.

am

after

having received

looking forward very

Ena and the child.

I can imagine how very much exhausted you and Ena are. Therefore,
the rest at Orgonon will be all the more beneficial.
You are quite right in saying that we should put up a self-regulation
to seeing you,

Orgonon. This was

institution for infants instead of a hospital at

plan

all

along, but a hospital for research in biopathies

my

needed too,

is

of course.
I

escaped a great danger, Neill. In November,

mystical expectation that

nearly

fell

prey to the

should stay in Maine, on a high mountain,

gazing at the stars, as the overall genius, far removed from petty
events.

Maybe

whether to stay

in

should have. But as

Maine or

to return to

human

pondered over the problem

New

York,

I felt

that

would

^69

1950

not be able to produce a single orgonometric thought

continue
at the

my work

on the human

end of November, and

physicians,

And

structure.

from a

swiftly chose

if

were to

dis-

New York

returned to

of about

120

educators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, etc.

etc.

list

about 40 of the best-suited people, and began to establish an Orgonomic

Infants' Research Center for the STUDY OF HEALTH and not of
sickness.

We

must

child demonstrated

We

was

Orgonon

ference at

away from pathology and

finally get

with the healthy child.

Peter.

to

start

our work

have already had two meetings and the

some

on

shall report

We

extent.

first

the project at the con-

shall

have with us several

actually practising child nurses and social workers.

One whole day

will

be devoted to this problem.

The Raknes

situation

Norway

in

courageous and honest man.

The work is too far along.

The doctors should, of
from you.

It

was probably

is

known

He

me.

to

is

very

don't think that he can really be touched.

course, not have asked

money

for

Orgonon

a routine mailing.

Albert Einstein performed

here quite

amazing somersault

an

publicity articles, with a formula on gravitation which

stands and which has no experimental basis.

It

sounded

in

nobody underbit frantic. The

gravitation problem cannot be solved without careful study of the cosmic

orgone energy.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

2,

1950

dear Reich,
fear that this letter

only friend

have to

whom

is

can

to be a big
let off

grumble, but you are the

steam, and you will have to be

the victim.

I'm

filled

with worry.

The school

lost

do not cover expenses. In three years

money

<86o

have used

to

be cut

my own

to

been spent on repairing the property. The

worst payers that they must

of

got from the military as compensation for

down

away with

year because fees

2250

afloat,

parents simply cannot pay bigger fees, and

telling the

last

that should have

keep the ship

damage and

to half the present

leave.

number

have had the sad task of

think the school will have

I

can do

will

be that

of pupils, and then

few teachers and housemothers. Then the snag

1950

270

pupils won't stay

on

until

7 because of lack of specialist

and without a good few adolescents self-government

the worry about the school

all

conference

that

we

teachers,

With

impossible.

is

come out

can't

to the

this year,

have thought a

may be

it

exam

lot of the

chances of settling in U.S.A. The ad-

vantages would be that Zoe would have a better chance of continuing

to live

new H-bomb

this

if

On

wipe Britain out.

At 66
living

can't

is

to be used in the next

the other hand,

how

could

few years.

open a new school. I'm not well enough known

by lecturing nor by

writing.

Again

It

my

begin to feel

with a baby to work for

With
work.

off at
I

my

have to go on struggling

worry

dream

at nights of bills for

age, not only

Oh,

die.

till I

gas and coal

well, I've got all that grouse off

my

my

All

etc.

120

in

have

and

a year

in the

my book

worry you

chest. Unfair to

miseries.

Ena and

I sit in

that she sleeps far

Forest Hills,

Box

the

every night for half an hour each.

more deeply and longer when she has

sat in

Ena

New York
1950

7,

dear Neill:

Yesterday
to feel at ease

can help

any way,

in

present-day

received your letter of February 2nd. I want

about your "big grumble."

I shall

don't

be only too glad to do

mind

it

at all,

England.

Understanding

the

and

awful

itself

is

What could be done

The following

is

an idea which

realize.

to save

misconception

of

The

your work?

nourished for a long time but did not

my work

vention of armoring has, naturally,

infants.

only an idea, not even a well-considered plan as yet.

I

During the past few years

newborn

if

in, in

socialism as practiced by socialist state governments will not help.

question

you

so.

precarious situation your school finds

I realize fully the

It is

says

it.

February

My

should

find myself contributing not a single idea to the

world are houses whose rent brings me

royalties which are not many.

with

age and have a peaceful old age, but

all this

make

to

sexually but in general; have less drive and enthusiasm in me.

have been able to slack

would

earn a living in U.S.A.

The

know how

in bio-energetics

to

and pre-

more and more been centered on

idea of organizing and building a

home

for infants

271

1950

and small children

Orgonon, where plenty of space

at

where the population

is

friendly,

and

available

is

Two months

grew by leaps and bounds.

ago, this idea came closer to realization with the establishment of an

Orgonomic Infant Research Center. Its task is mainly to study healthy
children and the prevention of armoring from birth onward. I chose

about 40 persons, gathered them into a work group and began with
demonstrating beginning biopathology

Now

in fairly

healthy small children.

the plan slowly emerged, to build a children's

hospital attached

to

at

it

home

with a small

Orgonon, instead of the planned Orgone

Energy Research Hospital which would require some $300,000 which

at

present are not easily available.

You remember

that

What has

all this

do with you?

to

urged you to come to the U.S.,

escape the ravaging effects of the welfare

state.

in

We believe that

order to

burdening

the working population with responsibility, and not state welfare,

future development of society.

To

natural self- regulatory principles in

importance.

Now,

of

this

newborn babies

people, you and

all

Ena

the

is

paramount

of

of course would be the

choice to be entrusted with the directorship of such a children's

which would be devoted

is

end, the safeguarding of the

home

to the natural scientific, orderly study of the

natural principles of self-regulation from birth onward.

My question now

Would you and Ena be willing and feel ready

a children's home at Orgonon, Maine?
appropriate staff from among the many dozens of
is

this

to take over the directorship of

We

could pick the

well-trained and restructuralized nursery school teachers, nurses and

educators. These people

solve

all

when

this

the details

plan

will

know you and

and problems now.

like you.

We

We

do not have

to

can choose to go ahead

have matured into a proposition actually capable of

realization, say in a year or two.

It

to

would of course be best

come over

this

summer

look over the

sites

either part.

is

conceived

your

It

in

if

with

you could carry out your

Ena and Zoe,

personally. There

is

to talk

original plan

over

nothing binding

this plan, to
in

it

yet

on

important to stress the point that the plan was not

order to help you, but was considered independently of

situation.

Please, let

me know

principle.

My

love to

all

of you.

as

soon as possible

how you

feel

about

it

in

1950

272

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February lo, 1950

My

dear Reich,

Thanks

for your

most cheering

discuss in person in August.

can be

When

My

left until later.

At the

The idea is
moment the

letter

who wanted
dream of

would be

come and

to

to

hope we can

me

question that occurs to

our self-regulated infants are nine or

chief difficulty

which

of course fine, and the details

is:

where do they go then?

ten,

keep [from] shooting

therapise the children.

It

all

the therapists

is

fascinating to

Orgonon kinder-

the possibilities of our being in charge of an

garten.

Apart from financial worries

hill is less

than

it

was an

interesting "case."

child

the

is

same problem

my

see clearly that

was when we were building

Now

that

it

it

up,

interest in Summerwhen every new child

obvious that every problem

is

child in essentials, there

no fun

is

in dealing

with children whose reactions to freedom one knows beforehand. The

more we have

to raise the fees to

make ends meet,

children of the dull petty bourgeoisie

who have no

more we

the

idea of

get the

how

to use

freedom.

had a cable from Copenhagen from an ex-parent, confidentially I ASK YOU POSSIBILITY OF MOVING WHOLE SUMMERHILL SCHOOL
INCLUDING YOURSELF TO DENMARK AS AN INTERNATIONAL SCANDINAVIAN
Just

SCHOOL GUARANTEED ABSOLUTE FREEDOM AND ECONOMY?

I

A charming offer to be sure, aber [but]

replied no.

New Bulletin

to hand. I grasped at least

but can never follow you and never

will

something of your

own

article,

be able to follow you into the

depths of orgone-energy-philosophy.

it

To go back to your Orgonon idea, I don't quite understand it. Would

mean that the Wolfes would park Pussy at 0[rgonon] with a dozen

other self -regulated infants? That would be wrong; up to the age of at

least 5, the infants

warmth.

And

N.Y. would
all this will

even

be with their mothers for love and

5, I

think mothers and fathers in

hesitate to send their kids to a

in

Maine

big in every way.

far too bright for

energetically

to

they began at

if

be discussed

Zoe grows
and

would need

all

thing to do in

day

life.

my

till

No

home 500

miles away. But

hope.

Demanding reading

taste, for

she never

she gets tired, which

lets
I

lessons every day

up, simply goes on

suppose

is

interest in having a sweetheart yet.

the
I

normal

wonder

if

273

1950

Peter will have any interest

Maybe

her this summer.

in

too young for

him.

Forest Hills,

New York
February 20, 1950

My dear Neill:
At
Foundation

a meeting of the
last night, I told

Board of Trustees of

Wilhelm Reich

the

them about the plan of your coming

U.S. Everyone was enthusiastic.

We cannot

However, a few questions would have

to the

of course discuss details now.

to be

answered already within the

next few weeks.

you immigrate

In case

some money over from your

how?

you

to get

and

if

We

to the U.S.,

so,

would

buildings

plan to start building the children's

Would you
you care

at

it

home

leave the arrangement of the children's

to give us your ideas

The school

is

and sketches of how

if

be possible for

all

you liquidate them,

already this summer.

home
it

to us, or

would

should be arranged?

planned as model and training school for the Orgonomic

Infant Research Center, for nursery and kindergarten teachers, etc.

The

Infant Research Center

is

a part of the non-profit

Wilhelm Reich

Foundation and the school could, therefore, not run as a private enterprise, to fulfill the

course, your

requirements of tax exemption. But you would be, of

own master

in the

school as far as the self-regulation and

administrative processes are concerned.

on these issues.
would appreciate having your answer

we

disagree

to these questions as

soon as

do not think

that

basically
I

possible, since

we

are going ahead with the plans. Otherwise,

we would

have to wait with the building for next summer.

Infant Research Center course turns out to be a very great

The
success.

We

are pulling

into the open,

all

pertinent and hot questions unhesitatingly

grouped around two basic

issues:

a) the natural laws of self-regulation in

newborn babies before armor-

ing sets in;

b) the hate of armored living beings against the natural-given living

principles in the baby.

All

my

best to

all

of you.

1950

274

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 27, 1950

My

dear Reich,

Your

when a
save

and naturally

S'hill,

go

me a bad conscience for it came

my parents was setting about raising

letter gives

special meeting of

couldn't

and

to U.S.A. for good,

year

them

tell

might

a fund to
say, next

say might, for there are so

you

factors involved that only long talks with

make

that

time

at a

many

August-September

in

will

the final decision. It isn't going to be easy to decide, and in a

can only suggest a few pros and cons.

letter I

Pros.

am

new

learning and doing nothing

dealing with un-self-reg.

kids.

U.S.A. has more

To work
Cons.

with and near you would be a great delight and tonic.

bad leaving so many kids here with no one

I'd feel

capable of carrying on
old pupils would feel

S'hill as I'd like

I

had

assemble here thrice yearly

Here

than England has.

self-reg. kids

am known,

man

at

of

them

left

it

carried on.

I know
And all

in the lurch, for

they

end of terms.

some importance, acknowledged

to be the leading pioneer in Britain. In U.S.A. I'd begin as a

nobody.
I

dunno the snags

church or
I

had

I'd

meet

in the

way

kick myself for giving you the impression in

finally

of opposition

from

state.

decided to

come over

for

good ...

the time by the financial mess the school

is in.

hate to say: Leave us out completely, and

my

last letter that I

was overwhelmed at
On the other hand I'd
I

do think

my

problems. Note

suggestion of

my

cowardice
Maine should be
in the matter, for I was really trying to let finance decide the future
"I can't make ends meet in S'hill, therefore, it must close and then I start
again in America." Then the parents' meeting and plans took away from
left to settle all

talks in

me

this

That
Shall

cowardly solution.
briefly

is

we

my

side,

but

build the school this

whoever runs
arise. Is a

it,

so

why

it

leaves

you with the unsolved question:

wait? It will have to be built,

summer or

not start building? But here again questions

school in Orgonon the best place?

think of the comparison

between Leiston and Festiniog. In Wales we were

isolated,

much

away from towns,

but

films, libraries etc.

The

the staff got disgruntled at the isolation.

in the

mountains,

kids didn't

And

mind

the parents

275

groused because they couldn't come a ten-hours

On

brats.

the other

Orgonon.

babes can't ski)

is

place near to

may

Re your query about being

know the latest law on

per annum, and

little

change

at

in

concentrated

It is

in

York.

the building should be planned, and

not, her

money if we emigrated,
up till now one could take

able to bring out

the subject, but

any case

would break

it

my

Scots heart to

$2.80 to the pound.

reading your Ether,

meetings.

yours

lOO

am

all

Maine, winter (seeing the

in

help you.

don't

very

New

way

strong ideas of the

journey to see their

you them soon, and whether we eventually come or

to send

experience

in a

rail

can see that you want

have two houses, summer

I'd

Ena has

hand

1950

God and

Devil* book to the

really a delight to read

it;

staff at staff

book

possibly the clearest

of

have read.

Sending out invitations

now

for our self-regn. conference

week

after

Easter. Last invitation brought exactly three replies.

No

seminar

this

promises a seminar

at Sheffield

her house with

at

you possibly don't know!

a phrase

when

summer

a thing

Forest Hills,

is

good,

all

but Mrs. Haymes,

if still

there,

fees to me. Nicht so staubig

We

say "not so dusty" in England

e.g. a film.

New York
March

13,

1950

My dear Neill:
I

have yours of February 27th.

withdrew your

we can

so that

* Ether,

Institute,

first

suggestion.

it

hope you

God and

Devil (published as

be

at

Orgonon

in

August

new

Volume Two

of The Annals of the Orgone

1973, in conjunction with Reich's

Reich here describes the process of functional thinking,

1949; reissued in a

to illuminate the traditional

translation,

view of

inner logic of this thought-technique brought

energy.

will

why you

talk over everything.

Cosmic Superimposition)
using

can understand

God and
him

Devil,

and recounts how the

cosmic orgone

to the discovery of

1950

276

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

1950

i8,

My dear Reich,
Ena and
and

am

are in a

mesh of

Finance gets worse each day

care.

in the horrid position of being the rat that left the sinking ship.

The cry is:

know how.

and

Neill

We

we

miserable pay

S'hill

can't get

must be kept going, but no one seems to

new

teachers because they won't

taxation of parents and high prices are killing

endowed with

come for the

same boat;

give. All private schools here are in the

trust funds. Part of

me

all

those that are not

away

longs to run

to

you and

bound by the many parents and old pupils who

implore me not to give S'hill up unless it fails completely. Ja, Reich, I
am in a hole and lie awake worrying, a thing I have never done in my

me

U.S.A.; part of

life

before

worrying about money and

committee of parents wanted

in a letter to the

week's issue
they

is

call a

is

Statesman

&

the future.
to allow

Nation.

them

to ask for

money

refused to beg. But in this

a letter begging for another "progressive" school which

The comic side is that in the winter this

come and tell the staff and parents what pioneering
telling them that they were not real pioneers, only

pioneer school.

school asked

was, which

New

me

me

to

I did,

moralists playing with a kind of freedom.

We

have looked forward gladly to a break

may

our

to

visit

you

this

would

come

off.

Marika wrote

not do the lectures and suggested that

my

publisher get a lecture agency

summer but even

to handle them.

that

My

audiences and wear

not

fear there

me

Ena needs

over. She

We

would get me the wrong

the change

so rosy either.

more than

don't want to

hate).

come

So

alone,

do. Also I'd love to bring

Zoe

the bright star in a rather cloudy sky at this time.

have put our Easter Self-Regn. Conference

to come,

we

is

that they

out with travel and hotels (which

that the prospect there isn't

for

is

that she

and Ena has had such a heavy term and

didn't think

we could do

justice to

Sorry to write you such pessimistic

off.
I

Only a few wanted

also

it.

letters these days.

am

so tired that

277

Forest Hills,

1950

New York
March

My

1950

23,

dear Neill:
I

have your

March 18. It sounded sad again, but I

more cheerful, and I know that you will turn
with Ena and Zoe sometime in July.

letter of

know

the next one will be

up

Orgonon together

at

May

repeat

my

suggestion that you do not waste time and effort

with lecturing unless the occasion

Don't

let

is

an important and satisfying one.

the depression overtake you.

end with Attlee and Bevin or even with

the feeling that

we

The world has not come

Stalin.

are just beginning to see

On

the contrary,

to an

have

new

light against the back-

but

ground of the ghastly ignorant

liberators,

things look quite bleak. Please let

me know how

admit that

times

at

things develop with you.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

27,

1950

My dear Reich,
Just got your letter by air mail. All very well, friend, to say

Haymes seminar comes off with a good fee

in dollars, I can never pay our expenses. Come we must though by
especially
hook or by crook. So much I want to talk over with you
about the devil. Your explanation of him* is new and penetrating, but I
don't lecture, but unless the

am

still

troubled about his dual personality, for just as

creator of the universe and the old

seems

to

me

to be

man who

forbids sex

life,

God

is

the

so the devil

two guys, the one who approves of joy

in

life,

ungloomy Sundays, and the guy who

or torture Jews. "The Devil has all the best

dancing, card playing, theatres,

makes people

cut throats

Tunes,"

is

armored

civilisation.

a very old phrase,

possibly dating back to a

much

less

End of term is in a week and then we'll get some rest. I don't know
how long Ena can go on being sucked dry for 8 months of the year. I
feel likewise but not so much as she does, for to be a mother to about
90 people who demand all day long is most exhausting. And we never
get anyone who will take on responsibility.

* In Ether,

God and

Devil.

1950

In ten days

278

lecture to a large conference of teachers in Swansea,

Wales, invited by the City Educational Director. That

it

shows how

and more
usual

difficult

country gets reactionary.

this

demand

make money

to

it is

for flogging

in

It will

(We must

We

call

Much

simply S.R. in

have put up

all

and the

juvenile crime

in

to allow.

June with the whole

be interesting to see what they have

it

get only . 6 for

which so far the govt, refuses

Leunbachs are coming over for a week or two

family.

England these days. More

made

of self-regn.

letters.)

fees and, alas,

some who have been here

years have to go because they can't pay the

new

rate. I think

for

might

it

be a good idea for the Institute to join a press-cutting agency in England

for all

mention of

but here

my name.

it

and your work. In U.S.A.

it

is

expensive

Useful to me, for

Scotland mentions

me

say

if

wrongly,

it

a comparatively

gives

propaganda

in correcting the statement.

Forest Hills,

New York

me

We

unknown paper

a chance to

can discuss

it

in

do a

in

little

August.

AprU

My

found,

pay .2 lo a year and get almost everything that mentions

5,

1950

dear Neill:
I

had your

just

decided to come.
will at least

letter of

believe that

you

March 27th. I am glad that you

make enough money so that you

will

have your travel expenses paid.

About the "Devil," more in Maine. The British Society of Dowsers

has become very much interested in the orgone energy, since it seems to
put their empirical practical profession on a scientific basis. I know that
water dowsing is, in the main, a decent profession based on facts and
used all over the planet by governments etc. They wrote a very good
review on the orgone work.

Let
for

me know

Maine

at the

in

time

end of

when
this

can expect you

week.

at

Orgonon.

am

leaving

279

1950

Summerhill School
Lei St on, Suffolk
April 27, 1950

My

dear Reich,

Above copy
U.S.A.

get

no place

is

my

of

for me.

more and more

Earning our passages

a dollar. If there

is

It

pessimistic about

have to cancel our passage.

forfeit the

coming over
isn't

lectures or seminars

If I try to

Eastmond's Biotechnic Press

August.

this

a sign that

can earn

by the end of

cancel them later

May

I'll

may have

to

answer

to

my

letters

is

bankrupt, owing a

lot of

money.

from him and therefore have resigned

directorship.

him
I

conviction that

passage money.

can't get an

my

and there

essential,

no sign of

is

my

reply to Katz* adds to

doesn't want me.

am

hear that Barakan

telling

him he

is

is

working

full

time with patients. I've written

dishonest not to pay

me

back

my

money. Snag

is

not sure of the amount now.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

10,

1950

My dear Neill:
I

received your letter with the copy of your correspondence

with Mr. Katz yesterday.

agree with you fully, but

sharply with your statement that the U.S.A.

is

no place

there are such intellectuals in the U.S.A. Mr. Katz

is

disagree very

for you, because

not the U.S.A.

They are psychoanalytically spellbound intellectuals who enjoy words

more than depth. Briefly, they are hopeless.
I insist that you come over without having to lecture. Would you

me know by return mail what the expenses for the passage are.
You won't need any money here at Orgonon, but you will need a good
kindly

let

rest together

with

Ena and Zoe, and we need you

at the

conference.

Sander Katz, editor of Complex, an American journal of "psychoanalysis and

had asked Neill to write an article, which he then rejected on the
grounds that "it was not up to the level of our readers." To this, Neill responded
bitingly, writing among other things: 'To me the journal is in the past tense." and
"
"Reich has killed psychoanalysis ... the new era is a biopsychological one
*

society,"

1950

280

This matter will be settled by the end of May.

by you,

advise against lecturing

because of the great heat in the U.S. during the summer

first

months, and, second, because you should not bother about

it.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

6,

1950

My dear Reich,
Thanks
paid.
to

As

they

for your

come

to

most generous

300

our fares are

offer to see that

for sea fares alone,

refuse to allow

pay out anything, knowing well the struggle you have

you

to get the

money you need for your own work. Also, Reich, forgetting for the
moment our warm friendship, I want to feel independent, and that is
why a letter last week saying no lecture agent was interested, made me
pessimistic

and

feel

unwanted. However, today a

letter

comes from Liz

Badgeley,* cheerfully saying that she thinks a seminar can be arranged

in

New York when

and

is

encroach
to

I arrive,

one that

will bring in at least

sure she can get lectures in N.Y. State for me.

in

any way on Orgone

preach to as

many

Institute funds.

students and teachers as

doing something, working not just holidaying

three of us are coming, and

so

much

we

all

And

400

dollars,

don't want to

of course I

want

want

to feel I

am

the time.

Anyway

the

can,

are delighted at the prospect.

We

have

22,

1950

to discuss with you.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

May

My dear Neill:
It is

cheerful to

know

that

you are coming and that arrange-

ments for taking care of your fare expenses are being made. Please,

me know exactly when you

Looking forward

arrive.

to seeing

you again.

nursery-school teacher, formerly connected with the Hamilton School.

let

28i

1950

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

1950

26,

My dear Reich,
Your
shall

alas, I

friendly advice not to lecture in

August touches me, but,

be completely under the dollar compulsion.

Ena and Zoe

have to return

will

in late

Sept to open the school, but

don't want to stay as long as last time, for Summerhill affairs, staff and
finances, are so difficult that

can't leave

to

have

all

about the future, a most worrying business.

talks

think

spoiled

asbestos wool.

my

Accumulator by adding layers of

steel

in

England.

have a nasty feeling that asbestos wool absorbs moisture. Ena says

she doesn't feel anything in the

hope

wool and

ordered rock wool and the manufacturers wrote they

were sending asbestos wool which was called rock wool

But

the responsi-

October not November. We'll have long

bility alone. I'd like to sail in

Ena

the trip will restore

her a

Box now. And

she doesn't look well.

lot.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June

1950

5,

My dear Neill:
I

just

rejoice in your having

a simple box,

material

that

found out that the accumulator

but a scientific instrument.

absorbs

humidity

will

spoil

the

You

are

quite

functioning

is

not

right,

of

the

accumulator.

We

shall see

Forest Hills,

about Ena's troubles here

at

Orgonon.

New York
June 29, 1950

My

dear Neill:

from Complex and from Paul Goodman to

you. I suggest you forget Goodman. He is one of those intellectuals who
does everything only in the form of words. What he suggests in his
the
letter, for example, the derivation of social requirements from
I just

had a

needs, like separate

letter

rooms

for

young couples, has been done repeatedly

1950

me some 20

by

282

years ago.

was the psychoanalytic movement, which

It

he so arduously defends, which choked those demands

Freud among them.

could

fresh to boot.

up

build

man

Such a

He

wherever

it

did not understand a thing, and he

is

has no idea whatsoever what

a school practically to keep

going as you did.

it

"New Era"

bother about them. The forming of the

work
I hope

off

it

means to
would not
not be

will surely

of fellows of this type.

the

you soon no matter what

to see

will

happen

in the world.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 15, 1950

My

dear Reich,
I

to write

it

Roneograph [mimeograph] the

over and over again would be too much.
thought

story, for

best to

it

U.S. Consul refuses visa for A. S. Neill and Family.

On

Friday July 14th

9 a.m.

at

ask for visas. For two hours

we saw

handed back our passports and

and he asked

if I

to the

others

told

saw the Consul. He of course knew

lecturing,

London Embassy to
being served, then we were

we went
to

p.m.

return at 2

had been twice

that I

We

then

U.S.A.

in

were going again under the sponsorship of

Orgone Institute. I said yes, but also that of a group of New

York teachers led by Mrs. Elizabeth Badgeley, and showed him letters
the

from the

Institute telling

Badgeley

telling of the

also

showed a

expenses.

why

me
my

The Consul then

but was not told.

my

He

banker saying that

said that

said

we

Q. Elizabeth

We

that

sailing first

Moreover we have

in

New

said that

York.

had funds to pay

we could not have

we would have

visas. I
it

asked
might

was impossible, for

to cancel our passages

to re-open our school

have never been a member of any

books have strongly

which to

me

on the

August, and could not possibly get other pas-

are left to guess underlying motives.

able, for I

cation,

could not hold the seminars nor attend the Conference in

Orgonon, Maine; also

sages.

me

and from Mrs.

could apply again but that

take up to six weeks to get an answer.

then

lecture there,

two seminars arranged for

from

letter

about

criticised the later

end of September.
political

one

political party,

developments

in

is

improb-

and

in

my

Russian edu-

are reactionary. There remains the question of Dr.

283

Wilhelm Reich and the Orgone

and

list,

so,

if

My

why?

and therefore

lecturing,

Institute. Is the Institute

passport showed that

that

picion of a refusal

keen, for

is

we should have

later,

we could

if

on the black

had been
list

dislike

U.S.A.

in

then.

we had had any

means

even

that,

if

sus-

were

visas

not possibly get berths. Something, call

work perhaps, makes us

applied months ago. We'll have to

cancel our passages at once, and this

granted

was not on any black

Naturally our disappointment

of

1950

it

pride

begging for a reconsideration of what

should be right ... the right of educationists and psychologists to meet

and discuss the most

This

is

thousands of Americans

are excluded

added

don't

visas then

wait?

is

is

behind

to be told explicitly

it

all,

can't be the Institute that

He was

as

opposed to

why

a visit to a

copy of the mimeo-

to

all.

New

Raknes and Hoppe get

taboo. Why the long morning

Reich.
is

If

whom? London Home

but from

course,

of

without any humanity at

rejected.

and teachers and doctors,

he sent to Reich.]

maybe telephone

Wing people

sight-seeing, while

forbidden.

know what

Enquiry

dossier or

to offer students

the following paragraph to the

letter

it

summer,

Britain this

one would expect

friendly country

graphed

indeed a strange situation in which

from the U.S.A. And under democracy,

totalitarianism,

[Neill

It is

visit

who have something

we,

world.

vital subject in the

the story in brief.

Ena and

both sensed

obviously under higher orders.

are being

now

Office

York. The consul was a cold

It

we were

may be

that

all

classed as Communists, by left wing

fish

to

be

Left

mean-

ing against the majority in education etc.

What grieves us is having to cancel our passages. Damned annoying

we are so far apart and can't react without expensive cables. My own
opinion
it

is

that there

was losing face

I

am

telling all

is

if it

who

nothing to be done, that the embassy would feel

climbed down.
matter in

New

York.

1950

284

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

Sunday, July i6th, 1950

My

dear Reich,

have written to the Ambassador himself stating the

and asking for a reason, saying that

would be given and

I can't

do a thing

it

is

demand

a rightful

now

to

know

reasons

or be compelled to pay the

chance of our coming over.

keep wondering why, why, why? Are your enemies now so strong

that they can get the State to consider

I

but since U.S.A. and

Unless you have managed to get powerful influence on your

side, there isn't a

I

fatal,

until I get the reply.

We'll have to cancel our passages

fares.

facts

communist country no reason

one would be

to ask

Britain are friendly democracies

why.

in a

you a danger

to national safety?

should have thought that your strong anti-communist writings of the

past few years would have

shown how

safe

because of myself, why? True, although

you were.

was refused

If I

never was a communist

did

at

one time approve of much that Russia was doing and wrote about

it.

But

in recent years, partly

through your teaching,

saw where the

creed had led, to hate and repression and power and loss of

freedom. No,

don't think

was refused because

suppose we shall ever know. One sad factor

is

was

that

if

all

personal

suspect.

ever

don't

we wanted

to emigrate to U.S.A. we'd never get visas.

This has been a miserable weekend for both of us;

out and dull and in a
frightening.

who came
saying that

way

frightened,

for

we

State

feel just

power

is

washed
always

However we had one cheering letter from a rich young man

some weeks ago. He has sent a lawyer's letter
for seven years he will give 1000 p[er] a[nnum] to S'hill as
to see us

a fund to help poor parents to pay full fees. That

is

very pleasing even

though one has the horrible fear that long before 7 years are over, hell
be let loose and S'hill gone with the atomic wind, for it is apparent

will

that the

war has begun now and must extend

until either

communism

damn creed has millions behind it now) or democracy

more likely until both lose.
An odd factor has come in now
Ena and I have lost our desire to
come over. If we came we'd fail to get rid of the feeling that we were
unwelcome guests. As S'hill isn't England, so Orgonon isn't U.S.A. I
think of your praise of American freedom and democracy when we
wins (and the

wins, or

talked two years ago.

are not free.

You must have

forgotten aspects of U.S.A. that

285

Well, Reich,

ten years older than

I feel

was

last

1950

week, depressed

about not seeing you, depressed about the future of us

wonder

all, especially our

But also angry, furious that petty officialdom can
hinder our meeting and working together.

child Zoe.

step in to

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 21, 23 p.m., 1950

My

dear Neill:

We

are

Your de-

waiting for answer from Washington.

still

pressed letter of July 16 arrived only yesterday;

wired right away. This

briefly the story of

is

wrote handwritten and

our endeavors:

[Here Reich sets out in some detail the numerous steps he had

undertaken on Neill's behalf. The State Department had been

and the senator from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith, had

promised to intervene.]
alerted,

We

have the strong impression that

it

you. Is the American Consul a Catholic?

explain

it.

basically a

It is

ready criticized.

You

wrong and personal

in

thing there to get

it

your English Problem Family, which

However this may be,

London action. Could you

in the

in

You

will get the

time to

would

moment and get a plane

that you come with Ena and

there

is

had

al-

something

see and talk to the

visum but you must do some-

to

come

still

over.

It

sell
is

your

tickets in the

of utmost importance

Zoe, for your and our sake. The Conven-

from depression

if

you do not come. And we need you

Research Center meetings.

not yield to false pride or depression.

Send some important

English friend of yours to the American Consul.

So, Neill,

am

sail.

Should you miss your boat you could

last

Do

find out? This

are not.

consul to convince him?

at the Infant

a Catholic action against

also possible that he stumbled over your innocent "I

communist"

tion will suffer

is

Can you

do not

yield. Fight

it

through, with no regard to costs.

1950

286

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 21, 1950

My

dear Reich,

went

behind

it all

to

apply again yesterday and discovered what was

"Mr.

have you ever

Neill,

at

any time written anything

in favor of

Communism?"

munism was

love and progress

hand, since

hardened into hate and dictatorship

it

answered: "Yes, years ago when com-

wrote in favour of
I

it,

but on the other

have written strongly

it." Grim silence on Consul's part. He said my second applicawould be considered but might take some time. I have had to cancel
passages, and if a visa does come, heaven only knows how we'll get

against
tion
the

over

if

at all.

All this strain and uncertainty has already spoiled the trip for me,

even

comes

if it

seminar

is

off

if

the visa

you have done.

all

And

with the cancelling of sailing

and 500 dollars

cable you

I'll

off.

my New York

lost.

comes and

a passage

can be

got.

Thanks

for

couldn't have better friends.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

Morning, 25 July, '50

My

dear Reich,

Your long

consul (Mcintosh, a Scottish

after

our

first

morning.

letter this

interview.

name) were

He was

hostile

Ena

He

him.

am

but

first.

know. You say

know no one

get

someone

to ap-

of any importance in politi-

sure that nothing anyone could say

simply didn't approve of

the vice

read

all I

and

if

He may have

a book of mine long ago for

cal circles,

wondered

Catholic, and said so to

from the

proach him on

this side,

also

me and showed

different attitude ... a shrug of the shoulders

when

it

would influence
in his cold, in-

said we'd miss the

"That's a matter between you and the shipping company."

At my second interview I almost came to jumping up and saying:
"Keep your damned visa," and was only restrained by the thought that
saying so would cut me off from you for a long time, maybe for ever.

boat

What maddens me

is

that I don't believe in.

the idea that I

am

being stopped for something

There must be hundreds who liked early com-

munism and then hated what

it

became,

e.g.

most Labour M.P.'s, but

287

1950

I guess a visa wouldn't be refused to one of them. Would they

Shaw who still says he is a communist? Of course they wouldn't.
why I suspect it was something personal to the consul.
If the visa comes and there is no other way we'll fly
,

I'll

cable you

Re

the question

were a

if I

C-ist,

get a verdict either way.

if

he

said:

is

Rloman] C[atholic], when he asked me

no and never was, but in life

all

with children and

said:

all

he

more

Well, nothing

about

if

is

moment. Only
to help me.

you and yours are doing

"Don't give way; he

work and worth

is

have no

R.C.

to say at the

be cross-examined by an

At the

staff."

mention of Jesus he gave a nasty exclamation of annoyance.

of discovering

if

"Politically

practised the c-ism of Jesus, sharing

way

refuse

That's

is

the

little

official

do

warmly

At the Embassy Ena

man, not you."

who

feel so

know

it,

but to

obviously has no idea of your

most upsetting and degrading.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 28, 1950

My

dear Neill:
received your letter of July 25. Whatever the matter with

I just

Mcintosh may have been, the

the Vice-Consul
this:

Your

visa

was never denied, only

its

official

standpoint

issuance was delayed.

If

is

you

had applied 4 or 8 weeks earlier, you would not have had any trouble
whatsoever.
in

received an answer from the American Consul General

London. The

letter

assured

me

that your visa

was not denied and

that

London Consulate "would have been happy" to accept your application but that you refused to apply. It seems now that your visum will
the

surely be granted.

The delay

is

due

to the effect of the red fascist

under-

ground and underhanded maneuvers and spying. I do not believe there

Departis the slightest reason to assume that either the American State

ment or the Consulate

in

London had anything

Also, our impression here

to the

whole thing

in

is

that

you were hypersensitive

in

regard

London.

Well, Neill, see you soon, and until then

and Zoe.

against you personally.

all

the best to you, Ena,

1950

288

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August

My

1950

I,

dear Reich,
I

have heard nothing from the consul.

because there was nothing to do.

Stephen Spender the poet

have done nothing

visa has just

who was one

been refused to

of the disillusioned writers of

The God That Failed* so that it seems that however much a man is
now against communism, he is suspect because of his earlier beliefs. It
is alarming, for if universal war comes every C-ist in Britain will be
imprisoned as dangerous, quite

but people like

rightly,

ably have to share their fate because once

the right way. I can think of nothing
for a cause

you don't believe

in. If

done or

We

prob-

to

be a martyr

to exclude everyone
I

who

guess that nothing I've

said will alter things.

have got the children

week has been very hard,

while

visitors

is

wing,

left

will

we thought C-ism was going

more dreadful than

the policy

has ever had any suspicion of being

me

all

the time

off for the

for

we had

vacation today, and this last

to deal with

many

parents and

we were worrying about our cancelled trip.

make me more pessimistic than usual,

All this trouble has helped to

but the risk of a general war looks so great that

it

would require a

lot to

make anyone an optimist. I want Zoe to live and keep thinking of what
to do if and when war comes. And I want my work to live and grow,
which

One

it

can't

if

hate and hell breaks out again.

horrid feature of not going to U.S.A.

ing alone becomes greater. In

of people

who

Orgonon the

are life-positive

meet anyone with anything to

The

result

is

that

is

that the feeling of stand-

fact of being

one of

crowd

to inspire, but here I never

give; they all

want

me

to give to them.

dry up, exhausted.

seems certain that everything

It

enough

is

here. Sure, they did not refuse

you

said apply again

me

in effect,

and

because

it

me

is

to the decision of

left

Mcintosh

a visa (I said to Mcintosh): "Sure,

might take up to

my

have to cancel

six

weeks, but you refused

seminars and

am

likely to

miss the Conference and in any case won't likely get a passage."

Danish student here put

Essays by Arthur Koestler

Harper, 1949).

it

neatly

et al., edited

"Neill, this

comes

of patting

by Richard Grossman (New York:

289

1950

dog when

the red

grow up

it

was a puppy." But

I didn't

know

the

puppy would

into a wolf.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August

My

1950

2,

dear Reich,

Yours today (dated July 28th). O.K.,

sensitive

and

in

consequence have put you

in

the State Dept. But what would anyone have done

weeks

visa might take 6

come through? Meaning

to

guess

was too

an awkward position with

when

told that a

that the conference

might be missed, and certainly the chance to earn seminar dollars would

be gone.

grant that

now

here
I

without any

have no idea

20th,

all

it

well.

is

if I'll

But

there

was enthusiasm

tacks, a lack

books

due

right to

had

in the school.

on

my

Chose Freedom]. And

part,

am no

war

to the

to sack

one man

Ena and

member

only,

manner

we won't

in

my writings
my later at-

cowardice encouraged by reading

Noon and Kravchenko['s

fighter; for children yes, for

any party and wave a

my

my

chilled us both.

Ena

ideas

sphere, no.

flag.

about our getting a visa as you

aren't as optimistic

vice consul's cold

power

of

because he was

Also the fact that in

of education, yes, but for creeds and religions outside

could never be a

my

at least half

and a lack of force

earlier on,

to fear

So long as we can arrive for the

Up

[Arthur Koestler's] Darkness at

like

have a visa straight away,

visas.

get a visa or not.

will I get a visa?

communism

preaching

my

was

there are a few thousand U.S.A. tourists

were party members, and

staff

I felt

when apparently

especially

says: "If

it

The

are.

lies

in

his

get 'em."

Latest Bulletin just arrived.

on myself, warmly and proud

warmly about your friendly words

and homesick for Orgonon.

feel

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My

4,

1950

dear Neill and Ena:

I

just received

your

letter of

August

i.

Let

me

first

of

all

ask you not to yield to depression because of the delay of the visum.

1950

If

you had

290

lived in the U.S.

and had enjoyed the freedom of movement

for everybody, until a short while ago including the red fascists,

if

had furthermore experienced the

whole

totally different character of the

you

atmosphere as compared with the senile and authoritarian Europe, you

would understand

as I

any

man

pestilent

little

do

that the

American

destroy America's possibilities for freedom.

the

is

determined not to permit

disguised as a vicious "liberator" of

American Government

is

much

Many

mankind

to

of us here find that

too lenient with these prototypes of

slander, defamation, underhandedness,

and

politically organized

emo-

tional plague.
I

am

sure you will get your visum.

It

was never refused according

two informations, from the Consulate and the State Department.

made your

application too late. I suggest most sincerely that

over in any case whenever the visum

and pour hope into your hearts to be here where,

spirits

a better future

present times

fought for in decency.

is

is

you come

issued. It will strengthen

is

What

is

to

You
your

in spite of all,

absolutely necessary in

to take a clear-cut stand against red fascism.

The State Department has given its recommendation

London on July 31. And forget about Mcintosh!

to the

Consul

in

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
Saturday, August

My

dear Neill and

I just

Ena

5,

1950

Neill:

received your letter of August second.

opinion in regard to the reason for the delay

correct.

is

guess your

Not so much

the fact that you had C.P. people employed but that you did not clearly

and sharply write against them

in

so often expressed in private for

alleviate

your depression

if

accordance with your true conviction

many

years. It will greatly help to

you only could readily understand the

necessity of the precautions taken by the U.S.A.

still

holding on desperately to the

speech to every
fellows

mere
is

The C.P. gangsters are

much trouble. While

running around free in the U.S.A. causing

citizen,

who reduced

it is

first

amendment which guarantees

free

desperately hard to find an answer to these

the whole

Marxian sociology of 100 years ago

to

spying, disturbing, undermining of everything, but everything that

not under their hideous control, no matter whether good or bad.

There

is

just

no

clear answer to these murderers of freedom, the Little

291

1950

Men

in

power

for power's sake only. Neither

They misuse them wherever

liberties will do.

war nor crossing out of the

they can.

We

suffered in

our educational institutions quite frightfully from their underhanded-

And

ness.

they thrive on the sickness of the masses of Little

Men

a horrifying problem for humanity to be solved.

We

coming
the

come

here believe that your visum will

now would

visit

soon.

believe that a

be most important for you to gather strength for the

years. Thus,

suggest to

fly

if

necessary, no matter when,

if

visum comes through.

The people here were very helpful. Senators and famous lawyers
intervened. The State Department was friendly and cooperative in its

You must

procedures.

and takes time.

try to

understand that the screening

is

necessary

you had only applied a few weeks earlier all would

have been all right. The American Consul in London wrote to us that
he would have "been happy to receive your application." It might
If

well be that the vice consul interfered and caused the delay for religious

we accept the C.P. slander murderers' talk even at

hour then we cannot possibly forbid a catholically minded

reasons. But
late

if

this

vice

consul to object to your visum.

I

believe that these considerations will help to dispel your depression

somewhat.

It

would be depressing here too

convention, since

it

will

the Future" to which

if

you

failed to join the

be mostly devoted to the problem "Children of

you have contributed so much

also indirectly

against the pestilence of red fascism which has no regard and only

human

despise for

life

and happiness.

Should you miss the convention, then

over,

if

wanted

Keep

no other reason than

for

in the
in

would

still

advise you to

come

to get rid of this feeling of "not being

U.S.A."

touch, Neill.

We

have done here what we could and

think

10,

1950

successfully.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My

dear Neill:

you

to fly over.

you

to take

There

it

is

still

come in time for

come through, I want

a chance that the visum will

However, should the visum

fail to

calmly and without depression. This incident has a very

1950

deep meaning.
that the U.S.

292

It

may sound

Government

who do

strange to you

know America
organism, with many

a highly differentiated

is

not

contradictory tendencies within. There are radicals, progressives, Cathoreactionaries in

lics,

it.

was chosen

quite possible that your case

It is

as

a test case in a struggle between Catholics and progressives in the State

Department. The Government

we

so

is

investigating your case very thoroughly

heard. This would only be to the good in the long run.

believe that the Catholics in

America have the power

do not

impede the

to

broad stream of enlightenment which has developed during the past few
years in regard to an entirely different type of early infant education.
If

less

you look at the whole thing from this angle, the situation is much
gloomy than it appears to be. We shall keep in touch and decide

further steps as things happen.

Summerhill School
Leis ton, Suffolk

August

II,

1950

My dear Reich,
No word

Yours of August 5th today.

can't get over the feeling that

late for the

if I

weeks that

Yes, yes,

I feel

the trip

it

of a visa yet.
it

be too

will

isn't

my way

Communism

to attack.

if

it

too

perhaps

depression these

half a delight

doubt

late. If

visit until

much misery and

would be only

of course see the U.S.A. viewpoint, but

writing with attacks on

And

one

conference then I'd want to postpone the

next summer. I've gone through so

last

get

if

now.

I'd

come out

in

would have helped.

think our Public School system of

segregated education appalling with

its

Eton and Harrow,

etc.

but I've

never spent pages attacking that system, preferring to give the positive
criticism

by showing the other way.

And remember

that

is

it

only

comparatively recently that British Socialism broke away from com-

munism, so that
hardly a
I

am

member

if

past sympathies are the criterion of visa suspect,

of our

government would be allowed

so angry at being held up jor the

children not politics and

if I

believed

my

in.

knowing

To be martyred

school at once

if

it

wrong reason.

U.S.A.

My

line

were shut out from U.S.A. because of

views on children and their love

the satisfaction of

to enter

is

my

life and their freedom, I'd have at least

was being martyred for something I

for an alien creed that

succeeded,

is

too

much

know would

shut

to bear. I think that

293
consular experts should be better oriented about

who

who

is

dangerous and

isn't.

The only
you for

for

1950

pleasing feature of the whole sad story

all

you have

tried to

do

is

our

warm

for us. Pleasing but, alas,

feeling

making us

sad about not seeing you.

An American woman
by the

issued

has just told

State Dept.

me

that she thinks the visas are

but the Immigration authorities act inde-

The American woman didn't have a British visa, a fact that

annoys me, for we, who are much nearer the red peril, don't seem to
be afraid of red agents entering the country. Like U.S.A. we also have
freedom of speech but of course when the shooting starts, that will
naturally be taken away as it was last war. But if I write anything more
pendently.

about the shooting war

Our

I'll

end the

letter

love to you both and to Peter

with too

who must

much

depression.

be a big lad now.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

1950

15,

My dear Neill:
There cannot be any doubt that you
though

it

may be

late.

will receive the visa al-

have put the most essential child subjects

day of the convention, Friday, August 25, so that there

a chance for you to speak personally that day.

to the last
still
I

expect your manuscript any day now.

here and to read

it

at the convention.

York Times has brought

to you."

We shall

your chin up.

be

all

your

right

life

It will

Keep

in

be essential to have

is

it

New

touch with us. The

a brief note that "passport has been refused

bring a correction

your visum was not

refused.

Keep

understand your depression very well. Everything

and the reason for the delay of your visum has

work problem. Love

to all of you.

to

will

do with

1950

294

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

[undated]

My

dear Reich,
This

all

is

can do in the time given,* for

today.

added

to the bare bones.

The Embassy remains

silent.

it

last letter

was

about

right

among

This

is

here that the MacArthur policy on Formosa

may

bring the world

war very soon. The

communism
in

Maybe your

government

must post

presence the flesh can't be

offices.

the various elements in U.S.A.

many

my

only a skeleton and without

It is

insoluble question seems to be:

That seems

to

combat

to

me

that the native populations won't

the greatest weakness in the fight against

and one exploited by the other

Stalinism,

How

without having to ally oneself with corrupt governments as

China and Korea, governments

accept.

a fear

side cleverly.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

1950

19,

My dear Neill:
There
personally.

It is

a few points

still

believe that

Why

can't

you

hope

that

you

will

be able to read your paper

scheduled for Friday, August 25; however, there are

which

It is utterly

1.

still

is

would

like to

have corrected and on

incomprehensible to

it is

me how

it

is

file:

possible that

you

"the working class which took over half the world."

see, Neill, (it

is

high time), that

it's

a bunch of political

who took over the working class of half the world? What in
heaven's name has Stalinism to do with the working class?
2. You know me well enough to permit me to say and be understood

crooks

plainly

when

say that as the situation in the world

the given emotional plague

any Christian Catholic

is

all

much

around

us,

is

today, with

any king, any conservative,

preferable and less dangerous to

kind than these abominable and despicable

lot of

gangsters

man-

who have

ruined not only a great system of thought but have surpassed in cruelty,

* Neill

had enclosed the manuscript of the paper he was to have given

in Orgonon.

conference

at the

295

1950

cunning underhandedness,

political gangsterism,

decent and straight

anything that has ever plagued the

living,

murderous hate of

all

human

race.

In the discussion of your paper at the Convention

your statement that the working

class

world. Unless you prefer to have

it

bound

to

do so not only because

either left out or changed.

took over, which

is

to take over against the Stalinite

hope

obviously not true, but also because

wire whether

if

am
man

the working class which

is

it

who want work

me know by

shall criticise

confusing to our workers

it is

of your standing and influence says that

louts. Please let

have taken over half of the

we

are the ones

band of bums and

can take out

this sentence.

have you here by the end of next week.

to

Summerhill School
Lets ton, Suffolk

Sunday, August 20, 1950

My dear Reich,
At
in

last I

have given up hope. The embassy remains

two days every plane

me

Give

seat

your opinion of

is

silent,

and

booked.

my

publishing the story here, not in a nasty

way, but simply making the point that a well known educationist has

been prevented from taking part

conference on children. Mein

in a vital

Gott, Reich, the publication here the other day of a book by one of the

Scottsboro Negroes* will do more

harm

than any visitor

to U.S.A.

could do.
I feel

in

so lonely, so isolated with

U.S.A.

And

the affair has

all

made me

my

short lecture for the conference, where

moment about
Irrational

sex relationships

etc.,

no doubt, but a rebuff

best friends and supporters

timid, as
I

was

you

will see

afraid to say

from

my

much

of

afraid lest letters should be opened.

like the

one

have had awakens

all

man in me.
I picture you all meeting today in Orgonon. A memory comes to me
of when I was 12 and my mother wouldn't allow me to go to a picnic,
sorts of fears

and

and suspicions. In

short,

spent the day wandering

in

it

arouses the

little

misery and wondering what the

picnickers were doing.

* Scottsboro

1950).

Boy, by

Haywood

Patterson (Garden City,

New

York: Doubleday,

1950

296

may have

I feel I

dwelt too

much on

the war danger.

that while your children over there will have a

ours will not.

We

young
come, and

we

atomic warfare.

in

can decide whether our children

What

is

survival,

we know here has

what may happen to

have, a terror of
It

may

not come, but something must

not pleasant to think that half a dozen

it is

excuse

are near the danger, and everyone

a similar feeling to the one

the

My

good chance of

of the future? If I

am

will live

to

men

in the

world

or die.

be banned from U.S.A.

am banned

from you. Letters are not enough. The idea crossed my mind that we
might meet in Canada, but of course that would be impossible, for we
can only meet

We

were to

U.S.A., but

we have

in

your lab and house and with your co-workers around.

discuss, inter alia, the chances of

as soothing as

Do

wooden

any other could be

me what your
Statesman about my visa.
Our

our coming to work in

fuss,

what chance would

and

find that occupation

of immigrants' visas?

spent the days painting

much

a visitor's visa creates so

if

tell

attitude

love to you, and give

buildings,

at a time like this.

my

my

to

is

putting a letter in the

best greetings to

all

my

New

friends in the

Conference.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

Thursday, August 24, 1950

My dear Reich,
Embassy.
I feel

have wired you today saying that there

gave up hope a few days ago.

a bit hurt at your attack on

that they are led

my

and then become

dictators.

The point

that the workers will accept the hate

love way. This

is

communism

in

no news from the

class phrase.

class

power

Granted

to get

implied, but didn't

power

make

is

gang way but not the Summerhill

clearly seen in, say, Czechoslovakia

of the middle class are refused places

side

working

by gangsters who use working

is

where the children

in universities etc. It is seen out-

our British socialism, where the working class as

represented by the Labour Leaders want schools that are the opposite
of

S'hill,

and gradually

possible. I

will

make

private enterprise in schooling im-

have wired you to cut the phrase simply because

there to explain

what

mean by it.

I can't

be

297

1950

The situation here is that

mean in Britain) demand for
upper

privileges of the

Grammar

the
the

meaning

classes,

communist teachers and parents (I

working class what they consider the
that they accept

School standard, as they are doing

Eton and the

Hungary, Poland,

in

etc.

communist Britain Zoe would be kept down while children of

manual workers would get a higher education, and, gangster led or not,
In a

numbers would take the hate way, and swamp

the workers with their big

the other classes.

This

my

outside

is all

province

admit.

only give

are that at least half the domestics we've had,

years, are cynical or even hostile

You keep

writing that

when

the

isn't

long to do

shouldn't get depressed.

way

to fight

communism.

world war that no one

will

be interested

Our

daily papers get

Depressed?

My

dear Reich,

don't

can't

a visa or not.

and

mean war

clouds;

do

it

to

my

if

they don't

day

if

phrase!

HAVE

can't be positive

more

to

move

my

being

so fast to a

whether an individual gets

in

disturbing every day.

can't see the silver lining of the clouds,

mean

the working together in the interest

is

refused then you

they did not

at the

same

easy to exploit

argument for

say the workers of this generation

power:

know

class war, jealous of the

To

much

are parted for a long long time.

Back

them

for ten

don't feel so

and thus assure

of babies, the personal contact that inspires. If a visa

and

them

publish the story as a warning that that

from U.S.A. But things seem

blacklisted for ever

of

they leave.

depressed as dead, numb, frustrated, puzzled, afraid.

and do what

and these

facts,

some

the working class are

middle and upper

And

don't

a long

let

thinking of the

wanting to copy

changing their masters only. But

this

is

an

evening over a bottle.

think of practical things, what do

what happened

still

classes, but

exist

time. In short, the previously exploited millions are

in their turn,

might come alone

GIVE power

think that Stalin and Co. could not

if

at the

only for a few weeks.

do IF a
I

conference.

us quarrel about phrases,

visa

is

granted?

do so much want

my friend.

to

hear

1950

298

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

My dear Reich,
We are

Amsterdam

just setting off for

1950

5,

for a change. We'll

spend a couple of weeks on the sand near Haarlem, a poor Ersatz

[substitute] for

The sad

Dodge Pond*

indeed, but

think of America, I don't think

you,

of

first

of

all

that

is

now when

you and the people round

think of the reactionary U.S.A., the narrow tough officials with

and

their lack of vision

munism with bombs

living.

whole miserable history

feature of the

My

democracy

exclusion from U.S.A.

that fights the lack of

From now on

who

their fear, those

think they can fight

isn't

exactly an advertisement for a

freedom

in

communism.

communism

won't write to you about visas or

com-

instead of by showing the world a better plan of

or

fascism of any colour.

When we

return from Holland

guess we'll just have to start a

term without having had any mental refreshment.

autumn and

lectures to teachers this

from the rather narrow

one

to talk to

on a higher

life in

these will help

me

to get

the school, narrow because there

level than gossip

new

have taken on a few

away
no

is

and cinema.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September

7,

1950

My dear Neill:
It is

Orgonon
24th.

that

We

only today after the cessation of the great turmoil at

I

shall

find time

is

down

all

answer your

winter and

will obtain the

New York Times Magazine

has been refused.

Consul General

had

in

to send

them

London which

visum.

lake in

We

August

have corrected

to the effect that

the letter I

your visum

had received from the

would have been

said clearly that he

glad to receive your application.

The small

letter of

eight workers of the

in Rangeley.

no doubt that you

the note in the

leisure to

be staying here

Institute are settling

There

and

Maine which Orgonon overlooks.

299

1950

It is

my

not

your visum has become a

fault or responsibility that

matter of public magnitude and importance.

American government

We

very carefully.

that

fully

agree with the

necessary to screen every single person

is

it

We

simply do not want Stalinists around here.

are

breathing the air of freedom which grants citizens the right to bear

still

arms by constitutional
dictatorship and

And

stipulation.

totalitarianism

bottom of our existence.

We

still

against any type of

fight

seriously

is

here

our

meant and goes

administration and responsible to the people, and this

America
longer,

it

is

quite obvious that

it

is

May

an

any

fit

socialism and not capitalism in

America which provided the homestead

torial social

is

live practically.

not a capitalist land. These old terms do not

is

and

we

the

to

maintain that government

for authoritarianism

and

dicta-

procedures.

say, Neill, that

as well as for the yet

it is

of the utmost importance for your lifework

unborn babies of the future

that

you

your

revise

basic attitude in this struggle for freedom in our times.

Once your visum question

is

we

settled,

shall

be the ones here to

publish an account and a criticism of the whole procedure. Don't worry

is now quite great.
The Convention was a very great success, so was the cancer course.
The work is rolling full speed ahead. There was a lively discussion after

about that; and our influence here

your paper was read. Nearly

be published

all

the papers

and major discussions

will

in the Bulletin.

Please keep in touch with me. Everything will be

know how you

all

right.

Let

me

are.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

15,

1950

My dear Reich,
You
for

freedom

Of

late

who
who

in

tell

me

that

our times.

my

must revise

simply don't

you have appeared

to

me

to

basic attitude in the struggle

know what you mean by

this.

be pretty close to the Americans

are witch hunting, and at least in part, on the side of the consul

so far hasn't had the good manners to

not.

You

that

Mr. Mcintosh was a fool and a

think

have written as

communism can be

if

were

tell

me

if

I've got a visa or

rightly suspected, instead of seeing

hater. In fact

you sound

as

if

you

halted by keeping reds out of U.S.A. or by

1950

fighting

300

them with bombs: you sound

as

you believed

if

that the anti-

communists of the MacArthur type have the same basis as you have.

They

and

don't, of course,

that

people like you are forced to be

whole

the tragedy of the

is

fight, that

who

allies of all the reactionaries

are

putting the whole native peoples of Asia and Africa straight into the

hands of

on the

Stalin.

You

are fighting to keep freedom, but you have to be

side of the guys

who want

to

keep

oil

wells

and rubber and what

not. It isn't a clean-cut war.

What do you want me

do?

to

To

99%

of / want to be like Stalin are laws that

would approve of

that a patriarchal society has so castrated

now you seem

of the parents of Britain

way? You have preached

as against the S'hill

hate and death, and

communism in newsLaws given at the end

start slanging

papers? Don't you realise that the Soviet School

humanity that

for years

must seek

it

have turned completely round and

to

expect this society to fight the hate and death in Stalinism. And, really,

Reich,

when you

talk about the socialism of U.S.A. being the basis of

authoritarianism, what

do you mean by the word socialism? Every

country has socialism

the

offices, etc.

if

word means public ownership of roads, post

we have more than U.S.A. has,

matter of degree. Here

yet here I can refuse to have

Peter

ask

when he goes

if

Zoe vaccinated while you have to vaccinate

Hamilton visited England no one would

to school. If

he were communist or

fascist,

and communism

England than America geographically, and

What

We

a pity

have

we

just

can't talk

all this

just as

is

much

much

nearer

feared.

out.

returned from nine days in Holland.

saw the

cele-

brated "free" school of Kees Boeke where the Dutch princesses attend

and do exactly as the others do.

describes

It is far

from freedom; ordered freedom

it.

Fellow called P. writes from N.Y. saying some of the subscribers to

my

seminar want to give

me

the fees as a

Very kind of

gift to S'hill.

them.
I

look forward to reading about the conference. Mrs.

saying the
of her to

Our

members came back

tell

the frustrated

love to you

basic principles.

P.S.

The photo

finally

all

Damn

me

full

of enthusiasm about

it.

Undiplomatic

and, friend Reich, do stop lecturing

of the Observatory

is

have a dome for the telescope.

all

writes

that.

you, man, they are in

workers are to be there

Haymes

winter

my work

intriguing. I take

Do you

how

me on my

not in what

live in it?

it

that

And

are they to earn any

I say.

it

if

will

your

money

to

301

1950

live

And

New York

on? Without your

how

practice

you

are

to

make

a living?

99-06?*

are you selling

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September 20, 1950

My dear Neill:
have your

September 15th.

letter of

continue our discussion on political matters.

propose that we

this special case,

We

It

our work-democratic

stick to

suggest that

we

line which, applied to

would mean the following:

are standing outside politics, working at the problem

we do

children of the future, and

of the

not drag in any political questions.

There would be only one request and that

ence of

is

acknowledge the

to

exist-

or that killer of freedom, development of thought,

this

dis-

leads nowhere. Instead,

self-

regulation in childhood, genitality, functional thinking, etc.; whether

be an American, Russian, Hottentot or some other kind of

let

me know whether you

political discussions

can proceed on

it

is

and the convention, 8 workers

and Peter

workers there are

on

their income. I

had
to

finally to

our

in

field

six

live

who

with

me

have given up

in the

the

university.

Observatory.

During the

Among

my New York

practice completely.

break away from the old ways and devote myself entirely

income of around $40,000. So

am

of our physicians
in the

who have

various rooms.

sacrifice

did not go capitalist and

not earning any

present. Neither did I sell the Forest Hills house.

and diagnosis

the 8

by the research fund, and can live

are paid

reactionary completely yet, Neill.

some

Please

have decided to stay up here

up

orgonomy, physical and astrophysical research. This meant a

of a yearly

of

killer.

never believed that

interesting that after the cancer course

the Rangeley region to help build

winter. Use

could help along in actual work.

In regard to Orgonon,

in

this basis.

it

put

it

money

at

at the disposal

established clinics for treatment

do not derive any income from

Forest Hills.

Another question: Would you object

which came up

* Reich's

house

in the course of the

in Forest Hills, at

if

use

some

of the material

disagreement between us

99-06 69th Ave.

in political

1950

matters in the

302

book

am

now on

writing

Children of the Future,* as a

master example of what poHtics and poUtical discussions can do harmfully to life-important

Keep

and

writing, Neill,

between a

tions

work? Let me know how you

try, if

you can,

about

class, etc.,

have

old economic sense completely disappeared, and that entirely

have appeared on the horizon.

conflicts

We

when you

to discuss these things next year

new

in the

social

have ample occasion

shall

are here; but solely from the

standpoint of the newborn infant and not any

Stalin,

it.

to see that the old distinc-

and a working

capitalist class

feel

more whether Truman or

or whether Marshall or some Russian general are right or wrong.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September 22, 1950

My dear Neill:
Dr. Bakert called

last

night telling

me among

other things that

according to a personal message he received from a Senator, the U.S.

Department

State

has, after thorough investigation, consented that

visum be granted.

Thus
delayed.

it is

them

will

no visum has ever been refused but only

suggest that to
all

people

that the

your

soon hear from the London Consul.

quite clear that

May

another letter to
telling

You

who

comply with the

received your

first

truth

you send out

message on the visum

visum was not refused but only delayed.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September 23, 1950

My dear Reich,
Good. Fine.

agree with you. We'll cut

must say that we have proved that

But

they

made

argument.

us quarrel over what really wasn't bedeutend [important] to

either of us; they side-tracked us in a

dead end.

manuscript was never completed.

Elsworth F. Baker, psychiatrist and student of Reich's.

* This

all political

politics are corrupting, for

suppose the real

303

1950

reason

that politics belong essentially to the

is

power merchants.

Damn

the

lot.

Yes, use the material as you

men, the

little

haters, the

Fertig [Finished].

like.

know you are on a book on children. The

A
demand for your books grows apace, alas, mainly among poor students
who can't afford to buy them and implore me to tell them where they
most pleasant surprise to

can be read
I

in public libraries.

think that your vital decision to stay in

on you personally.

fluence

take

Maine

that Peter will

it

will

have a big

go daily

to

in-

Rangeley

school.

Your

with

letter

its

news from Baker and

September 27
came and I

his senator

waited to hear from Mcintosh before writing you. His reply came

today

have to inform you that

"I regret to

inadmissible under the Immigration

may

not, therefore,

now determined

it is

Laws and

that

regulations,

be issued to you." Signature Clarence

J.

you are

and a visa
Mcintosh,

Vice Consul. Mein Gott, there must be no connection between the

London

and the State Dept

office

if

Baker can get such optimistic news

from a senator.
P.S. I'd like to publish the story

touch with our

there,

own Home

be interned

I'll

if

Office,

because

and

a war comes.

may
am on

it

if

be Mcintosh was
their undesirable

want publicly

to declare

in
list

my

position.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October

3,

1950

My dear Neill:
I

must leave the decision as

to

whether to publish the story

of the refusal of the visum or not to you, since

aware of your situation

story

among

To my

in

others, using

it

England.

am

not too thoroughly

myself shall write up on

this

as an example, in Children of the Future.

was a Catholic action and has nothing to do with the

constitution of the U.S.A. I suggest that you correct your first statement
mind,

this

1950

of

304

two months ago that your visum was refused then,

if

you want

to get

the point through according to facts.

More

next time.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

1950

14,

My dear Reich,
Today's news of the U.S.A. ban on travel visas makes

munism

will

will

liberal of guests.

So

that our contact will

factory one of letter writing, and

become censored.
I had a visit the other day

of

and another enthusiast friend of

mercial firm will begin to

sell

if

have to be the very unsatis-

James

that

accus here, and they want to

some com-

know

if it is

do something about

not, can they

if

He

Telfer, a Scots osteopath.

much alarmed

think they are right there. Interestingly enough, the osteopaths in

it? I

general

more

are

physicians. It

men have

is

interested

the

in

the tension part that

work than the echt [genuine]

attracts them of course. The two

When Lucy

had a new lump on

[Francis]

her face under the operation scar, she applied the small accu and
in a fortnight.

sniffed

and

don't
if

When

said:

"Oh,

it

on the

will

many

talks

it

we had

up,
in

side of the adolescents in their love

late to S'hill. I

approved of

experimenting,

someone has

to

do

it.

Oslo and N.Y. about being

young

don't think

life.

For

age.

is

it

wise

instance: couple

their love. In the vacation they get

together and she becomes schwanger [pregnant]

responsible. First case of

man

view an unqualified

unless they have had freedom from a

came

went

won't do you any harm anyway."

know how you

will recall the

it

she told the surgeon about what she had used he

the medical profession won't take

You

and

carried out several of the experiments from your books

are delighted with the results.

but

may

the scare continues, letters also

his are

protected by patent in Britain, and

very

it can mean that you and I

make it impossible, or years of American fear of commake U.S.A. a forbidden land for even the most mildly

downhearted, for

world war

me

cannot meet again. Either

two pupils

in

30

years.

and turns on

am

me

as

going back to the

old way, simply refusing to back up untrustworthy adolescents, and so

risking

my

life's

work through scandal and hate and

only "be on the side of" children

fear.

No, one can

who have had freedom from

the

305

The

beginning.

others simply ausnutzen [exploit] one.

can't stand the strain of taking responsibility for those

it

1950

worth defending. Yes,

age question

this

is

And at my
who don't

age

think

now ... 67

a real one

next week.

My
my

potency has gone.

high day

Orgonon and

More

than ever

ALONE.

I feel
I

The
I

is

mainly repetitive now.

stimulation

has affected

loss

its

and today when

that

And my work

over, Reich.

is

me more

had looked forward

deeply than

fancy
to at

yet realise.

haven't your optimism about humanity,

read that the people of East Berlin have been warned

they don't vote in the elections a cross will be put against their

if

wonder how many poor devils

will have the courage to not vote and face a concentration camp.
Perhaps if I sit down to write a new book I'll feel better, but again I
names

as U.S.A. military sympathisers,

feel that

Well,

P.S.

have nothing new to

end

wish

nose and

this

say.

not very cheerful

knew

throat.

if

it

is

letter.

safe to use the small

my

box and funnel on

seems to be a chronic catarrh, which so far sitting in

It

the accu doesn't touch.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October

1950

19,

My dear Neill:
I

have yours of October 14th.

difficulties in entering the U.S. are

but

are entailed in the rational

communism

besets

you

over here.

already

in regard to
I

am

time during 195

We cannot
to everyone.

sure

it

hope you

now

realize

that the

justified fear of the

in

Europe

for the

same reasons

your school, and besets every

will pass over soon and that

all,

innumerable spies

from everywhere without any control.

that used to enter the U.S.

fear of

and

not concerning you personally at

had

that the fear

single free

shall see

man

you some-

1.

possibly keep a
It is

monopoly on

the orgone energy.

It

belongs

not true that the medical profession rejects us.

We

have numerous friends among American and European physicians and

medical men, also those
offices.

who

use the accumulator

in

their

medical

1950

agree with you fully that

adolescents' love

Your

life

it is

not possible to take responsibility for

unless these adolescents grew

catarrh will only yield

faithfully daily
I

306

over months and years.

my

received the English publication of

looks very good and

Keep

in

up our way.

you use the accumulator regularly and

if

hear

it is

Character Analysis which

selling very well.

touch and write frequently.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

5,

1950

My dear Reich,
Firstly

gram. Your

you

my warmest

thanks to you both for your birthday

say: "I deeply regret that neither

entirely

tele-

our previous controversy when

letter [unavailable] repeats

you nor the Hamiltons ... are

aware of what red fascism means." But we said we wouldn't

argue about

politics,

words red fascism

and

all

to people

munist sympathisers,

e.g.

say here

who

who

Haire

that

is

are plagues
is

if

think you attach the

you

like but not

attacked by

all

com-

the reds in

London as a reactionary.
What troubles me more than fascism of any colour is the fact that
some big curtain has fallen between you and me, a curtain that only
long talks could raise, and these are not even on the horizon (for

ban

will

anxiety.

and

be permanent

Not

priorities

fear), I look

my

on the future relations with

the personal ones but the ones connected with our ideas

and above

all,

work.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

November

11,

1950

My dear Neill:
I

have your

letter of

November

5th.

have the firm impression that the arguments between us of the past

2 or 3 months have done a lot of good to

learning that there

is

way out

me and

of politicking,

i.e.,

to you.

To me

in

through sticking to

307

positive

work problems. To you

in that I believe

1950

your formerly some-

what confused attitude toward Russian imperialism and fascism has

clarified to a great extent. Basically,

ment between

my

from

only

us. I

us,

remove

will easily

you

any disagree-

is

a decisive stretch farther removed

I

would not

call

it

a curtain that

but only a thin veil which a breeze of a clean talk

again.

fusion brought about

that

than you are.

socialist past

has fallen between

don't think there

am

feel that I

am

also sure that sooner or later the con-

by the international conspiracy

will surely get

your visum

will clear

up and

Orgonon.

to reach

did not shift from being a seeker of truth to being an authoritarian

general.

however, that

It is true,

much

learned to pursue the truth with

greater determination, vigor and decision to fight the obstacles in the

way, than

ever have before.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

i6,

1950

My dear Reich,
Thanks

for letter received 3 days after posting.

Sharaf's Report [of a

October].

It

Symposium held

is

infant with doctors

danger to a

and others

infants, yet they

although

children to

am

in

had

your doctors have

a danger to

less self- regulated child. I,

and the Calvinist background you know

of,

haven't had infants to deal with, have allowed a few hundred

grow

freely

when compared with other

prejudiced by the thought that

if

can do so good a job with Zoe, why

trainees that

some

of

them

aren't

fit

an Ena,
is it

Maybe

children.

who never had any

that

you have

to deal with the

are your disciples, and most disciples remain so

ferior

all

some ways and

have both raised a more or

the neck stiffness

If

also

in the latter part of

new-bom babe, what chance has any

who never heard of O. Therapy? Use

and Ena must be character-structured

all

Orgonon

has raised thoughts like these:

something that

with

at

to tell

therapy,

your own

young? True, they

and as such are

in-

and possibly not teachable. The teachable ones don't remain as

you left Freud when you felt you had to go on alone; I left
Homer Lane and the Freudians and Stekelians. I make the guess that
you often feel you want to shake the lot of them and make them big men.

disciples;

Re

the doctor

who

confessed he grudges paying money:

let

me

be his

1950

308

moment

advocate for the defense for the

my
is

dient Dr.

is

Look

ignorance.

at his position.

disciple of a great

happened

to

ington was demonstrating the motor;

it

who

was

can't possibly understand. I

didn't understand a

word

that

watch

was

And

worm

He

man

Wash-

doesn't believe in

has got something else

him: 'Why the hell

his personal devil whispers to

great

Bill

wondering baby

that of a

because his position of ignorance makes him

should you support financially a thing that

And maybe your

jury,

man whom he

when

his face

said.

Orgones; he merely believes that the great

he can't understand.
feel so small a

"Gentlemen of the

not actuated by maHgnancy or greed; his main fault

man Reich

is

beyond your grasp?'

far

so great after

isn't

all;

maybe he

is

from the money collected. That thought would at least

bring R. down to my low level." Frankly, Reich, in 1948 I had the impression that hardly one of the assembled workers had the faintest idea
getting a rake-off

of what

you were talking about

much from them?

I

myself included. Are you asking too

freedom? No.

nality, inner

Maybe

Loyalty, yes, you can demand, but invention, origi-

am

too old to grasp

it

all,

but

it

seems

Reich, you are one of the great

any meaning of

fact without

world

men

me

to

around you a crowd who are waiting for you to

of our time; I say

flattery or worship.

it

as a simple

Your message

a tremendous one that will only be realised later,

is

remain a free world. One

result

ship, lonely apart, protected

is

that

you are

you have

that

'em what to do.

tell

i.e.

to the
if

we

like the captain of a

by an unwritten code

you are Doctor

Reich not Reich. Jesus did not have a Jesus among the twelve, unless
Judas was a

rival

one

at

bottom.

than twelve disciples, and,

it

You have no

Jesuses

among your more

seems to me, you are grousing

at the fact

that there aren't any.

Gott

sei

Dank [Thank God]

here

is

a letter that doesn't mention

politics!

Oh, can you give

Was he

me

any news about

Bill

Washington and the motor?

Why

did that motor rotate in summer 1948 and since

word about motor energy?
Did I tell you that I got 325 dollars from 20 people who had subscribed to the seminar and refused to take their money back? A most

then

disloyal?

haven't heard a

touching

P.S.

Christ,

gift.

most arresting idea that of yours,

that

humanity

Lenin and seeks the hateful lesser Paul and

rejects

Stalin. In

the

a minor

309

way Adler, by

cutting out sex, got

have gone to Freud, but Adler

many

isn't

followers

enough

big

who

to

1950

otherwise might

be Freud's

St Paul,

brilliantly

our boys

nor hateful enough.

had a

Just

had done

example of smear.

fine

you how

told

exam. Some local beasts rumour that

in their

exam papers the night before and worked

Makes you despair of humanity, yet one
person

isn't

opened the

out the answers with them.

consolation

is

one

that

evil

Leiston.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

November

23,

1950

My dear Neill:
You

are right,

am

deep sense of knowledge quite

in the

alone with only a very few people, scattered across the world,
really

and
I

know what

to bridge the

am

am

am

doing. I

gap that

exists

continuously hard at

me and my

between

it

who

to clarify

closer co-workers.

deeply entangled in basic problems of natural science and natural

philosophy, in orgonometry and, especially, in infant research.

child of 3 years with a diagnosed infantile paralysis
a few days ago

from

New

York.

The

was brought

first

to

thorough examination convinced

always thought

to be,

was a

me
me

result of

that infantile paralysis, as

emotional mistreatment

early infanthood, with as the consequence

damage

retrograde

corroborated.

in

it

to the nerves in the spinal cord. This will

always feel awe when

see these

have to be

two things together:

the tremendous nuisance torture of infants on the part of parents, educators

I

and physicians, and the

am

fully

and people

prepared not to

utter ignorance of
let

in similar position.

happen

The attempt

like

and widens the

fellow-workers. This

We

just

which we

is

is

going on.
to

Freud

to escape the braking effect

my work

me forward
gap between me and my immediate

of the social pressure against the core of

more than

what

me what happened

to

presses

very distressing.

had a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation

all

agreed that what

is

needed

is

an

in

organisation like that of a

with the responsible head and a few well-skilled and

medical

clinic

devoted

assistants.

This has nothing to do with dictatorship.

democratic necessity.

It is

work-

1950

am

my book

at

still

3IO
]

Children of the Future, the writing of which

is

thrilling.

How are Ena and Zoe?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

14,

1950

My dear Reich,
I

haven't written you lately simply because

And

special to say.

Reich.

don't see the tomorrow.

again, whether because of

much

suppose age has

much

to

war or the Verbot

do with

it.

important things like making wine

playing golf, avoiding

if I

For two years

can

think that

it.

I find

never get to U.S.A.

by

[prohibition]

when

visas. I

the O. Reflex dies

myself wanting to do un-

had looked forward

And

maybe

there

had no one

no one who could give me anything new. And the

My books
Possibly

will
it

depressing a

The
stage

Communism

be burnt and

S'hill

wins

methods

better not to write

is

all

you

over,
will

the
in

to talk

fear of never being

allowed to see you again keeps depressing me. Then there

horrible thought: "If

is

you

to great talks with

Maine, and when that anticipation was shattered,

to,

I've lost heart,

of fruit juices, tinkering with radio,

conversation.

all

had nothing

now.

to say

I fear that I'll

must die with

creative ability

trouble.

much

haven't anything

my work

is

the

in vain.

is all

be abolished."

at all rather

than give you so

letter.

joyful side of life

and makes

me

is

Zoe,

who

has at

last

Daddy

reached the

play with her for hours. I'd rather she played with

other children, but only one or two had self-regulation and she finds
the others unwelcome.

They

are so prone to frighten her with stories of

wild animals and bloody deaths. Death of mice and rats

seem

doesn't

etc.

to affect her; she accepts the fact that they are dead,

phantasy stories she asks

me

but in

some animal or person and then

to kill

bring them alive again.

Going back

to this business of inability to work,

neurotic element in

it, it

seems to

me

apart from any

that a prospect of peace

is

essential

work with children where the tomorrow matters so

reason says: Go on working and damn the future, but my

to work. Especially

much.

My

fear says:

munism

Go

on working for what?

will lose;

it

has so

many

millions

haven't your faith that

now

that I fear

it

may

Com-

not lose.

311

you before, war would not stop your work

And,

I've said

but

would stop mine

1950

it

wish

to

it

in

Maine,

East England.

in

could see a silver cloud in the black sky of today.

I sent the

New

Statesman a

War

about the visa situation, but the

who took an

editor says that even anyone

Left in the Spanish Civil

letter

is

active part in helping the

unlikely to get a visa.

didn't

do any-

thing other than having a few Spanish children here free of charge.

nasty parallel to that would seem to be that

if

I'd

The

fought for Franco I'd

have been acceptable to U.S.A.

Our

love to you

Christmas

in the

and our hopes that Peter

all,

will

have a happy

snow.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

December

My

22,

1950

dear Neill:
I

know

discouraging also for

Keep on

letter.

news.

It

May

how you

exactly
all

feel, Neill.

of us here.

It is

too

Never mind whether

writing.

Things look dark, indeed,

much
it is

to

be discussed

in a

cheering or saddening

always helps.
I tell

depression?

you frankly what

It

is

think about the basic reason for your

is it

that

you cannot reach U.S.A.

that things will change again,

of plaguey scoundrels has been found.

You have

many an

not your "aging"; you are younger than

adolescent. Neither

you know

spent your

life

for the

moment;

once the answer to the sneaking

It is

something

else entirely:

so far getting along with people well,

spending your time, effort and soul to help children. Then, after thirty
years of effort, you find that they
early twenties, that they

3000 years ago,

You

still

talk

still

and

ask the same questions as in the

act as they

have acted 300, even

in spite of all socialism, all revolutions

find that nothing

and evolutions.

whatsoever comes out of them, paying back

in

part for what they have swallowed through the years. Nothing but

nothingness, emptiness, babbling, gossiping, sniping, cheating, politicking

and the

rest.

Somehow you found yourself facing NOTHINGNESS in

And you feel that making wine is more rewarding.

the

human

animal.

Let

me

you

all

the

tell

that this realisation brings

books you have ever

or given.

What

stares

you

read,

all

you closer

the speeches

to the truth than

you have ever heard

in the face is the perfect

human

desert, the

1950

312

new

ultimate result of thousands of years of devastating upbringing of

The more

generations.
gets.

This

entirely

have to

millions follow the

an unsurpassable lesson.

is

great

little

man, the worse

it

an

also the great beginning of

It is

new age. It has to precede the new ages that are coming. Things
go down before a new education will win out. And it is winning
our

out, slowly, painfully, regardless of

or our happiness.

lives

on

It is

way, doubtless and firm. The realisation of a whole emotionally dead

its

humanity

never again vanish from the hearts of men.

will

cannot be extinguished, since

coming.

am

No

nothing, just change, that

What you

We
I

is all.

And

man who began

little

many

breakdown of

to take over.

years, trying to hold

on

to

life

life is

some

liberalism,

hard facts about infants

is

and

life.

this

process

illusions; in vain.

human

There

too

with

it

old illusions

all

followed

some

believe that the dictators can win out.

thinking and searching in the world. There

there are

of

every newborn child brings

the

is

are facing point blank the greatest revolution in

do not

new kind

no communism, no

socialism,

are going through

about man, the

with awe for

since

very hopeful. The future does away with the past. Nothing

remains of old ways.

it.

always goes on, a

it

And

existence.

is still

much

too

much

longing,

Did you ever

and

see a

seedling germinate and push through big, hard pebbles of stone and

earth? This

new
the
It

life. I

new

what

is

mean. Look

at

Zoe

as

life is

new

life,

in delivering

since
it.

you have helped

Why don't you

in

shaping

describe Zoe,

every battle she fights with the old, spoiled

a writer to convey what

gifts as

and

me
him
to

to

at Peter

have

it

is

it,

am working

work

is

for.

a part of

in bringing

Neill, in detail,

it

forth,

every move,

Why don't you use your

grow up without armour

life?

like to

hard to keep free of

to fight

life's

and see the

to the plague, but

Lately Peter hates me, hits

it?

I keep him going MY way and the world pulls

Does not matter, he loves me and not them. He comes
and not to them to get help and advice. We are the witnesses of

with glee, because

THEIR way.

ME

the

look

Your

should keep you cheerful and hopeful.

this

succumb here and there

there unmistakably. And this is what

see Peter already

first

can take

true blossoming of
this

away

life

among men,

Neill.

No

plaguey dictator

Forget the present and think in terms of looo years hence.

hard but possible.

We are preparing for Christmas, looking forward to

My love to all of you. A good New Year
.

it.

It is

very

195"!

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January

195

7,

Dear Reich,

Your

when I was in bed with a flu

Your diagnosis is absolutely correct so
concerned. At present all sorts of educational

cheering letter arrived

epidemic that has caught us

far as outer things are

all.

bodies meet to discuss things, but not one asks

who

meetings; they get prominent teachers

about

me

to lecture at the

say only the dead things

and education.

life

shall not try this spring to get a U.S. visa, for there

Sad, but there

all.

it is. I

am

realistic

enough

is

know when

to

no hope

am

at

beaten.

have decided to write another book, mainly about Zoe, but not

name;

giving her

it is

they were "cases."

embarrassing for adolescents to find that as infants

Your own daughter

said at

my

Hamilton Seminar:

"I'm tired of being called the Result of the Function of the Orgasm,"
said

it

with humour, but enough suggestion of truth to

to use Zoe's

name. Apart from embarrassment,

Zoe and Peter and

up

to
I

poor things

we

make me hesitate
much about

say too

will feel

it

difficult to live

what we say of them.

wish

knew more about

Peter's soul.

who

their like, the

if

the contest between the world and

Here our trouble

infect Z. with their fears

making her sex conscious

of me;

am

only the

in a

is

you for

the world of un-self-regulated children

and hates and sadisms, but so

wrong way. She

man who can

tell

identification of self with animals persists

still

far,

doesn't want

not

much

her stories of animals. Her

all

the time; she wears out

all

her stocking knees and shoe points crawling on the floor as a zebra or a
3

1951

314

One

horse or a Bambi.

wrong when they say

home

thing

have learned, that the Freudians are

that fantasy

a flight

is

from

her identification with animals

in both. Still

human

the wrongly reared

be a

animals around her. No, for

more than

vacation she plays animals

reality, for Z.

may

ever, so that I

is

now

at

from

flight

during

have to scrabble

about the floor as a "friendly lion what doesn't eat people" twice

daily.

Again, pax old Freud, she has never shown any desire to be a boy, and
in play all her

animals must be female.

compare notes on our

do wish we could meet

to

brats.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 22, 195

My dear Reich,
In the absence of a skilled therapist, orgone therapy in Britain
will
I

be poor; worse

still,

see that a doctor

good

dollar

get into the hands of cranks

coming over would have

income for a

relatively

to

and neurotics. But

make

poor pound one.

a sacrifice of a

And

of course he

might be prevented from practising by the orthodox B.M.A. [British

Medical Association].

Do

keep

me

informed about the

latest

news of

the lab.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

February

195

8,

My dear Neill:
I

have your

wonder whether
letter of

answered your

January 22nd.

letter of

We know

January 7th.

also

that a skilled medical

orgonomist should as soon as possible be sent to England. The pound-

would be a minor

The

that

all

We had a very exciting and also dangerous experience here

Orgonon with anti-nuclear experimentation. You will soon be able

to

dollar relationship

issue.

true difficulty

is

our physicians are tremendously busy over here.

read about

it

in the report

which

will

go out.

at

315

In spite of sometimes severe cold,

it is

There are about 12 people working

at

beautiful at

1951

Orgonon

in winter.

work

present here, and the

is

spreading rapidly far and wide.

Peter has emerged fully from the troubles which he had during the

passage through the

manner.

He

first

puberty, and

one of the very few

is

is

living

flowering in a most beautiful

humans with whom

simple and immediate contact of understanding and of love.

how

men

since, as the little

wrong way,
in

and

to shoot well,

am happy

better to

it is

war when he

know how

have a
learned

be able to teach him to do

world continue to

in this

there will surely be

such a case

to

He

will

improve

so,

their lot the

be 19 and

I feel

that

to shoot well.

Edinburgh, Scotland

March

6,

1951

My dear Reich,
I

am

had no energy.

Orgone
man.

Edinburgh doing a "cure."

in
I

therapist in England.

am

got fatter and fatter and

don't believe in drugs and injections, and there

playing golf

much

returned to

Thomson

is

no

the nature cure

of the time and the unusual exercise must

I hope that when I go home next week

Akku will be, as it were, under less of a handicap. I
the Akku should not be asked to contend against too

be helping to reduce the weight.

my

sitting in the

still

think that

much intake of food and drink, and

Akku would be used plus a sugarless
You'll see the
of

New

work by a name

guess that in

say

diabetes the

diet.

Statesman review of Char. Analysis, a nasty

never heard

of.

It

is

bit

a cheap review written in

prejudice not knowledge.

An M.P. friend is trying to get an interview with the U.S. ambassador

about my case. I fear he has a 100 to one chance against, but if the one
chance came,
to

I'd

come out

pay our passages. But

no hope of much
Will write

if

this

summer and

trust to get

enough

the Paris conference* breaks

down

lectures

there

is

other than war.

when

get

home.

conference called by the Western powers to establish a treaty organization

power; the organization was to include a partially

to contain the spread of Soviet

rearmed West Germany.

1951

316

P.S. Telfer [the osteopath]

owing

to the long winter

is

a bit pessimistic about

damp.

Akkus

England

in

have the same doubts.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

March

22, 195

My dear Neill:
Please

Could you

let

find out

me know

whether your M.P. friend had any success.

was who wrote the slander

in the

to us for a long time that accumulators

work

who

the crackpot

New Statesman!

it is

known

has been

It

much

better in dry than in

to build

How

more

humid

climates.

The only way

describe in a

around

layers.

are you? Write often, please.

We

here went through a hell of

months with the Oranur experiment.*

three

to get

It's

too complicated to

letter.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

23, 1951

My dear Reich,
The M.P. who took up my

case with the U.S.

Embassy has got

so far as to get the consulate to send the case to headquarters in U.S.A.

But

have but

ference. If

about

it

visas,

hope of

little

success.

Much depends on

the Paris con-

means peace maybe the U.S.A. will stop being fanatical

and if it means war, then, visas are a very minor

consideration.

My
can

two weeks of nature cure made

sit in

asking

O.A.

it

me

lose ten lbs. weight.

the 0[rgone] A[ccumulator] with the feeling that I

to

do what

as a lazy

way

it

series of

am

not

can't do. I see a danger that folks will use the

to get well without doing anything but sitting in

making no effort to help get themselves well. In short, use

(OR) on

Now

it

as

it,

experiments designed to determine the effects of orgone energy

nuclear energy (NR).

317

...

doctor's drug

"I can live as I like so long as

1951

swallow the

wrote to an old

pills

the doctor ordered."

am

not continuing with the Oranur project.*

acquaintance

replied that he

1923.

in

called the

is

most

in the atomic

He

now

is

He

brilliant physicist in Britain.

movement and had nothing

do

to

to

orgone energy

if I

were you."

You

see

how

hopeless

approach anyone.

long to hear what happened in the lab and

do hope he has recovered entirely.

Ena and Zoe are well. Zoe grows daily and

rays.

professor of physics

defence, but ended with the words: "I wouldn't attach too

civil

to

Vienna

was not

much importance
it is

in

Univ'y and

in Bristol

with

met

how

Peter got

ill

through

in

Sidney,

My

so delightful.

and one or two Australian papers have given the incident

Australia,
publicity

which

If I can't get

again,

is

Dreadful School^ has been banned by a library

I'll

hope

will sell the

a visa this

book.

summer and have no hope

of seeing

you

be very much depressed.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

March
Dear

Neill:
I

hope very much

Department
I

29, 195

am

here, to

hard

at

my

work

physician, to go to

that

your M.P.

will

be successful. The State

knowledge, has not objected to your coming.

to find

England

somebody
for 2

orgonomy. As yet nobody wants

to

well trained and reliable, a

years to introduce

medical

to go, since they are doing very well

over here.

Re Oranur: We

stopped the whole experiment a few weeks ago, and

are recuperating from very severe blows

we

suffered in this experimen-

tation in regard to personal health as well as to shaking scientific insights.

* Neill had been asked to distribute the descriptive pamphlet, Orgone Energy
Emergency Bulletin, and had planned to give it to civil-defense people.
t That Dreadful School (London: Herbert Jenkins, I937)- Tells of the experiences and aims that have guided Neill in running Summerhill, so often felt to
be a "dreadful" school by those who disapprove of freedom and self-government

for children.

1951

There
the

no

is

318

physicist in this world

Oranur Experiment.

to convince those brilliant people

am

to the

trained or competent to judge

why you

if

Is

are

in

New York

for scrutiny

not quite obvious that those whose total base of

it

operation and intellectual existence

we

continuously try

were to send your Problem

head of the Board of Education

and approval.
single step

is

they are thoroughly incompetent.

if

would strongly object

sure you

Family

who

cannot understand

making forward

ocean, cannot but be inimical and

being slowly overturned with each

is

into the realm of the cosmic orgone

full of

may

hate toward us. Please,

ask you to avoid further embarrassing and humiliating situations of such

a kind.

There

is

very

much

in educational matters I

would love

to talk over

with you.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April

3,

195

My dear Reich,
I

Mickey

gave up approaching orthodox

S. sent

me

the

long ago. Then

scientists

Oranur pamphlet, asking me

to try to contact

defence authorities on this side. Newspaper reports had given

impression that Prof. Powell was one of the big

thought

it

would be Powell or a man of

men

can't

atom

the

research.

who would be
having known him, I

his position

consulted by any defence group, and naturally,

him before officialdom got there. I was wrong, but still

understand what was expected of me when Sharaf asked me to

thought I'd get

I

in

me

at

distribute the pamphlets.

Rumours go around about Oranur

get the inside story, which we hope
.

to

there

is

known

will

hardly a chance of a visa for me.

to the State Dept.

Eva nearly died. We long

come in the Bulletin. I fear

that

If

your Oranur

haven't a hope, for, to them,

trial

were

might be

enemy who will come to Maine to steal the results to

give to the U.S.S.R. or some nonsense of the sort.
I have moved the Accu into a room with a gas (that is a dry) fire,
and I am sure the reaction is much stronger. The small Accu has been
suspect as an

wonderful with scaldings on a boy's foot.

Just looked at [L.

Ron

Hubbard's] book on Dianetics which sounds

319
to

me

utter

bunk without

cation behind

it.

hear

1951

a sign of any philosophy or science or edu-

it is

seUing

all

over U.S.A.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
April 22, 195

My dear Neill:
This

is

late to

be answering your

letter of April

we have been living here over the past four months

powder keg. Oranur has overthrown everything, but

like

however

3,

drunks on a

everything, plans,

made the summer dwelling probably unusable,

many workers down with their special illnesses etc. It was a

the research laboratory,

has thrown
terrible

and

at the

same time

the bottom of the universe.

exhilarating experience, as
It is still

30 years of research career have

if I

had touched

rather confused, but never in

experienced such an upheaval.

my
It

is

Eva nearly passed away one day, and Use fell ill; she went to
New York for a major operation. Peter had scarlet fever which lasted
exactly four hours and was gone, brought forth by Oranur and killed at
the same time. Oranur has attacked every single person at his or her
true that

weakest spot, driving the disease to the surface and

only one
I

who

killing

it.

was the

did not suffer except in the beginning from severe malaise.

have written a report which cannot be published without further con-

sideration.

Our

The

results

were tremendous.

policy has not changed. However,

we

are widely read, discussed,

talked about, "controversial," universities are giving courses.

come

We

have

The few quacks in physics and medicine, though, still in

power, have little to say. They are finished, theoretically, and the good
ones

of age.

know

it.

Did you hear from the American Consul? The

the President's Office are fully informed on
Governors, Defense authorities,

seem

still

to be

etc.

There

is

under the influence of a finished

no

State

Department and

Oranur,

are

so

secret about

it.

all

You

socialist ideology.

report on Oranur will most likely appear sometime during the

summer.

Our

bom

infant research center

is

doing well. Several babies have been

and are taken care of with amazing

results. It

is

incredible

what the

release of early chest blocking or removal of routine mistakes

part of the mother can do. There

is

on the

very great hope for the future. But

1951

one must

320

sex-economy and orgonomy. One must

stick to

away from

one wants these

it if

Hope

Write again soon, Neill.

I

put you up

the

if

summer

stray

[not]

results.

to see

dwelling

is

you

summer, but where do

this

unusable? We'll see

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

195

7,

My dear Reich,
So eine Geschichte [What a

can only guess that

story]! I

hadn't been for the curative reaction of O. energy you'd

Orgonon. But,

friend,

you won't have

fear that

thought that

should think

may

rapidly now, and

never

nil. I

you

visit

can't see

am

be dead

all

in

worry about whether

to

the cottage will be safe for us to live in in August, for

getting a visa are

if it

my

chances of

trying to get reconciled to the

The war

again.

situation

any reconciliation between East

grows

& West

taking place.
I

lectured twice last week.

about

100 teachers,

There

students.

suppressing sex.

Maybe

in

when

hostility

about

mentioned

young are

these days of uncertainty the

more than they

200

religion

did.

be going to spend the vacation in Norway. Elsa Backer has

invited us to her

mountain
be

Oslo, but

it

invitation

on the condition

covered that

A New

Education Fellowship of Leicester,

and University College, Leicester,

had a roar of

seeking religion as a faith

We may

New

will

hut. I'd

difficult to

my theory

have a chance to meet Raknes

that

no U.S.
was

of the Consul

Zealand teacher

in

pick up old threads. I've accepted the

visiting

us

visa appears.
right;
is

he

trying

Oh,

have

dis-

a Catholic.

is

persuade

to

me

to

migrate there. I'm rather old to emigrate, and N.Z. would feel very

narrow

after

England. The temptation of course

from atomic war, but possibly N.Z. would

Isn't

it

get

it

is

to get

Zoe away

too.

interesting to think that stuff like Dianetics immediately gets

a big public and sale while your

work and mine has

to fight for years

to get a place?

You
why

say the result of releasing very young babies

is it

so necessary? Kittens don't need

mothers do not have stiffened babies.

of treating babies

is

that

it

My

it,

and,

is

astounding. But

presume, Trobriand

concern about such methods

can only touch a very few. But

grant that

321
I

1951

can see no other way but dealing with the few ... as we have to do

in

S'hill.

The

Bulletin isn't enough.

Magazine.

want

see an

to

way

the visa question didn't stand in the

If

coming over

am

scientific side of the

and

about actual children. The job for

work,

handicapped.

my

what not

to do; the positive side

obviously to

is

be employed by some advanced Government to go round

telling teachers

ignorance

can only write

old age

think of

I'd

my

to edit such a magazine. Standing out in

from the
talk

Orgone Child Study

all

the schools

would then come of

itself.

Ena

sends her love to you

Zoe had Peter

all,

and both of us often say: "If only

to play with."

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

My dear Reich,
We have
I

wrote you that

operation

No word

Do

been waiting to hear good news of Use.

It

was

after

reread your letter and saw that you told us of a major

us about

tell

from U.S.A.

Norway,

trip to

30, 195

re

realising

it.

my

M.P.'s application.

what a poor Ersatz

We

have booked our

[substitute]

is

it

compared

with a trip to Maine.

Lectured to Birkbeck College, London,

last

week. Very enthusiastic

audience which accepted the Reich-Neill plea for the rights of youth to
love.

when

iibernachtet [spent the night] with Flugel, friendly as usual, but

talked about

that the language

Zoe and

was Greek

for she has to face

the fears other kids give her

to them. Mrs. F. said:

sorts of things in life."

all

"But

it

The good

is

could see
necessary,

old Freudian

Reality Principle.

The summer stream

of visitors has

commenced.

Zealanders and Australians and Indians. Nearly

moral and fear the sex

I

war
I

still

feel bitter

situation

were

get lots of

the

all

New

Indians are

issue.

and wretched about being cut

less threatening, I'd

off

hopefully say:

from you.

"Maybe

in

If

the

1952

can go over." But the plethora of world hate makes planning im-

possible. I can't see an end, can

I

you?

often think of your motor in

Orgonon with

Bill

Washington

in

1951

attendance.

322

Why

a mystery to me.

It is

did Bill leave?

What became

of

the attempt to use orgone energy as power?

Accumulator every night reading, holding the funnel to

the

I sit in

my

catarrhy ears.

It feels

now

stronger

warmer dry weather has

that

arrived.

you

told

decided to begin a book on Self-Regulation, but so far

I'd

have not been able to concentrate on

mountain
hands.

may

miles from anywhere,

for,

on

stay

in

it.

may

September and lecture

Copenhagen. But maybe the university

write

have

I shall

it

in Oslo,

attitude to

on the Norway
time on

lots of

my

Stockholm and

Raknes

will prevent

my being asked to lecture in the Oslo University.

Do write and tell us about Use and about Peter.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June

My

7,

195

dear Neill:
I

have your two

May

letters of

7th and 30th. Use was one of

Oranur experiment and had to undergo a major

operation. Oranur had brought out the specific disease in every single
the victims of the

person.

It

was a great horror.

the artist in me.

If art is

who

past three months, and people,

first rate;

that

nobody has painted

enjoy painting tremendously.

sunlight hits a tree,

true fashion the color of sun

color which

is

is

way

that

me

as yet. I cannot

over the

incredible to detect that

daylight.

tell, I

just

a lot about our miserable

and that there

and

oil

claim they know, say that they are

teaches

It

failure to see nature correctly. It

know how

a disease, Oranur has brought out

have painted some two dozen pictures in

is

no color

came

you do not

to render in

to call this special

not white, "orgonite" only to distinguish

it

from other

am also playing and enjoying the organ, and have begun to

write down my melodies of which I am quite full. I do not know where
I am going. I gave up a 50,000 dollar a year practice in New York in
colors.

the spring of 1950,

stop

outfitting

when

nuisance

moved

doctors

to

Maine permanently,

and

in

with

psychologists

order to

the

great

authority they obtain gratis simply for having studied with me. Also I

cannot stand pathological expressions very well since

biopsychiatric

wonder

work

to the

to all of us here.

problem of the healthy

Here something

entirely

I shifted

child.

new

is

my main

Peter

is

growing up.

323

1951

something that seems to

the requirement of sociahty, goodness

fulfill all

and natural morality for which mankind has

a very great thing and

we

follow

it

for ever clamored.

orgonomy
Also

Man

is

we

are disconnecting

on account, most probably, of the animosity

to

of his wife.

in other respects

The work

life.

stuff,

It

with respect, even awe and humility.

Oberleitner* has behaved badly recently, and

him. Little

good way, and

now

is
I

seem

am

going through a

spreading rapidly

all

be quite high up.

to

terrific

breakover

my

in

over the world in a very

My

work

is

being taught in

many colleges and many references and papers appear at an increasing

rate. The world of pathology slowly vanishes beneath the horizon. I am
facing the task of giving
finding a

new way

up

in

the malignant atomic energy,

seemed

natural scientific possibilities.

development.

am

glad

am

did find one in colors.

licks

to have reached the limits of

do not quite know where

relationships suffer
I

old type of writing and of

which Cosmic Orgone Energy

With the Oranur experiment,

Many human

my

entirely all

of expression in words, as

from

this

am

in

my

sitting

and

tremendous change

moving, while so

many remain

my

going.

stuck.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

My

II,

195

dear Reich,

Yours
going,

this

morning.

You

say you don't

know where you

are

you lucky man. "Tis better to travel hopefully than to arrive."

(Stevenson) However there

ing and

is

doubt

in

my mind

...

Is

Reich paint-

musicking because he has despaired of humanity

(barring

Peter)?
It

has been obvious for the

pathological in
the

new

art life

life,
is

from

last

years that you were finished with the

Peter's birth onwards. It

haps an attempt to get back to Peter's stage and

seems to

me

that

an expression of the back-to-health movement, per-

Toni Oberleitner, a former teacher

at

find

out what you

Summerhill. He later spent some time

New York.

studying with Reich at the Orgone Institute in

1951

324

missed then.* Our

art teacher is

away and

have been

in

room, painting with the children, but reahsing that

art

my

anything so good as they did;

charge of the

do
more or

couldn't

painting was sophisticated,

conscious and stylised, while theirs was straight from the soul and of

less

course

brilliant. I

each child

is

am

say

a van Gogh.

Your

Royal Academy formal painter, while

Correspondence

so difficult.

is

is

Gogh stage.
You write of OIRC [Orgonomic

its

thing with Peter newborn, did you?

Zoe. However,

How

Infant

work but I have no details and can't imagine

done with newborn infants. Dammit, man, you didn't do any-

Research Center] and

what

makes me

description of your painting

think you have "regressed" to the

to

I return

And

keep hoping the method

meet you again worries me.

from Norway. Then

Christmas or in the spring.

two published

I'd

I'll

come out

will

to

is

in a Bulletin.

apply again for a visa when

I'll

try to get a visa to visit

hoped

showing that

articles

he seems wonderful. So

you

either at

be able to show the visa people

was the

S'hill

munist moulding of youth. The trouble

is

antithesis of

com-

that although progressive

papers are anti-communism, they aren't pro self-regulation or pro sex.

Indeed I often wonder why there is so much antagonism between the

West and East, for fundamentally they seem to share so many factors
in common, e.g. the moulding of infants, the sex taboo, the Oedipus
family. Stalin's rules for school children

90%

proval of

of British teachers. Possibly that

articles published.
It is

so frustrating.

As
I

for a visa,

all,

my

need you and

and we are separated by a

Love from us

would have the complete ap-

hopes of

is

this are

why

can't get

very dim indeed.

know you need me

in

some ways,

futile suspicion.

and we hope that Use's operation was a success.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

June 22nd, 1951

My

dear Neill:
I

and work

am

have your
is

letter of

very deep going.

June nth. The revolution

am

not running away into painting and music making.

At

this point, there is

comment

"I

had

it."

in

my

life

not despairing of humanity, and

I

am

just begin-

a fierce underlining of Reich's and, in the margin, the

325

1951

ning to get going at "humanity." After having written several thousand

pages on the subject,

whole

the

I find

myself in the position of having to rewrite

thing, this time to nail

Murder

of Christ,*

further

removed emotionally from

Man.

and

it

down

it

runs very well.

my own

incredible to realize that a

It is

for good.
It is

began writing the

Man

book,

due to the

Little

a better Little

sufferings

whole world of statesmen, philos-

ophers, psychologists and the rest of them have so thoroughly avoided

heretofore touching the main subject of mass-psychology and sociology,
detailed

the

There
right

is

and

when

routine behaviour of the

no hope
left

see

at all

wish

that very

complete

we

around myself

so-called

worker

at every single

What

man

the

in

a hideous,

and frank

of

the

neighborhood,
people the

cowardly evasion of the

will offer itself

revelation

street.

hitting

telling

could talk these things over with you, and

soon the opportunity

my

back instead of

the

keep

in

don't start getting at that.

them patting people on

truth about themselves.

I

if

am

issue.

quite sure

here at Orgonon.

catholic

action

The
U.S.

the

in

Embassy in London would be entirely in agreement with the American

way of procedure and would help to get you the visum. Americans don't
like Catholics very

much.

[On June 28, 195 1, the American Consul in London wrote to

Neill's M.P. friend, Mr. Moeran, informing him that the State
Department, "after careful consideration," had decided that

would be

it

"prejudicial to the interests of the United States" to grant

entry to Neill. Neill forwarded a copy of this letter to Reich.]

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July

My

Well, well, looks as

get

some magazine

No,

if I'll

never see you again.

wish

to print a letter of protest, but the dollar

on U.S.A. precludes even

that.

don't hold that art

The Murder of

life

could

dependence

is

an escape,

in part possibly,

for

Christ, first published in 1953, explores the meaning of

and attributes his death to man's conditioned hatred of everything
truly and fully alive
whenever and in whatever shape it may appear.
*

195

3,

dear Reich,

find

Christ's
that

is

1951

that

am

if I

326

interrupted in a sketch by visitors

my

annoyance

is

greater

than when reading a book or even writing one.

Hal M. Wells who bought the magazine Complex asks me for a long
article on communistic education, saying they would add a paragraph
saying I had been refused a visa. I am going to do it.
I

don't agree with

because England

you about

is dififerent

my American boy pupil not fitting in

me it is much simpler than

from U.S.A. To

the kid is parked here without ever having a home and his
home love is enough to make him unhappy.
The new Bulletin is fascinating. I see now what you meant about

that

lack of

new-born babes, and your explanation of dowsing seems

must have a shot

true. I

orthodox

at

it.

do not seem

scientists

to

me

to

be the whole

an element of Schadenfreude [malicious gloating]

Bernal,

want

of the truth."

to
I

show you

don't think

prof of biology, do

tell

me

that a better
it

if

to

be

and

final

But your pages about not approaching

man

is

story.
it.

There

is

"See here,

than you has got more

means an attempt
Reich

in

right or

to say:

"You

are a

wrong." However,

I'll

never try to approach any orthodox scientists on behalf of Orgone

By

science.

the

way

the leading

name

is

now

[Jacob] Bronowski in

scientific circles.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 23, 195

My

dear Neill:

cost

you some

In the meantime you have replied to Wells and though

dollars

it

will certainly

may

it

be most helpful to your reputation

not to have published in Wells' journal.*

I

am

know

enclosing a copy of the laws of immigration.

that

your trouble

is

I still

want you to

not due to the basic structure of the United

States but to the fact that the arbitrary conduct of a single Catholic

consul can remain unchanged because people keep

will

be possible to counteract the situation

in

silent. I still

think

it

Lx)ndon and to get you

a visa next summer.

We

have had some most crucial experiences with Peter and a

* Reich had wired Neill to have nothing to do with Hal Wells, the
of Complex, who, he said, was an enemy of the Orgone Institute.

new

girl

editor

327

and we have learned how

lately,

and

little

we know about

The depths and scope

cially their genitality.

children, espe-

of this realm are endless

look forward to the day when the educators of the world will

start digging

up these sources of

verbiage today.

in a lot of

murder of Christ

after

about finishing

just

my book on

the

about twelve years preparation and two months

The Foundation has

is

them

living life, as they are only burying

am

emotional agony just before

and

1951

began

to write

it.

over $500 for Korean children's

just sent

going to send more. The trend

in the

Foundation

relief

become a

to

is

grant-giving Foundation with the center of attention on the misery of

and adolescents.

infants

Write soon again and amply

so.

All

my

best to

all

of you.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
July 30, 1951

My

dear Reich,

press here took

We

know

don't

it

if

my

up and gave

Norway. Elsa Backer has invited us to

rail

from Oslo.

Oslo on 5th Sept, and

[lecture] in

come home

a lot of publicity.

it

are off in a few days to

her mountain hut, 9 hours by

first

after lectures in

The

visa letter reached the U.S.A. press.

am

It will

be peace.

have the

dining with Raknes.

Then

Stockholm and Copenhagen.

I'm worried about Ena. She has a constant pain across the back. Ad-

work exhausts

mittedly the school

her, but

work shouldn't exhaust

healthy person. We've both had an additional worry put on to us. Girl of

i3Vi missed her periods. Nice kid, clever, charming but she
with anyone.
I

am

The

lost.

can cope with a genuine love

parents

know

all

about

it

affair

come out

tree recently

and fractured

any

boy of 7

fell

his skull. Luckily

of hospital. All such worries pile up, and

go to bed

It isn't

and are pro-sex.

joke having the responsibility of other people's kids.

from a high

will

but with promiscuity

we

he has just

sure need a break

in peace.
I

am

longing to read your Christ book.

Is there

anything

in

Orgone study

to destroy a guy's sense of

humour?

Paul Ritter wrote saying his wife was to have another baby, and
saying that
to

do with

it

was

birth.

all

He

very well, but a pity that the

replied as

if

man

didn't have

wrote

more

scandalised at any suggestion of levity

1951

328

about such a sacred thing as

my

hind

life's

functioning.

had

to reply that be-

fun was the serious question that nature hadn't given the sexes

a fair deal, that the torn cat has his orgasm and nothing more, while the

mother has the pains of

birth

and the joys of motherhood. Also that

to

some extent humans have it ill-divided also. After I posted the letter
Zoe said to me: "I wonder why I like Ena much more than I do you."
Which hints that behind my desire for equal sharing in pain and joy was
the feeling that the

mother has the best of

really.

it

In the peace and remoteness of the Norwegian mountain

sit

down and write another book.

Let me know if my visa letter got
Wells hasn't replied to

think that

am

my dream

hope

to

publicity in U.S.A.

refusal. I didn't

mind, only

sighed to

of making a few dollars had to go.

looking forward to a good chat with Raknes, but don't fancy

meeting Philipson again

Hoppe wants me

guts.

my

okay, I'm

all

C'hagen.

seeing that

all

don't like clever guys with

have a lecture tour of

Israel,

and

no

I've said

it.

the dark about the

in

Still

for

in

to

the other

men

atom experiment. Sounds very brave,

dealing with atoms go about encased in

Heard the other day of an atomic workman who took

had to clear out of the house in a hurry,
maybe a fable.
you all from us all. We hope Use is completely recovered and

lead or whatnot.

home

a screwdriver, and they

but that

Love

Eva

is

to

too.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August

My

Send
in

13,

195

dear Neill:

me

London who

church

is

strictly

all details

you may know about the American consul

acted not as an official of the United States where the

divorced from the

state,

the Vatican under the disguise of an

ently

had nothing

to

but

who

American

acted as an envoy of

representative.

do with communism but with the

attitude of the catholic church.

Here

in the U.S.

taken lying down, and the catholic church

is

It

appar-

anti-genital

such things are not

not too

much

liked.

329

1951

Stockholm, Sweden

September

My

thought

my way

on

1951

13,

dear Reich,

to

wait to write after I'd met the Oslo folks.

I'd

Copenhagen

after lecturing to

Stockholm, Gavle and getting well paid for

two young couples (patients)

him did not come

with

off.

crowded houses
too.

it

Raknes had

invited

to dinner, so that the heart to heart talk

can only give you what

more or

is

gossip. Judith [Bogen] has a theory, expressed something like this

"When we were
Reich Willy

some

We

it

on

tried to stand

be disloyal

not desire

When
Hall]

to.

own

their

to him. If

us

left

by trying

feet

for

still,

you

some broke away

we

all

all felt lost,

and

methods.

sorts of

can't love Willy

and

got no reaction at

in

Oslo to 600 in the Univ'y Gamle Saal [Old

all.

None

my men-

of the papers spoke about

told Oslo that

you are the only man who has

humans

since Freud.

stayed with Elsa Backer in her hut in the mountains for over 3

weeks.

Ena and Zoe

got bored after a time but

begin writing a book about babies. They went

stayed to earn money. But at

my

took the chance to

home end

age lecturing

is

August and

of

very tiresome, not the

Queer

actual lectures but the meeting people, especially the press.

I

was through weakness

it

contributed anything of value to the science of

Philipson to this day worships Reich."

mentioned you

tioning you, pity, for

We

less
.

per du [the familiar form of address] and called

all

was wonderful, but when he

weren't disloyal and are not

later

am

in Oslo,

can get a

much

You want me
but I can't. And

that

bigger audience here than anywhere in England.

to give

in

you proofs about the R.C. man in Visa office,

letter replying to my M.P. friend, from

any case that

State Dept. refusing the visa again, that

had nothing

do with Mr.

to

Clarence Mcintosh of the London visa section. Nay, Reich, nichts zu

machen da [nothing to be done there].

Going to stay with Leunbachs whom
to

meet Philipson again. But

Lage
I

my

saw on

next letter will

my way

up.

expect

hope give the Danish

[situation].

heard a Swedish doctor say: "Reich was

all

right

Analysis but after that, of course, he went astray."

Freudian viewpoint

in

London

also, as

you can guess.

up
It

to
is

Character

the typical

1951

330

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

September 26, 195

My

dear Neill:
It

was a great nice surprise

to

me

and that "you cannot love Willi and

later

worst haters came from the ranks of

my

my

dearly and that was not

The

fact that

to hear that

was wonderful

be disloyal to him." But the

early students

who

you did not obtain any reaction

lecture only confirms the fact that

we

in

Oslo

at the University

are through and accepted every-

where, and are no longer to the same extent the "red cloth"
be.

My

I still

try

is

used to

old enemies are wise enough to keep silent at present.

believe that

hard enough. But

visum

me

loved

fault.

you
it

will attend the

becomes

clearer

1952 conference

now

if

you only

that the refusal of

your

due rather to a mechanical application of the McCarran Act*

than to any special consideration of your person. As long as these

ghastly spies and sneakers will crawl around

among decent

snooping and sniping and slandering and stealing

people,

secrets, there will

be

many decent people who will suffer from it, and I am waiting for the
day when one of them will speak up against the hideous rats of Sowjet
[Soviet] design, and not against the American public who is in full
agreement with the measures taken to keep out thieves and murderers.

Why
at

don't you speak up against the sneakers and snipers?

Orgonon

feel that

We

here

such diversion of attention can only protect the

emotional plague.

Let

me know what

impression you had of Philipson.

with some good effort he could be

member

made going

I still feel

that

again and become a

of our organisation.

* The McCarran-Walter Act, which, among other provisions, barred from

admission to the United States anyone who advocated doctrines or was affiliated
with organizations held to be subversive.

331

1951

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

My

Yours today.

Your

there.

share your optimism about being

I can't

1952 conference, indeed

am

suggestion that

reconciled to the sad fact that

them, and

ALL
"We

if

to

me.

won't be

many

don't think there are

no evidence

there are I have

at the

ought to "speak up against the sneakers

and snipers" does not appeal

that there are.

And

of

objectively

You

nations use spies and snoopers against other nations.

say:

here at Orgonon feel that such diversion of attention only protects

What you mean

the emotional plague."

fundamentally interested
in

1951

2,

dear Reich,

you and

you and

few others

you

if

in either
in

simply don't know.

U.S.A. or Russia;

am

U.S.A. The visa situation separates

and

lived in Brazil

me from

speak when

it

is

necessary; in

Com-

attacked the anti-life policies of

my

munism, and never mentioned

not

couldn't get a visa to go there I'd

feel strongly against the Brazilian laws. I

every lecture in Scandinavia

am

only interested

By

the way, the

tour was a great success; crowded halls everywhere, and

much enthuMan, but at

siasm and,

home
I

am

a very

afraid,

little

hero worship. There

am

a Big

guy.

specially asked Philipson to

how

asked him

U.S. visa refusal.

meet

me and had

a long talk with him.

he differed from you and he replied that he didn't

think your vegeto-therapy was necessary, that character analysis alone

loosens up the somatic rigidity.

that
it,

that he'd like to give his

Bulletin.

people
ing

He

spoke of you warmly and regretted

you didn't open your publications

For myself

who

no one

ask

"Why

say that you have

to

not?"

become

It

or Nothing from

all

workers.

a happening adds to

Scandinavia, indeed
recent work. But

gether.

The

is

it

meaning,

took

in

would be one answer

the

to the

a Stalin, a central authority allow-

latest

news

the talk

is

plague

that

will

is

that Oberleitner

know why,

but such

about dictatorship. This talk

isn't

in

when

be put

when

can't talk

Orgonon and Orthodoxy

it

out

linked to-

don't fully understand your term emotional

old

not in his training line?

and enquirers

have

don't

worries me, Reich, especially

it

it

found that few knew anything about your more

hate to hear the words

Maybe

plague. Is
that

criticism,

have any independent opinions of his own, demanding All

to

has been chucked out of the movement.

with you.

any

argument for character analysis

off.

Raknes

lectures about the scientific part

What I fear is that some genuine students

Your remark about Philipson, that maybe

1951

332

he could become a member of your organisation, made

me

think about

and write down thoughts about the so-called dictatorship.

hostile to the

he

tile;

work?

am

we could

talk this out.

he thus

is

sure you will say no, he isn't necessarily hos-

a co-worker trying in his

is

firmly

If P.

beheves that he can get there by character analysis alone,

own way

to think for himself. I wish

Barakanism, the arrogance of ignorance, would

be a danger to any new work, but the others?

My

visit to

Norway made one

your old pupils and co-workers

big impression

became

on me,

none of

viz that

really emotionally plaguey; that

they drifted because they did not know, feel enough to stand alone.

They retained

their personal love for you,

your new

had

and felt to some extent that

them out of everything, beginning with the enforced segregation made by war. They are all good honest folks trying
life

left

hard to understand and to work.

I feel that

but independent too. In your article

they should

last

in.

be

in the fold,

my

of

at the same time being in-

unique position, being in the orgone fold but

dependent, an excellent position to be

all

summer you spoke

But why

can't

it

apply to

all

the others?

Get angry with me, swear

do

also

mand.
is,

but

tell

me what

if

he had printed

self-regulation

it.

my

call

me

a victim of the plague, but

Hal Wells may be the nasty guy you say he

article

and reached a few thousand readers

would have made more contacts and converts.

Kingsley Martin, editor of the

man

me,

standard of loyalty to an idea you expect and de-

fathom

I can't just

at

New

Statesman, to be a most reactionary

about education, but he prints

him when they read them.

It

consider

my

letters

and no one thinks of

would take more than one

bottle of rye

to talk this out together.

Ena and Zoe send

news of

PEOPLE

he

work).

is off

Ena complains

their love.

... of Use,

Peter,

Wolfe

that she never gets

any

Ena

that

(his wife writes

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

October

My

7,

1951

dear Neill:
I

clear

think

two

glasses of

good whiskey soda would

up our disagreement regarding my

relationship to people

suffice to

who

call

333

me

1951

a dictator. Suffice

to say that

it

in addition to

my main

and riches on

MY

have to carry on a

work, to keep out people who

my

authority what

a part of or as in agreement with

my

be.

I let

You

everyone do what

me

to con-

why my

ask

basic at-

and yet being completely

independent applies to you but not to others. This

is

so because you,

you cannot make a decent go of orgone therapy

realize that

with children, will say so and stop doing

harm
Because when

that they

therapy.

fame

own cock-eyed

cannot possibly consider as

work.

titude of loving people being in the field

realize

try to get to

not sufficient to them. They want

this is

firm and support with

when you

hell of a battle,

broad, powerful shoulders with their

what they think orgonomy should

ideas about

he pleases. But

patients

while the [others] will not

it,

and work by doing what they

call

stop supporting them or warn them against

the consequences they slander me.

Neill, this

work of mine

human knowledge.

objectives.

had

what you

to restrict

tasks.

were

me

and help

You

to carry

yourself warned

right. I

had

friendships, of

the pitfalls of

to give

what

human

Philipson wanted

to say.

He

human
to

against organisations with pupils and

and

this against

you

open

am

my

keep clear of

basically social

contacts.

my

publishing organ for him to pro-

still

down what he

ready to publish his viewpoint

the Scandinavians don't understand

over these

2 years at a fast rate

and that

is

if

has

he

have moved ahead

that I

am

far out in space

longer in the realm of a restricted psychology of technique.

who

to
as-

dangerous and emaciating

asked him several times to write

never did.

my

up the pleasure of public acclaim, of empty

interrelations,

me

are

himself to factual argument and withholds personal attack.

restricts

What

me

terribly

one

and with the

call the organisation

called "recognition," in order to

is

nature which thirsts for

claim nonsense.

on the

has ever

to destroy

men and women who

a very few well-trained, responsible

sistants

had

wrong way

organisation after another which grew the

wrong

man

the most devilish task a

is

encountered in the history of

failed to

sitting in

keep contact and

to

move

on. Should

It

and no

was they

too have remained

order to retain a few doubtful friendships?

still

like

them

and think of them much, maybe more than they do of me. There is no
reason for animosity, as long as they do not try to make me bad because

THEY
I

am

upon

did not develop with me.

afraid Neill that

the true nature of

we all,
human

including myself, are afraid to touch

nature, the sitting on the spot, the

1951

334

reluctance to risk friendships, to fight the plague of mankind.

way, "emotional plague"

By

the

a strictly scientific term to denote evil social

is

action from irrational motives with irrational evil results, in contra-

which

distinction to simple neurosis

newborn

infants because

Beyond

this I feel that

become

the insight has

who

himself

has lost

it

my work

me much. Be

line of

has taken a very dangerous turn since

man

the suppressed

is

it

a most unpopular insight and will,

is

assured, Neill, that

20 years ago,

kill life in

itself.

the responsibility; not Stalin, not Hitler, not

anyone but he himself. This

cost

within

life

so very practical that

carries all

does not

just suffers but

only pursued

it

further. It

I fear,

away from

did not change

out of touch, the admirer, the hero worshipper of two decades ago

changed by remaining

also fear that those

on the

sitting

who were

work has made

progress the

do not quite

world today.

over the world. The literature

in universities all

The

human

streaming steadily at

is

effects are clearly there in the basic

infant upbringing, in handling of

realise the great

rooted and taught

It is

OVER YEARS

a rate of about five hundred copies a month

planet.

it

acknowledged. Of

is

newspapers are

still

My

And

this

heavily to bring

lot

against

dictator because
their spoiling
I

SHALL

my
see

what matters

And I
my

in

little

is

And

because some

bit.

The aware-

here growing by leaps and

is

to

me who

has sacrificed so

could with a clean conscience put on

love for

history

man

in

what

DID

what those have accomplished who

strictly

out of

my way

call

to im-

me

in order to prevent

clean, honest job.

you again here

I

The Oranur Experiment

know

which does not matter a

keep them

Write again, Neill.

brief description

Energy Emergency

is

about.

human

the scales of

prove his

it

alone

success

dared dream of only lo years ago.

ness of the discovery of the Life Energy

bounds.

over the

problems, in a growing aversion

this the old friends

silent,

all

change of attitude

against mechanistic philosophies, including the Russian.

very great and far more than

who

spot.

closest

in the

my

the friend, the pupil

is

like

it.

at
I

Orgonon, no doubt!!
have written three books

Cosmic Superimposition,j

* 2.

of the experiments was

Bulletin, in

December 1950;

first

3.

this year:

The Murder

published in the Orgone

the full report then

came out

in

booklet form, The Oranur Experiment: First Report, 1947-1951, 1951.

t Cosmic Superimposition, first published in 1951. Discusses man's position in
nature. Reich, citing the genital

of two orgone systems as a

embrace

common

as an example, sees the superimposition

functioning principle throughout nature.

335

1951

The

of Christ.

two are

first

appear within a few weeks.

to

You

will like

them.

Orgonon
Range ley, Maine
October

My

8,

1951

dear Neill:
I

read your letter again since

that I did not

I find

my

question about

answer yesterday, and

may

human

exactly the sickness in

responsibility

many

clear and clean, based

on

industrial process going,

from

society

starving,

ways.
facts

if

rise of dictators.
I

never yield to

you have to keep a

If

and observations,

you have

and

than

it,

human

a general

is

character structures which, through

pull toward dictatorship quite clearly, though

from

at the root of all dictatorships. It is

is

and helplessness, forces the

the people, in

upon

not be aware of

answer encompassed. The problem involved

problem, more, a problem which

Your
much

usual exactness.

alleged dictatorship rests within and

wider and deeper foundation, though you

my

my
my

sent

answer your inquiry with

to

keep

same time

at the

is

ir-

the

comes

It

theory

keep an

to

running and a whole

the Barakans enter the

scene by the million, the pull toward dictatorship

difference between Stalin and myself

it.

scientific

you have

if

trains

feel

tremendous. The

is

that he does not see the problem,

no

that he likes house-sized pictures carried in parades, and that he has

answer nor does he ask for one.

I,

on

the other hand, suffer from this

sickness of humanity gravely, to an extent that

the problem in

full

its

perately to find the answer and to

There

is:

is

amounts

to dying.

impact upon human existence and

make

it

work.

My

answer

know

try des-

present

at

no way of basically changing people once they have de-

You

cannot make a crooked tree

straight again. Therefore let's concentrate

on the newborn ones, and

veloped the wrong character structure.

divert

let's

the

new

human

social

attention

movement.

from

evil politics

toward the

child. This

is

alone carry the responsibility for the elab-

oration of the necessary scientific tools to cope with this problem in a

practically efficient

please

let

aspects

Now
way

manner.

If

you

hit

the responsibility be mine.

nobody

else's

but mine.

It is

am

the freedom peddlers like

upon

this

in

heretofore in

willing

public lectures,
its

very practical

and able to carry

Barakan and the

rest

it.

are

in

the

with their fake, do-nothing "love for mankind." They mess up

1951

336

spoil a clear-cut road to answers to the problem.

clear thoughts

and

The red

fascist

movement

peddler.

It

rests fully

on the

doings of the freedom

evil

unaware of the true nature

hurts badly to see that you are

Of

of the red fascist regime, telling that all governments use spies.

course they do. But the Canadian or English or American government

still

lets

me work

successfully

on the problem of the Children of the

Future, and Stalin does not. This, and this alone,

in

governments comes

existing

freedom we have

do not see

And

to

to

in.

people

where

my

interest

judge them by the amount of

DO THINGS FOR CHILDREN.

you

I regret that

clear in this respect.

DO THINGS

means

to

keep human thought and practice

the pioneering plants of science, medicine

bandwagon

pots and

is

who

riders.

It

and education clear of crack-

not enough to lecture to armored

is

get easily enthused but

in

do not move

necessary to penetrate the wall of

human

a finger practically. It

indolence.

Then

is

the Stalins

will fall of themselves.

Raknes came over here

He knows what
is

in

he

several times and studied in the laboratory.

talking about and he

touch with the greatest force

mess. Philipson
ago,

is

in

AND

refuse to

quacks of

sit

learn

BIOPHYSICS. And

let

my

on the spot

this I

science

in

human

affairs,

in this

was on 25 years

cannot

let pass.

grow up and

spoil the

dictatorship

it

He

ORGONE ENERGY

and do

confess to being adamant in this respect. Call

But there are matters

mankind

at the disposal of

wants to

order not to have to

PHYSICS

We

NOT. He

is

willing to learn more.

is

if

work.

you

will.

such as knowledge, which cannot

be decided by votes, nor be done by pats on the back and "love of the
Neighbor." Once you realize

Man,

fully that the Little

cally speaking, has ruined every single bit of

characterologi-

knowledge that could have

helped him over the ages, you are in the right perspective of things.
of course

much

easier

and

It is

dangerous to have "sympathetic under-

less

standing" than to do basic scientific work which has to stand up against

a mountain of false beliefs,

human

evasion of truth, gossip, murder in

the lands of heirs of Karl Marx, and against the tendency in one's

from painful work and

friends to support the distractor

mind when Philipson does Ch.A.

to use

my

publication organ to

toward demonstrating

at the

the character and in the

change, and

if

it

microscope what

human

will cost

me

is

do not

do not permit him

of 1928, but I

"CRITICISE" me

duties. I

own

for having proceeded

at

work

practically in

emotion. This will not change, cannot

dear friendships,

shall not

be able to

337

1951

help
not

it. The fault is not mine. Orgonomy is ONE piece of labor, and
many things. One cannot really at present understand emotions

unless one has learned what orgone energy really

how

it

hate

me

functions. Let

because

them be on

their

is like,

looks

like,

and

own, but do not permit them

moved on and work on

the whole of

human

to

misery.

All the best with love.

SummerhiU School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

My

1951

14,

dear Reich,

Your

me

thing to

dumm

is

letter [of Oct.

[stupid] or ambitious?

some time now. Character

7]

Are

the question:

makes

it

clear; the only unclear

all

the cast-out ones malignant or merely

The

me

subject of hatred has intrigued

"The

A[nalysis], page 169:

for

[genital charac-

capable of intense love but also of intense hatred." Putting aside

ter] is

moment your

for the

hatred

all

statement in Oslo days that

the time, and trying to be objective,

hate angle. Just as the Freudians found

much

was repressing

I feel

like

my

querying the

aggression in every child

they concluded that aggression was the norm, but

find in

Zoe

little

or no hatred. She wants to give out love, to ask for love, and because in
her environment she

when
would

be necessary

this

among

fights

S'hill

grant that

why

is

no hate person. Later

my

it

all

kids were free and loved?

Scandinavian tour influenced me.

listeners

Why

no

real

and so friendly

kept wondering

listeners.

Why,

asked

show so much interest in freedom yet don't

it in their schools? The answer I got was: "It isn't only freedom,
is your personality. An audience feels a warmth and sincerity

do the Swedes

practise

if

children?

had so many

friends,

Neill,

both wishes she

satisfies

she finds her love attitude met by hate she will react in hate, but

etc.

Even people who don't agree

with you at all about freedom and children, feel friendly to you and
that accounts for the lack of criticism and nasty questions after you
coming from you and

it

lecture." This looks as

reacts accordingly.

if I

am

old Neill! Wonderful guy! But

I

am

sure that

30 years

it is

this part of

patting myself
I

am

on the back saying: Good

trying to see

myself that has

the absence of expressed hatred

what

made
on

my

is

behind

S'hill a

part.

it

all.

success for

1951

Then when

338

heard and knew the love that

Why

to face the question:

do

much

return while Reich gives out so

in return? Is

it

given to you

is still

had

much love in
many Barakans

give out love and get

that people feel that

love and gets so

am

a simple guy, not very clever,

not very original, a guy that most ordinary folks can understand, while

you are so

ahead of the ordinary man, so creative that you are

far

ways a step ahead or a few miles ahead, a man

and wonder

and envy?

posely, for they don't

spent

much

whom

ignoring unconscious drives

mean much

here.

We

if

I say;

Jesus had

any

we must look

Here you have two pioneer

Blimps, of course, but

if

at

hard

affairs:

hated

who have

stay for years or

interest

to

in

etc.

pur-

St

Paul

we

can't

can guess that

Mary's

facts. I can't

figure.

Motives be

even guess the truth.

Summerhill, disapproved of by the

don't see the evidence.

We

who

get staff

be sacked for neurosis or incompetency,

but none of them become enemies and work against the school.
the other side

Orgonon with

on your work.

(I've

had

that too, but

mainly from obvious climbers and

like

Do

hate or fear.)

more than you do? Do you demand wholly

tolerate

On

helpers wanting to rival you and improve

seldom with anything

incompetents, and

al-

awe

to attach

of his time trying not to think of fornication, but

even guess

damned,

am

to

allegiance?

have

never accepted your judgment of the world's opposition to your work,

and the

bound

sales of

as

you

think.

When

[against us].

afterwards:

your books would show that the world

"You

We

are both apt to think everyone

week

lectured last

don't seem to

in

Birmingham

so hide-

isn't

gegen uns

is

a teacher said

know that things have moved in State

is much more freedom in them than

schools during the last years; there

you think."
In writing
ryes

for

all this

would make

me

seems bald, leaving so much out that a couple of

clear. But, alas, I can't see that meeting. It

to apply for a visa again,

apply to

London on my

behalf

is

useless

and unless someone or some body can

I

haven't the chance of a snowflake in

hell.

You
was

in

say that Wolfe has been out of the

it

when we were

over.

work

for 5 years

but he

339

1951

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

i6, 195

My dear Reich,
wrote the accompanying

letter
I

me

came. Let

simply told you what

write his viewpoint

heard

meant simply

tions, the

And my

answer

that you'd

come out

it

let P.

and make a

things that

you do, you

see

as

it

you say hurts you

that

word

order that

hate.

as anti-semitism, negro race hatred, South African

hold

an extension of existing condi-

Apartheid, caning in English schools, beating children and animals

in a

lot

same

business, which

dangerous vileness.

same thing

and Raknes;

suggestion that you

lacking in grasp or so etwas [something of

communism

the sort]. This

its

am

before your second

sides re Philipson

don't feel passionately the

always conclude that

can't see

no

said.

clear to humanity that might never

Because

air mail letter

state that I take

it is

we have allowed communism

lecture tour in South Africa] I

own houses

because we have not put our

in

win so much. In 1936 [on a

to

saw Boer policemen chase natives out of

a public park with whips at closing time; these natives, given the chance,

become communists, indeed the ones I spoke to then said they were
communists and they had no idea what the word meant or that Marx
will

had

lived.

do so long
time?

We

When you

write about doing something

as the factors that

ask what one can

for hate are not attacked at the

same

both preach love and freedom for babies and reach some

number

number but far too small

The Stalins will be top dogs
many years before Peter and Zoe grow up to try to take over the

folks,

a small

to arrest the hate in life

for

make

indeed, a growing

and

politics in time.

world. Partly of course because Barakanism breaks up the united front

of freedom.

Now my

you must, shoo

that has too

dilemma

off the

many

is this:

you have

If

to,

and

enemies.

You may

say

What

against hate.

some
you

is

the fundamental question,

These

letters of

yours show that

extent fellow workers there

to say that

regime," seeing

am unaware
that my whole
I

absence of moulding.

It

seems to

and not the other coloured ones

ment,

Ku Klux

Klan,

etc.

how

is

in

not enough

to

clear that
in a

Let

the hell!

enemies! Better open enemies than false friends. True, but

other way? That

is

it

band-waggoners, they become enemies

is

world

em

be

there any

keep a united front

two old friends and

unity. It isn't

enough

to

for

of the "true nature of the red fascist

life

me

has been for child freedom and

that

you see

that are in

ONLY

the red fascism

Catholicism, Moral Rearma-

Bertrand Russell

in

a letter to

me

recently

1951

340

is a terrible world today when I am asked to fight either for

Syngman Rhee when I hate them both."
But when we argue about politics you and I get nowhere. I prefer to
go back to the love emotion as seen in the 2500 people who listened

said: "It

Stalin or

to

me

to

armored people who get

practically."
it is

true

That

if

is

still

those

not enough to lecture

is

do not move a

finger

and

main

a very important statement indeed,

machen gar

are to divide humanity into the free

nichts [they

who warp

if

a division

babies and those

in the

do absolutely nothing]. You

sie

are likely to get pessimistic;

write: "It

easily enthused but

we

see, Reich,

we

You

Scandia the other day.

in

who

is

to

don't,

and the armored,

be made

should be

it

and there are

a lot of

armored people who are not warping and destroying babies.

who

that all

baby

are against

make

that politics don't

life

say

are red or black or blue fascists and

they only organise them.

fascists;

This crowd emotion (again) would seem to show that humanity

biased toward
are

good

life

citizens

and peaceful and simple-minded. You say fascism of

any hue gets hold of them

in

1934 or so

and

easily

admit

me

emotion Oslo or Stockholm gave to

suppose the answer

member
I

it.

Better for

think that

of your

work

my
.

is

in

when

When

Berlin and

district] in

the

same

enthusiasms, joy, approval.

cannot

is

due

in

some measure

to the

re-

two aspects

the self-regulation for babies (accepted in full by

Reich guy? Chap who

sure does.

me to grope without books.

confusion

is all

studies blueness in the sky. Is

that

it

your Psy of Fascism book, but

and the biological microscopic work that

this

man;

him what seemed

listened to Hitler, the million there gave

it,

stood in the Tempelhof [workers'

is

and love; of course, for the vast majority of people

can't always get

it

is

beyond me. Query:

for free babies, but also the

because

me)

Who

is

chap who

don't see the deep connection

your point of view?

My

simple mind says that

babies are free there won't be any use in studying cancer cells in

the microscope. In short,

get confused

between the therapeutic and the

prophylactic aspects of Orgone work.

I shall
is

be 68 tomorrow, friend, too old a dog to learn

wonderfully good of you to argue so patiently with me.

new

tricks. It

341

[The following

was not

letter

1951

sent.]

Orgonon

R angel ey, Maine

October 26th, 195

My dear Neill:
After long and strenuous thinking about you,
painfully enough, that
that I

have discovered the

within man,

some

8000

life

all

slightest

found out,

awareness of the fact

energy as a function of the cosmic energy

12 years ago. This

plete re-evaluation of

past

you have not the

means opening

human judgments and

way

for a

com-

values acquired over the

years.

[Telegram]

OCTOBER 20, 195

ALEXANDER NEILL
MANY HAPPY RETURNS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND LIFE ENERGY DISCOVERED
BY ME WILL KEEP YOU GOING FOR A LONG TIME TO COME ALSO CAUSING
MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT INFANTS BASICALLY BEING HEAPS OF COSMIC ENERGY.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 22, 1951

My dear Reich,
Many many

hope

more

will

birthdays.

I feel

me a
me many

thanks for your thoughtfulness in sending

birthday telegram. Yes,

it

old most of the time. But

that

now

Orgone Energy

that the

Box

is

will give

well made.

can't run after a bus as

can dance a whole evening without

tiring.

On

don't feel

used to do, yet

the other hand, friend,

do nothing new, discover nothing new, introduce nothing new

past, but

sit

it is

down and look back and

good

to live even

if

the

my

Xmas, and I guess I should be

I did some good work in the
main work is past.

school. S'hill will be 30 years old at

content to

in

say:

1951

think

I don't

Zoe

apply for a visa for 1952. I'd only get another rebuff.

I'll

be 5 next month. Our headache

will

be clean

342

whom Zoe

nine months,

at

is

follows

girl

all

of 6, "trained" to

day. She

that

tells Z.

witches are in her toy cupboard and keeps talking with guilty giggles

about

and

shit

piss.

We

feel like telling the

row

brat away, but can't face the

their brat for

our own. Get

Rangeley

and then

my

other platitudinous words

Teaching maths

do

feel so

all

me

that

parents to take their trained

would follow our

worry would be Zoe

there

morning

"sacrificing"

a visa and an island out in the lake at

is

to save

falling into the lake. In

always a bloody snag somewhere.

money on

a math man's salary.

impatient to read about the atom experience. Seeing that

atom men go about in thick lead or asbestos

wondering how the hell you dared try the experiment.
Love and blessings, friend.

the official

suits, I

keep

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

My dear Reich,
ORANUR.*
read

it

to the end.

Just arrived. Sat

You have

down

to read

told the story so clearly

with hardly a sign of impatience gegen [against] the

haters. In the big

you are the

Oranur job you are neither

selfless

195

once and

at

it

5,

and so modestly

little

men and

the big nor the

observer, humble, astonished, fearful.

the

man;
The whole
little

And it sounds true.

But the report ended by making me afraid. Your claim

report just shines with sincerity.

gingered up by a
of physicians

little

that

NR should
is

be a great curative factor

what scares me.

know you

that

in the

OR

hands

are completely pro

prophylaxis yourself, and no doubt see the same danger that obsesses

me.

can see a hundred thousand doctors using

OR/NR

Boxes

all

over

the world without seeing the fundamental necessity of self-regulation.

work being taken up and

In short, the danger of your

mechanistic medical science

I

was disappointed not

The Oranur Experiment.

is

castrated by the

urgent and fearsome.

to find at the

end that the State Dept. had

343

shown

Would

This raises the nasty question:

interest.

scientists allow

1951

the orthodox

humanity to die of atom ray poisoning rather than admit

was the

that another view of science

right

one?

You

say rightly: Don't

try to convert the mechanistic professors. True, yet these profs stand as

bodyguard of

the

and you, Reich, can't get your drama across

society,

How

the footlights because of these men.

power
I

not

behind the

to get

little

men

of

to the people?

can't understand

demand

to explode a

why

the

AEC

the presence of one of

[Atomic Energy Commission] did

men

its

to see that

you weren't going

bomb.

These doubts and fears always come when

hear from you of a new

discovery. This one sounds so overwhelmingly important and true, that

I

want the world

that
its

to grasp

more than you

it

and

USE

reception. In ordinary times

so fort [immediately].

it

do, for your great

moment

must

feel

the discovery and not

is

you would wait for the more or

less

slow

and wait

is

too alarming. Hence

Congratulations on a brave adventure. Gott,

if

only you could have

reaction; in these anxious days, to

sit

my impatience.
had the whole

seem
P.S.

to

tale filmed!

And

congratulations to your helpers

who

have been a splendid team.

Ena

is

getting wonderful results using the

for children's cuts

and

scalds.

Healing

in

new-made

5 ply Shooter

half the time usually taken,

she says.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

9,

1951

My dear Reich:

short and hasty and urgent note to ask a question.

One

of

our mothers, a dentist's wife in her early forties, has got thyroid badly;
Graves' Disease

fancy by her prominent eyes.

has benefited from the Box?

genuine Orgonon

Or

rather,

is it

Thyroid a disease that

SAFE

expert within visiting range?

her only chance, for

Is

It

to use

seems to

it

without a

me

that

it

is

don't know of any successful orthodox medical

treatment of the disease.

I

find myself that

have to lessen the period of

sitting in

my

five-

1951

344

folder. After fifteen minutes or so I get so very hot that I take

as a

it

warning to get out.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

November

195

14,

Dear Neill:
It is

always quite impossible to answer medical inquiries with-

out having seen the patient.

in

have no experience with orgone therapy

Basedow's Disease, which

is

name

the

only thing that could be done eventually

lator

under medical supervision carefully

for

is

what you describe. The

to use the

in small doses,

orgone accumu-

and to see how

the patient reacts. If she reacts with improvement, then

it

could be

continued. Should severe anxiety attacks of any kind increase badly

with the use of the accumulator, then

highly skilled supervision.

Of

it

course,

should not be used, except under

no cure can be promised

in

any

case.
I

am

in

bed with a heart trouble which broke out

oranur funnel on
passing

away

my

heart. I

twice. It

am
if

We

still

latent reason to die.

are

it.

had

put an

left

untouched a single

collecting the medical experiences

which came up with the tremendous upheaval

your kind remarks on

bed the 4th week, and was nearly

in

Oranur has not

seems as

after

in

Oranur. Thank you for

Oranur books

sent to

you without

charge as a Christmas present.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

My

Tut,

tut,

when he needs
the sort of

we

a rest.

man who

can't

have the

I told

you

195

You

always strike

ship's captain trying to navigate

in a letter

drives the somatic car

layman's guess that the heart engine

bit.

19,

dear Reich,

me

as

will

months ago
all

recover

working against time,

of centuries in a lifetime. Naturally

that

you are

and I make the

when you slow up a
trying to do the work

out,

when you have discovered so much.

345

1951

H. G. Wells said: "You are

when Death

just

beginning to understand a

about

little

comes and says Put away your toys, child,

for it's time to go to bed." Maybe a man dies when he wants to die,
when he feels he can't do more. But in your case this phase will happen
when you are 90 plus, and even then I can picture you on your 92nd
life

the nurse

birthday hopping about on one rheumatic leg

discovering something

Reich

new about

you neglect yourself a

lot.

As an

old

you being a mere youngster. Note

down. Yet who knows the

who

farmers

moon.

the

All of which

means

that old

and bodies and go on and on. Mind you

to defy hearts

is

great excitement at

in

man

that

secret of

am

smoked strong tobacco

all

this,

man when

he

knew two

Scots

hitting a

anyway?

life

wrong food, drank

ate all the

think

can lecture you about

a bottle of whiskey daily,

is

and

day long. They died within a week of each

other at the age of 93.

Oh, Reich, good old

friend,

feel like

around and bully you into slacking

visa,

and damn the expense. You've

until

you can die knowing

you have added

Sit

up

in

to

its

bed and

that the

coming out now

and

ofiE,

I'd

do

it

if

to boss

they gave

GOT TO GO ON

LIVING.
world has acknowledged how

you

me

Living
greatly

knowledge.
paint, Reich.

rejoiced recently

you were painting and composing music.

Two

when you

told

me

excellent antidotes to

eternal thinking.

Let us

know soon how you both

pessimistic about hearts.

are. As
Twenty years ago a

to play golf because of his very

bad

heart.

layman again

S'hill

He

don't get

parent was forbidden

is still

winning medals

at

his golf course.

Ena

joins

in

sending you both our love, but Zoe really doesn't

remember you. She can

talk

lake and about Hamilton's

things

we have

about daddy catching frogs for her

calfies,

but

am

at the

sure they are memories of

said only.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

November

27, 1951

My dear Neill:
I

regaining

have been up again for the past 10 days, and

my

old

self.

am

This heart trouble was a clear-cut Oranur

slowly
effect.

1951

elicited

it

Oranur

346
to the surface

cured in advance. This

of the

how

hard to imagine

It is

of effort.

and

could ever do

Only very few know how much

life

energy.

what?

don't know,

maybe

my hope.

is

came

my

effort

job at a reduced rate

went into

this

discovery

to think in all earnest that almost all heart

diseases are originally heart break diseases.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December 4, 1951

My dear Reich,
Good
right, that

to hear you are now up and about. I hope your guess is

Oranur made the heart do its worst and fail to kill you. But

do take care of yourself from now on. Make the other guys do the heavy

work and walk round with your hands

are doing the job

watching another
I feel

that

but

I can't

man make

mess of

in

your pockets and see they

ever see you standing aside patiently

things.

sure now, and have gradually reconciled myself to the fact,

won't ever see U.S.A. again, and apart from losing touch with

the Reich family

world

and a few others,

When

ing, I felt that there

peace one

is

is

don't care now. Also

matter for me, for

affairs will settle the

clash of ideologies.

I can't

see any

I fear that

hope

in the

read that N.Y. had a practice air-raid warn-

little

hope of peace now. Here

branded as a supporter of

Stalin

if

one

talks of

"playing Russia's

Game."

We

are both feeling

energy, but so far

Have an

my

fit.

We

stick to

our Box

daily. I feel fine, full of

ear, nose, throat catarrh

idea that breathing

is

the best for

has not been helped.

it.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

My

14,

195

dear Reich,

Cosmic S[uperimposition]
mirabile dictu most of

You make Freud

it,

read at a

sitting,

understanding,

not the trigonometry part though.

a parochial fellow, confined to his

It is brilliant.

Vienna and

his

347

1951

neurotic patients, but not touching the great fundamentals of existence.

I

wonder when you wrote

you got

forward into
is fine;

much

C.S. Dates

discount

my

theory that, after

hate in Little

a great stride

of

dogmatism

indeed the whole theory of Superimposition just sounds

ever that

won't see you

for a Visa.

this

Another man,

pioneers, has been refused

Prague to meet other

coming August.

a Dr.

shall not apply again

Head who was one

of the penicillin

one seemingly on the grounds

penicillin experts.

Communism either.
I am pessimistic

about the future.

can be stopped.

the

If

West thinks

TRUTH,

The book makes me sadder than

great truth never thought of before.

to

may

Man, you took

realms beyond good and evil. Your absence

rid of so

He

isn't

that he

went

sympathy with

in

how the drive to war

communism by war or if

can't see

to stop

communism thinks it is its mission to overrun the world, war must

come, and we in England will be killed. And if war comes I and other
liberals will

her. It

be shut up

in prisons

and

my Zoe

will

have no one

to help

deeper than West versus East; forces unknown to us are

is

working for hate and chaos.

So

that,

when

read your words of hope for humanity,

ing of the awful world

Met
"Reich

you are speaking

man Mackenzie,

a
is

his time,"

discovered you and he said through

keep think-

to.

a garage owner,

200 years ahead of

my

he

who

reads

said.

books.

all

your books.

asked him

make

how

Baptist!

Many

he

good John the

thanks for the presentation copies of Oranur Experiment.

195^2

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

i,

1952

dear Reich and Use,

Many

thanks for the delightful parcel of sweets. They are

indeed a wonderful luxury to us with our sweet rationing.

I
I

want

have

to

just

make

a sad proposal

that I stop corresponding with you.

been reading an American novel about the witch hunt,

showing that the

with a person

least small association

of being semi-communist or pacifist

is

enough

busy hunting out the witches. The novel convinces

again bother to try to get a visa.

people
is

in

any way. The mere

and

am coming

to hate

me

fact that

to talk to

told
I

need not

make you

if

known by

suspect too.

and fear the methods used

opening

letter

communism
damned

hate

in fighting the

They

are arising

country too.

have

just

had

that a university

and

that

you correspond with a man who

creed, for they are not love nor charitable methods.

in this

suspected

is

don't want to endanger you dear

considered dangerous to the U.S.A. might,

or any other way, be enough to

who

to get the haters of life

them

think

week up north

England, the

in

(Durham and Newcastle) has

in this country. I held a

made them

think.

them they must have your books

are

you both

in

health?

How
349

in

me

my

life

officially

of your

work and

in the university library.

south Sweden and Denmark at

Malmo, Goteborg, etc.
is that heart, Mister Reich? Are

in

Easter, taking in the smaller towns like

How

time

seminar of profs and lecturers

They had never heard

have been asked again to lecture

first

ever asked

1952

350

you taking things more

make

easily? I

damn

the guess that you

well

are not.

have no special news. Just the old daily round.

day and hating to do

all

the salary

Zoe

is

Our
you

is

but

so,

am

teaching maths

simply can't get teachers these days;

too small.

well and growing and learning fast.

love to you

all

and our misery

at

not ever being able to see

again.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

February

12,

1952

My dear Neill:
I

have

I failed to get

set

out to write to you several times, but again and again

you properly. What

you are endangering us

if

name do you mean that

The fact that books which

in heaven's

you write

to us?

attack the government can be published in the U.S.

enough

that

you are on the wrong

alone proof

is

you permit

track. Will

me

to

be

frank: I have the impression that

you are spell-bound by fear of the

England to such an extent that you run

red fascists' possible victory in

right into their arms.

You

speak

at times, against

your

will, like a

com-

munist stooge, but you are certainly an anti-communist liberal rebel

individualist.

cost

Why

you your

do you do

this? I

visa to the U.S.

It is

am

certain that this

is

what has

unnecessary, untrue and harmful.

Already, the anarchist politicians in England have depicted you as a

fellow-traveller.

distinguish

type of red
the

Did you see

it?

It

would help

if

you would learn

to

between the democratically-minded communist and the clear

common

fascist.

They have nothing

to

do with each

other, except

origin.

We here are fully busy with research and some public affairs. The
Orgone Energy Accumulator slowly penetrates the American scene. But
Oranur is a very dangerous venture. The outcome is quite uncertain.
Write again, Neill, and stop fearing the red

we can over here

to cut

them

off.

fascists.

We

are doing

all

351

1952

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

1952

i6,

dear Reich,

Too

often

do we

get at cross purposes.

simply read The

whom I had never heard. The

and in my innocence and ignorance

Troubled Air, by Irwin Shaw, of

read as

founded on

if

"Even

to myself:

among
just

if

facts,
is

it

only partly true, Reich has so

novel
said

many enemies

doctors, scientists, etc. that friendship with a suspect like myself

MIGHT

altruistic

happen

to

You

motive.

harm him." Dammit, man,

call

me

a liberal:

true.

was

it

quite

an

Right, but these days

communism, and not only today. In 1920

before I had ever thought about communism I became sponsor for a
German girl who wanted to be naturalised. Months delay till she got it;
the police inspector said: "The delay was because you got that Bolshy
liberalism

man

classed with

is

Neill to sponsor you." In 1920! Simply because in

was a rebel

tion, I

was on the

Maybe geography makes

is

Home

one

line,

educa-

Office records as a Bolshy.

between us about events.

a difference

S'hill

surrounded by U.S.A. bomber bases, and U.S. planes manoeuvre over

our heads

daily.

only factor

we

We know

shall all

that

the necessary

if

rearmament

have a most dreadful death.

And

is

be the

to

have never

known how you stand to all this. I don't know if you think that the
West can stop communism in Asia by war instead of by making people
happy and free and well fed so that communism won't have any
attractions.

You

say

fear red Fascism in England.

don't now; the people are

almost unanimously against communism of any kind. What

war

that will probably

end

worst type of communism.

name

fear

fear the death of free liberalism in the

is a poor one, for I don't want red fascism or communism, and I

want to see any other fascism grow up to counteract the red kind.

But

all

this dispute

Yes,

it

us. It isn't

saddens, the

meet again.

am

all

my work

line

It

more so because

down

in

me

don't

just tires us

sometimes fear we

not going to try again for a visa, and

that things will quieten

that

between us never gets anywhere.

our

chaos, a good breeding ground for the

in

of safety of the State. But the position of a pink person like

and saddens

is

my

life

time.

see

no

signs

get so depressed to think

for children will be lost for ever in a

world. But one sort of consolation at

shall never

changed hateful

being banned from U.S.A.

is

that

1952

352

me and my

U.S.A. has no use for

ideas.

My

book has sold very very

badly over there.

You
again.

don't mention your health, and

take

it

you are back

normal

to

Good.

Don't

let

us continue arguing about politics and policies. Let us write

about important things.

motor and

Why

won't you

W[ashington]?

Bill

Why

me

tell

moving

the sequel to the

did the experiment stop there?

You

were so optimistic then about using Orgone for power. What was the
snag?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 17, 1952

My dear Reich,
know

my

you

was

it

who

suggested

we

cease corresponding.

gave

you thought wrong ones, and they possibly

reasons, reasons

were, for from this side one can't get a true picture of anything. But in
the past silent months

...

Am
of

matter so
I

all

have often

much

to children

Am

now

warm

in the class of

such a thought comes only

friendship? Should two

be separated by the

in

more

Hal Wells,

pessimistic

Szixe,

Report which you so generously send me, but

word and

the world of Reich, so far

work go on

as usual.

And

U.S.

News and World

a poor substitute for

it is

from that new world we dream

about for our Peters and Zoes, the world of love in

Life and

in early

its

widest sense.

September

have another lecture tour of Scandinavia. Since Raknes

Conference

Zoe

will

with her

may

see Peter.
regulated.

six.

gang.

hope

be

at

to

your

We

Unfortunately

Ena has

seldom see her

day, for she

is

so busy

we have no boys her age who were

lost weight, is slim

Onetime admirers,

all

wish you could see her now, and that we could

well and full of energy. She works

will

not see him this time.

soon be

own

Barakan?* But

moments.

My only source of information now comes from

the

men

plague?

political

news of the Orgonon work? Worst question

cut off for ever from

.

very sad, asking myself questions

felt

miserable end of our

Is this the

who

all

of

whom

all

and

like a

young

girl,

but

is

self-

very

day long.

had, in Reich's view,

become

"pestilent.

353

1952

Marika Hellstrom

No news

is

sending her daughter here as a pupil next term.

of the Haymes's since they went to Uruguay. Difficult to keep

touch when people can't meet.

in

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 24,

1952

My dear Neill:
It

mind

my

was nice

entirely that

to

have your

letter of

you had ever suggested

July 17th.

It

my
On

had slipped

to cease correspondence.

was no resentment or grudge against you whatsoever. To

just believed that you are somewhat stuck in socialist ideas

part, there

be blunt,

of the 1920's and refused to see that the world, apart from

and economics, has drawn forward, and that Marxism

Freudism are dead

cats,

even

they

if

nuisance for a few centuries to come.

world most likely

kind of

human

will

may
Still,

well

will

as

succeed in causing

they are dead cats.

be oriented in the future around an entirely

thinking, functional thinking,

cosmic energy which

still

all politics

as

The
new

and the discovery of the

have no likeness to what we knew

in

our early

life.
I

hope somebody

the past year.

will write to

can only

tell

you about what happened here during

you

of use in early spring, that for

that our buildings

many months

were knocked out

did not sleep in one

place for 2 nights in a row, that Use and Peter had to evacuate

and

we

town, that

live in

all

normal

activities

Orgonon

have been cancelled and that

are trying desperately to keep our boat on an even keel. All this will

be extensively dealt with

in future Bulletin publications.

Somehow

the

universe has knocked us on the head for our daring impertinence in

challenging

its

secrets.

Write again,

Neill,

it's

nice to hear from you, though, due to

my

development during the past 5-6 years, the gap between us with regard
to the

should

view of man's existence has widened considerably. This, however,

in

no way impede continuation of our old

respect your zest and zeal, although

with the premises for a happy

human

by old-time liberalism. The problem

is

came

life in

the

friendship.

still

to disagree very sharply

the future as they are set

human

plague.

1952

354

be no convention

and probably none next year.

work has carried me onward to the problem of weather functions
and rain making over deserts. I am planning a small expedition to the
There

will

this year,

My

Southwestern parts of

[The following

this continent.

letter is

from Use Ollendorff Reich]

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 26th, 1952

Dear

Neill:

Reich said

you and

tell

in his letter that

he hopes somebody

will write to

you about what happened here, especially since the end of

March. So I shall try to give you some idea of what is going on here.
Around March 22nd, the Oranur at Orgonon became so strong that it
not only made it impossible to stay in the Observatory and the Students'
Laboratory and the Lower Cabin for any length of time (10 to 15
minutes maximum), but it reacted on all of us in a very deep way,
bringing all the hidden fears and hatreds so much to the surface that
they either had to explode and give way, at least partially, or made it
impossible for some to continue working in this atmosphere. I myself
was most strongly hit, and it is only during the past month that I am
slowly emerging and that
realize the extent of
living

have started functioning again and begun to

what happened. The purely physical conditions of

are absolutely impossible,

especially for Reich

living partly in a tent, partly in hotels in

away] and Rangeley and who, every once

back

to

the

Observatory and

tries

to

who

has been

Farmington [some 40 miles

in a while, insists

live

there again,

on going

with quite

when he nearly died. He still hopes to

Lower Cabin, but the Students' Labora-

disastrous results once or twice,

regain the Observatory and the

tory
is

is still

in the U.S.
ties

to

absolutely unusable for longer than V2 hour at a time. Reich

planning for the winter or

late fall

an expedition to the desert parts

Southwest to study atmospheric conditions and the possibili-

of cloud formation and rain

Rangeley

this spring

experimental work.

Tom

and

is

making on the

spot.

working part-time

Ross, too,

is

Eva came back

assisting in Reich's

helping with the experimental

355

1952

work, besides continuing his care-taking of the property. In him, Oranur

developed hidden

phenomena.

of the

have not reacted

him

scientific qualities,

at

that those of us

think he and Peter are about the only ones

who

one time or another plaguey against Reich, blaming

we had only

for things that

and he has become a keen observer

who have come

ourselves to blame for.

through so far

will

can only hope

be able

to continue

hamper him in his terrific task.

I have a vague plan of coming to England some time next year, but
with things as they are, no definite plans for anything can be made
at present. We do not even know where we shall live this fall and
winter. I would very much like to see you and Ena, and especially Zoe
to help

Reich rather than

to

and hope that the plan

again,

will materialize.

My

best to the three

of you.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk
July 31, 1952

Dear Use,

made me very

Reich's letter

sadder and

much

puzzled.

It

looks as

sad,
if

all

and yours
the doubts

makes me

just

and

fears

and

hates of humanity boil down, not to glandular action in the body, but to
rays in the universe.
a

terrible idea, for the release of

atomic rays in

war would apparently mean a clash between them and orgone rays and
humanity similar to that among your small number at

a reaction of all

Orgonon.

to see the connection

try in vain

reaction of emotion and

between the Orgonon

the easy brutalising of humanity, in

say

the

Gestapo, Franco Spain, Communistic hate, Negro lynching. There were

no gamma or other rays

I

in

hate to think of you

Hitlerland.

all

with your miseries and frustrations

in tents

1920 liberalmay have left me behind in

ism, but he hasn't left me behind as a sincere friend, one of the few,
I fancy, who can speak to him frankly and be spoken to frankly by him,

what he

and

hotels.

and

damned McCarran visa Verbot [prohibition] did not stand in

way, I'd come over and slap him on the back and cry: "Buck up,

the

if

Reich

that

Reich. Let's talk

IS

calls

it

all

THERE going to

out over a rye and a packet of Chesterfields."

be a

final report

on Oranur? Does

it

mean

that in

the end O. energy cannot protect against the death rays of an atomic
bomb? Is Reich a Moses who never reaches the promised land, only

1952

points the

way?

of the picture.

356

I
I

think of the

motor

and apparently no help or support or

energy people.

me

and then went out

And

from the

belief

official

the desert-rain project without official backing

wonder how it can be done.

more and more uncertain about

left

atomic
is

to

it

in

just a

get

prominent

plague. I see

Reich says the future

can't see

is

girls

in S'hill.

in functional thinking

that means. I can only think concretely

any book on

Summerhill. Cattiness, bitchyness, especially in

in

and women, but gradually mellowing

what

word

that

diplomacy but, maybe because of a blind spot,

politics, in
it

worked

that

think of the Oranur experiment with only Reich

sayphilosophy with

its

absolutes etc.

don't

know

abstractly,

hence

and

and never

is

always beyond

my grasp.
I

worry

at the idea that

Reich

is

standing alone, not having his family

with him.

play

Accu on

is

London for ten days only. Blue Armour. An

drama between the orthodox doctor cancer
Reich practitioner, who does not claim a cancer

running

in

the stage, and a

researcher and the

cure, only the right to try the

unorthodox way.

It is

good drama,

tense,

not dangerous to Reich. The newspaper reviews have not been good;
they mostly assume that the
the dramatist.

were most eager

Accu and Reich were names invented by

women after the show and both

talked to two press

to hear

[The following

about the "box."

letter is

from Use Ollendorff Reich]

Rangeley, Maine

September 22nd, 1952

Dear Neill:
I
still

know

that

we owe you

rather hectic around, for both

just did
is still

a letter for

some

time, but things are

Oranur and Plague reasons, and we

not get around to keeping up with the correspondence. Reich

unable to stay for longer than 4-5 hours

at the observatory,

and

tries to sleep there, he comes near death. He has to go

away from the Orgonon region, as far as 60 or 100 miles, before the
body symptoms ease up. Peter and I finally moved to Rangeley, where I
have rented a small, very nice house for the next 6-8 months and we
may take it permanently. It is big enough for all three of us to sleep

every time he

357

1952

and for me
his cronies

work

to

there, but

and Reich and

his

too small to house both Peter and

is

it

work. So

be solved, as long as the observatory

hope

I still

love to you,

to

come over

Ena and

is

another problem to

this leaves

not back

in its function.

next year and to see

you again.

of

all

My

Zoe.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

23, 1952

My dear Reich,
It

you

was a joy

a prosperous

And

to get

New Year,

Xmas

instance, they

it is

From my

letter.

haven't given politics a

want me

add

to

my name
want

to

a petition to the

to ask

did not petition against the Prague executionst also.

humanitarianism says, yes, save the R.s from death;

And

get

my name

it

won't be out

[of

associated with

damned
the

till

Queen Elizabeth

Lectured

fall,

II] will

go unnoticed.

in spring will
in

Communism

them why they

I

don't like

self-interest says

again?

do want

it;
.

to stay

lot.

have written a new book,t

too wish

so difficult to stand alone.

President to reprieve the Rosenbergs.*

clear of the whole

side, I

the three of you.

to hell with political disagreements!

thought for months, but

For

your

for

lots

about Zoe and

my

publishers say that the coronation

swamp

Much

all

self- regulation,

but

papers and any book appearing

of the

book damns Soviet education.

Sweden and Denmark again

last

September, but didn't

go to Norway.

Got a new book on Cancer, thinking

present. His [the author's] point

added
I

to artificial

didn't send

me

"If

it

to

Reich

is

that

to send

manures and poison sprays

you. Reminds me
is

right

it

on to you as an

wrong feeding

is

the

for plants

of a question

about cancer and sex,

Xmas

whole story

and

trees.

So

some

visitors put to

why

has cancer in-

and Ethel Rosenberg, Americans convicted of espionage in 1951 and,

controversy, executed in June 1953.
Eleven old-guard Communists were hanged in a purge of those opp>osed to

* Julius

after
t

much

tightened Stalinist controls over Czechoslovakia.

t

The Free Child (London; Herbert Jenkins. 1953). Neill sums up what
in a lifetime of work with children and makes a strong plea for
freedom and self -regulation.

he has learned
full

1952

358

creased enormously since Victorian days

repressed than

With

my

all this

visiting

it

is

today?" Luckily

you

1984.

until

I'd

have to

fly

sex

have been invited

I find

lecturing but meeting

royalties

when

was much more

was not called upon

to answer.

screening of air crews and ship crews the odds are against

make up my mind. At 69
new people
in a Tokyo bank, frozen,

but can't

for the voyage

Ena and Zoe

fine.

Z.

easy to live with. She

is

all

a lecture tour

the time.

but could use

Japan

to lecture in
tiring,

not the

have 800 book

I
it

to

my

pay

is now 6 and nice to look at and

now lives in the school while we

She brings the usual plague remarks from other kids

"Daddy,

it is

act

all

and

how

rude to say cock,

Damned annoying
on a

kid.

wonder what
summer.

is

happening

in

Orgonon, picturing

Well, again, old friend, the best of everything to you

love to you

P.S.
is

all

Ena and

the

same

counter-

the time of course.

often
in

isn't it?"

strong a hold the other side gets

and

clever

are in the

cottage.

to find

fares.

6 weeks.

Xmas

it

all.

in

snow

And

our

all.

card from an old pupil in

getting very popular in

New York."

New York

says:

"Orgone therapy

195^3

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June 29, 1953

My dear Reich,
The Murder
ever read.

gift

of Christ

appreciate very

horse in the mouth"

Firstly

however

let

me

sharp, clear sentences

is

most important book

easily the

much your

me, and

gift to

must; you would hate

have

if I

me

to

"look

do otherwise.

to

congratulate you on your English style. Short,

.

they

translation in the other books.

make me

You have

feel

how much was

tricks of style,

as repetition,

which makes the argument mount with great

no one could

tell

that

by

lost

good ones such

couldn't

tell,

have

force.

you were writing English

as

foreign tongue ... a considerable achievement.

So much
head,

my

for the frame.

eyes,

my

ears,

the gulf between the

But the picture

but not with

man

of talent

my

itself?

guts. It

(me) and

grasp

it

with

my

shows me so clearly

the

man

of universal

Do you

recall our discussing the idea of my coming out

Orgonon? Your idea in 1948. I knew it could not be,
knew that the danger would be that I became your disciple. Your
Garden of Gethsemane, Oranur, was simply a Wiederholung [repetition]
of the evils of discipleship. It troubles me. The seer, whether a Jesus, a

insight (you).

to run a school in

Gandhi, a Reich, cannot contact even

alone in essence. Hence,
think rather unfair.

The

take

it,

his nearest ones;

pioneers, even the minor ones

myself, liberals in outlook, at least

be done by the Churchills,

Ikes,

he must stand

your scorn of liberalism, a scorn

we do something

folks like

that never

Trumans, McCarthys,

359

would

Stalins etc.

We

1953

36o

John the Baptist preparing the way

often where salvation is coming from.

are

for future messiahs.

Doubting

simply cannot give you an opinion on Jesus as a genital character.

Your argument

for sounds just truth,

Gospels again to see

I shall

but

have to read the

shall

can see the context.

if I

have to reread your book more than once;

grasp in one reading.

Why, why, why?

Why

it is

The

the hate of genital life?

him

from

to shut his eyes

us, but

if

they did

You end

the

Why

book on

is

anti-life

hundred or two parents

genital play; less in

repress

number

said that

the structural

mud

kids, but

40 millions spank and

liberals!

have one foot

of Calvinism.

you

Britain approve of auto-

in the past.

expect

it

is

True, stuck fast in

this that

and fucking. You accept no middle way, yet when

it

the devil

makes me

fail

your so sharply drawn distinction between embracing

to accept in full

have sweet love

why

But so slowly, so prone to

in

of adolescent love.

and the 100 or two are

You have

she

so easy to be captured by a

a note of hope. Things are moving,

say, towards real freedom, towards Life.

back-sliding.

in;

she had her nighty on. She didn't get that

till

from other adults (domestics) and

does she seek Barabbas?

child?

have to go behind them and ask why, why? Five minutes

ago Zoe was undressing to go to bed. Our history master came

told

jealousies, patri-

archal states, suppression of sons simply don't click, and

still

origin doesn't matter

much, but the perpetuation does. Theories of father

one would

too vast to

kept looking for the answer to the question

affairs for years, tender, giving

see our adolescents

and taking,

hold that

does not matter what words are used. (By the way, they use neither

embrace nor fuck; they "sleep together.")

word embrace, and

life

can be orgastic.

if

fuck

rustic

here never heard the

means of expression, his marital

if you have too easily judged all
neurotics you as therapist had to

his only

is

sometimes wonder

mankind by the standards of all the

meet. No, Reich, I think you overvalue mere words.
Do you recall when I said that one day people would be bottling
holy Orgone water if you didn't look out? Your book suggests to me
that that danger may not be far off. Because you refuse to be a Fiihrer
you are alone in Rangeley; because you refuse to raise their Lazaruses
and make the
the

hem

halt

and blind sound, your multitudes

of your garment

In reading your

myself where the

final

modem

version

chapters about the

anti-life

Paul was to come

new
in,

will

seek to touch

sitting in the

Box.

leader I kept asking

the guy

who

is

to oust

36i

1953

my own

the leader. In

work

little

They open schools and

see the Pauls.

advertise "ordered freedom"; they have co-education with boys in one

barracks and

over the way and a housemother with a flaming sword

girls

on guard. They take your idea and suitably castrate

it

meet.

do a thing about

can't

and

it,

if

little

and

inci-

make ends

dentally get big fees and prosper, while S'hill struggles to

Jesus cannot, what can

a big one do?

Recognition.

How

you hate

You and

won't go to them."

always seem to take

that

it

"Let them come to me:

that word.

have fought about

want you

them

Bernals, Haldanes, wanting

But

to

publish your Christ

I'd

message to the world.

message

in its original

me

had influence over

Jesus and

at

that

to broadcast

is

it

many

way

criticism will be:

to

its

your

preserve

to the four winds. S'hill has

What

wrote about

is

it.

your evidence?

here taking the post of Devil's Advocate deliberately.

Sure, he

really are right.

20 cents and broadcast

half the globe simply because

women. The

you

think of reaching as

say that the only

form

You

1938.

be recognised by the Einsteins,

to assure

think of recognition in another way;

as possible.

this since

The

am

critic will say:

had women who adored him, but so did Rudolph Valentino, so

does James Mason; any

who adore

man who can

him. The religionists

hold an audience will have

annoyance with him and Mary was due

to the fact that they

while she had to wash up. Personally

lovelife lies in the

open

anti-sex of

all

women

of course argue that Martha's

will

were talking

think the best proof of his

the other "saviours." Paul, Calvin,

John Knox, the Popes, the bishops. None have associated with publicans
and

sinners.

Why

But proof there can never

be.

did you leave out his disciples, his best-loved John, his stupid

Peter? Because of your disgust at your

might have made more of the

seemed

Had
and

to

go about trying

his tirade against

his

little

women

anti-life,

disciples?

And

Paul, the

hateful

think

you

man who

keep down the wrong kind of erection.

anything to do with his views on Jesus

women?

can see that

this great

book

swelled head and say:

was mad, but

are a Jesus.

of yours will

"Now we

this is the final

genital character

you

to

own

misery of mankind.

Jesus

We

is

we

his Jesus

man who

others are

play our bridge, our golf;

the

talk

feels

common

enemy nod his

We knew he

at last.

proof ... he thinks he

and so he makes

make

have proof

is

one too."

Christ; he

And

completely distressed
clay;

about nothings.

is

of course
at the

we do our crosswords,
I

don't run ray school

1953

because
I

362

think of the misery of millions of

simply do

because

it

think

right

it

Or

think of humanity by and large.

large. I will not risk

that
if

my

school

life

and

moulded and beaten

fascinating.

children;

too

little

to

rather to feel for humanity by and

so that a couple can have a love

disapproved of by their parents, parents

is

am

who would

kill

my

life

school

they knew.

Query: why did Jesus lose

the

who knew not what

way too

too stunning to be grasped at once, in

It is

makes me wonder

Communism

its

will

conquer the

in the process kill religion with its mysticism.

Then a new

simple.

anti-life force

It

if

without the sky mysticism will be easier to be conquered

by a desperate humanity

whom

to

Life will not be complicated as a

mixture of earth and heaven. Meaning that

until utter

men

be pardoned as

his crucifiers

they did?

But back to the book.

world and

temper with the money-changers and

his

and yet mildly ask that

tree

fig

misery has forced

man

can't see universal salvation

and Christ

to look at Life

you

as

have seen them.

But again and again

man

at a

drinking

Why

the hell?

of nearly 70's theory, for

is

Why

Don't laugh

anti-lifism?

honest. Gluttony

is

it

is

not a

always pardonable, slander and gossip are tolerated

are not suppressed. Only love

almost sexless time of

Sex

is.

life:

is

My

new theory

sin,

evils

but

arising out of

my

the only instinct that decays.

We

eat

90 or more, we laugh, we gossip, like Sir Winston we have

our brandy. Age does not touch any pleasure except the genital one,
so that the old men, few of whom have had a full love life, feel bitter

we

till

and

are

frustrated,

and they hate the young savagely for

that

their ability to

and hence the Oedipus suppressions.

genital pleasure,

have

(I hasten to say

have no conscious jealousy of the young myself.)

How

to tackle

the something in us that compels us to murder Christ? In one reading

I

haven't got the answer from your book, and until

can't see

less

murder

how we can
lust

Well, Reich,

has stirred

and
I

me up

their children less

still,

have written too much.

so much.

your tragedy, of a prophet

have

we know

that

answer

love Life. True, our Peters and Zoes will have

at least

had

to

also troubled me. It

It

who

we hope

so.

because your book

is

also the story of

in essence feels as lonely as Jesus

must

You grew away from us all.

mankind. You were tempted to save mankind from
disaster. You both went off the rails. Poor old Jesus was not

felt.

Jesus was tempted to become a

Fiihrer, to save

atomic

permitted to try again, but you are luckier, for you have tried again and

363

value than

all

You may
that

is

them

if

way than Oranur. This

am

way

to Christ via

book

that the reading

Bione

is

much more

of

etc.

my

True,

new book would

lost this

man would understand

point

contain

with his guts.

of yourself. Use says you stopped smoking two years ago.

always stopping and regressing to

Oh, what

P.S.

came

your other works were

all in

Christ

your Oranur experiments, your equations, your Bione*

reply that you

all

Take care
I

1953

tried in a better

it

the secret of anti-life?

is

in a

very weak way. Bless you.

Why

are the animals the only

ones to be tensionless, to be natural about their sex and excretal func-

Why are we the lower animals? Rats don't make bombs; cats
wage war; cows do not moo plague murmurs. The secret has
worried me for many years. If man had had a dog's periodical sex would
tions?

don't

he have been
god. That

is

Was

anti-life?

years ago, and was

true,

man

at

there a

woman

rutting season

peace then? The devil you say

undoubtedly

true.

But

Adam

is

a million

the perverted

and Eve must have been

embracing long before the serpent entered the garden. The one optimistic
feature seems to be that the secret of source can be by-passed. Peter

the First and

Zoe the

fellow, but Peter

wax with

long time, but

be completely free from that serpent

and Zoe the Twentieth may be because freedom

their generations.

They

will

conquer the serpent

he die a natural death? Will he

will

with cloven feet?

fertig

First will not

him

can't kill

[and finished]

at

70).

in

Can you

Man all the time?

You have killed the gentle

still

myself because
kill

him

in

will

time, long

walk the earth

am

(und

fixed

in yourself? Is

he your

Little

Jesus

meek and mild ... or have you?

If

today he were in East Berlin would he meet the Russian troops with a
sword? No. His answer to Brady would have been: "Woman, go and sin
no more." He could hate evil but not the men who did the evil ... a
vital difference.

Indeed

suspect that he was

more of

a liberal

than

you allow!

And all this

me up. You've

letter

merely goes to show

given

me

how much you have

how can

an indigestion, a bad one, for

your astounding Jesus when the Christian Jesus has been

since birth?
as

if

And

this genital

character worries

me

in

lot.

stirred
I

digest

my bowels
You write

the teeming millions have mostly been ungenital characters, that

Reich underlined the passage and wrote one word,

NO.

1953

Christ
true.

364

was the only man

Have

the great

all

in the

regiment in step. But surely that

isn't

men and women been handicapped by

the

plague? Goethe, Shakespeare, Rembrandt, Milton, Beethoven, Charlie

Chaplin? Have a million carpenters since Christ only fucked?*

hasten to say that

new book

arising

if

these questions are rhetorical;

all

would take

it

you tried to answer them. They are simply the bubbles

from the cauldron you made

boil

by your book. Letting

off steam.

Sorry.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July

8,

1953

My dear Neill:
was deeply touched by the manner

in

which you responded

The Murder of Christ. It not only revealed the fact that you remained my good old friend, but it also showed me that any suspicion of
disruption of a good relationship has been false. And this is as it should
be, since factual medical and educational ties are incomparably more
to

solid than

any that

political

views have to

offer.

The answer why natural genitality is being fought in such a murderous

way is clearly given in all my cUnical investigations, including The
Murder of Christ. What remains unsolved is the problem how the armor
came about thousands of years ago in one animal species only. I would
like to assert

from any

my

point of view that the emotional plague did not arise

from any economic compulsion.

political necessity or

clear that the economic miseries are

political

means

plague. This

that

Marxism

as well

as

wish

own

know

that the

soothe your

American government was

hesitant last

year to issue a passport to me. This, to most of

of concern about

my

safety abroad,

In the meantime, what

would

It

my

friends,

call a false liberalism

the satellites against political horsethieves

would be a

sign of utter misjudgment,

Reich scrawled his answer

in the

was a

sign

and not an expression of animosity.

has suffered

greatest defeat in the uprisings of the people of Eastern

[It]

ills.

may

could have you here for a discussion.

feelings to

is

Freudism are

dealing with merely secondary symptomatic appearances of social

I

It

than causes of the

results rather

and petty crooks

no matter what

margin: YES.

its

Germany and
in

power.

attitude any-

365

one

is

1953

taking for or against Western politicians, to weigh two lynchings

per year in the U.S.A., fought severely by the government, against the

who have

who shut all

The Western statesmen have at least retained
a sufficient amount of decency in handling human affairs which the little
horsethieves in Russia never possessed. However you may feel about this

murderers

slaughtered millions of people and

doors of access to

liberty.

attitude of mine,

cannot possibly ever shake our friendship.

it

Did you receive the 2nd volume, People

am

Trouble?*

in

looking forward with excitement to settling

the final

volume The

Use has told

down

personally

to the writing of

Silent Observer, f

me much

about you, and

wish you

all

the best of luck

and happiness.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July II, 1953

My dear Reich,
Troubled People? You've said

it,

brother.

You have made me

My first reaction was entirely subjective. My new book

The Free Child is in the press. After reading you I felt like withdrawing
Your brilliant analysis, your manifold experience, your power of
it.
deep thinking made me feel that my book isn't worth a dime, feel that
it is shallow and ignorant and full of wrong thinking. Then I went on to
think that that is the real reason why you are a very lonely man, alone in
one of them.

Maine, not understood by

the

book

call

paranoic!"

laid

it

You know me
will take

it

at its

all

down and

well

enough

the Neills and Hamiltons.

said to

Ena: "And

to realise that

deep value when

am no

When
is

the

finished

man

flatterer,

they

and you

know of no one in the

no one who is so modestly

say that

world who has seen so deeply as you have,

this

* People in Trouble (published in 1953 as Volume Two of The Emotional

Plague of Mankind, The Murder of Christ being the first; reissued in a new
translation in 1976). Reich's autobiographical account of the development of his
sociological thinking (1927-37) and of his growing awareness of the essential

part played by character structure in the social process.

t

This was never completed.

1953

366

There are thought-provoking sentences on every page. And I

wonder why these two books you sent me have taught me more than
all your other books; I think one explanation is that you are writing
direct and not through translators, but another may be that you have
sincere.

own

increased your

The sadness

clarity with the years.

of the

one person who was

crew

battle. I

is

you apparently hardly ever found

that

and brave; too many denied when the cock

mean denied you, I mean the cause,

understand at last why you see in Communism
and

don't

par excellence, but

and

book

loyal

think you were

wrong

could not possibly see the truth

the idea, the

the anti-life

in not realising that

Hamilton

we never went

only because

if

through your experiences with the Party. Leaving out your genius for
the

moment, you

and Berlin, a

life

aggression, while

most strenuous

lived a
that

hammered you

we ...

life

your work

in

weapon

into a steel

can only speak for myself,

in

Vienna

against

life

led a sheltered

existence without external hate and aggression and betrayal. Life

itself

wonder now how you

could have all your Neills and Wolfes around you without their boring
you stiff ... it must be because of your naivety which you so often
compelled you to wrench from

mention
But,

in the

damn

book.

politics or

Dank you haven't yet tackled

Box at night and read stories.
sei

Thanks, Reich, for giving

life.

It

The

correspondent."

an

was a man

can

bom

in

week

all

my

Gott

sit in the

and

"Can Science

the chemical trials to

native town, a "science

longed to shove your books into his hands and say:

At the same time

my

virtue

life

accepted before

is

still

great stimulants to thought

quoted Bernal and dwelt on

writer

simply can't read

after reading you.

so that

article last

Fool, leave the dead and learn from a

chemicals.

what not

fiction,

me two

My morning paper had

Produce Life?"
produce

you, man, you spoil a chap's reading!

any book on psychology or

realisation.

and

secret,

it its

knew

it

patience but with Reich

I die,

man who

deals with

would be of no
I

am

but of course

use.

impatient ...
won't.

life

and not

With children
I

want

to see

367

1953

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 17, 1953

My dear Neill:
People

in

your good

just received

Trouble.

was

It

a very

letter of July

good

letter,

iith,

on

reflecting

thank you. However, you

me

overlooked the fact that the second volume was not written by

in

English personally, but was a translation done by several non-professional student translators. All the best.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August

10,

1953

My dear Reich,
Rainmaking
you

health (pro-life).

article

fame

attain "public"

good. Aber [But]

it

will

be a comedy

if

as a getter of rain instead of a getter of public

can imagine a National Biography (published 1984)

saying:

Reich, Wilhelm, famous scientist, discoverer of rain-making

process.

It is

a pity that this great

man wasted

his time

and energy

in

advocating views on sex that were of no importance.

Just been to

How dull

Oxford University lecturing

they were,

how divorced from

all

to a

Teachers Conference.

that matters.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August 21, 1953

My dear Neill:
Just got your

go down

my

in

good

August loth. Don't worry:

won't

already famous status as the discoverer of the cosmic Orgone Energy,

the Life Energy.

It

foundation under

my

Why

is

really the

whole

Oranur Experiment which puts

scientific

from the past into the

hope you are

the

and personal existence.

don't you forget the Freudians for a while?

and they were an important

letter of

history as the rain-maker, since I'm careful to maintain

They did

link in the chain of great events

their job,

which lead

future.

well.

Hoppe and Raknes

are here, and

we

are con-

1953

368

ducting important discussions.

shall

Bibliography which will prove to you,

my

pubUc conscience,

human

over

send you soon a copy of the

who

that the discovery of the Life

thinking in

all

Energy

is

turning

branches of living and can therefore not be

"recognized" by anyone in the usual way.

way

plays such a great role as

simply bulldozes

It just

its

through.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

5,

I953

My dear Reich,
If

know,

enclosed review of Flying Saucers

Hoppe

send a copy to you.

I'll

interested to see

it.

He

has been here

this

is

of a

book

that

you don't

says he thinks

you

weekend and

was a joy

it

be

will

to

have him. For three days we talked nothing but Oranur, so much so that

made me very sad to think that

made and I can never be allowed

all this

it

wonderful experiment

come and

to

see

it

is

being

and you. The

rain-making sounds fantastic, like a Wellsian phantasy story of the

First

Men

in the

Moon

type;

food growing in the Sahara.

until

Hoppe used

it

the term, the

take a lot of proving to show

it

read they had 8 inches of snow

it is

due to

am

But won't

it

caused by the atomic explosions?

Cape Colony, an unknown

in

bewildered about

feels true,

first

the

Hoppe

It

is

too

full

unanswerable,

final.

And

yet

am

says I should reread your Superimposition book, but

has been "borrowed" like the Oranur booklet and

all

my

copies of

it

my

books.

I feel

two

of ideas even for a

why my dog shows its genitals and

human parent moulds and the animal
something that has to turn God into the

causes

why

doesn't. I simply can't see the

own

event. If

a matter of being for or against the

satisfy. It isn't

cannot show mine,

Devil.

[Deadly ORgone]

DOR how can one prove it?

book; the argument just

DOR

bacillus of the cosmos.

is

second-reading the Christ.

second reading to

still

new world with

brings conjectures of a

never heard of

much

out of touch with you. I haven't seen a Bulletin for, oh,

years.

You seem

to

admire Eisenhower with his mild look.

don't have any

opinion of him, only that he might have spared the Rosenbergs from

death after three years of suspense.

was asked

to sign a petition

on

369

1953

by a Communist-inspired body.

their behalf

sign the petition

if

you

will at the

same time ask me

to sign a letter of

protest against the Prague executions. Humanitarianism

I

replied: "I shall gladly

is

indivisible."

Must all sides kill?

be 70 on the 17th of this month. My old pupils are having a
me in London, but I'd rather be 30 and miss any party.

got no reply.
I shall

party for

how I miss seeing you. Meeting people who do

Hoppe, brings back so many memories of great times in
Orgonon. Damn the McCarthys and Malenkovs of life.

P.S.

Mein

Gott, Reich,

see you, like

Orgonon

Ran gel ey, Maine

October

16,

1953

My dear Neill:
you a telegram today

I sent

birthday.

truly

returns. I also sent

you some bound volumes of the

personal use and nobody

Your

letter of

to congratulate

is

You

The problem about

However,

men.
the

first

causes of man's degeneration has been

tackled both in the Einbruch der Sexualmoral*

imposition.

The problem

liked very

is

not fully solved.

much your answer

to the

Red

Fascists.

Write again soon. All the best to you and yours.

are quite right:

fruitful again.

also the opposite process of fruitful land being turned into

deserts because of evil

Many happy

Bulletin for your

else's.

October 5th was a great pleasure.

There are serious prospects of making deserts

there

you on your 70th

hope that you enjoyed your anniversary.

The Invasion of Compulsory Sex-Morality.

and Cosmic Super-

1953

370

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

November

13,

1953

My dear Reich,
Many
is

a delight to

thanks for your valuable birthday

sit

and read

of 4 volumes.

gift

Aber

the latest about your work.

all

It

[But]

those equations are far beyond me, and will always be.

At

last the

plague has reached me.

few weeks ago an Australian

joumaUst came to interview me. He seemed to me

a gentleman, talked as any
I talked freely to

him

modem

be a scholar and

to

progressive would talk. Like a fool

Now

off the record.

a poisonous article appears

in a

Sydney Sunday Telegraph, headline: "School where children have a

full

sex life," a smear

the way.

all

withdrawal on the ground that

is

that

it

My

can

lawyers have written demanding

make me

one of our own Sunday papers

in the fire. If

take

What

I fear

and then the

fat is

lose pupils.

will print

it

any judge would be against love for youth, any jury

were

to ask a question in the

indeed

in

a hole.

had a love

the small children. If

life

work, for

too. If

House my school would be

stand up as

If I

that adolescents have

my

to court a clever counsel will ruin

it

an M.P.

closed.

am

should do and proclaim bravely

in S'hill, I lose

my work

pretend that nothing has taken place

with
I

am

all

coward and a swindler.

In any case

can't afford to issue a writ against a rich newspaper; I

have not enough money to run

almost certainly win I'd be

left

My

school,

and as the paper would

with an enormous debt.

blackest view in case the article

my good friend Reich

my

is

published here too.

were here to advise

me and

I am taking the
And how I wish

support me.

Good reviews so far, and the

Woman's Hour told all mothers to read it, but
who listened I doubt if many will read it.

book

is

going well.

review in
millions
I

go to Scandinavia

some money,

for our

simply haven't the

in

book

of the few

January on a lecture tour, mainly to make

numbers have dropped from 60

money

radio

for private schools today.

Yours, rather frightened and depressed.

to 42; people

i9i4
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January

9.

1954

My dear Reich,
Thanks
I

am

just off to

five lectures

but

for your

New Year

wishes which

Norway and Sweden

on consecutive nights

must earn money somehow.

too

should they?

wouldn't.

We know

make

so

much

moment

little.

How much

genital frustration, for

is

much

friend wouldn't

in heredity?

is

no sign of

see

am

have

me,

it

genital play.

in

How much

ruling out

in

for the

Zoe and don't sup-

me

that his girl

Even so why

the appendix

and not the bladder or penis or what not? Or

math

like

hear has had appendicitis.

although Use did

in Peter,

him have

let

man

the guess that Trobrianders of their age

our canned feeding and doubtful candies?

pose there

Sweden

for an old

return via Copenhagen.

Zoe has had whooping cough; Peter

Why

gladly reciprocate.

to lecture again. In

is

tell

the appendix the after-

of Oranur?

man

called

Masserman has an

Biodynamics. His up-to-dateness

this sentence:

".

article

on P.A. [psychoanalysis] &

shown, or rather

is

his lack of

the success of a course of p. a. therapy

is

it,

by

the re-

establishment of a capacity for sexual orgasm. Short of the reductio ad

absurdum
is

of course a measure of truth in

have a compulsion to bring you

What do you
*

Reich has carried

to which, for instance,

it

in

."

even

in

371

concept, there

They won't accept you but they

if

only to slay you.

think of Ritter's journal?*

Orgonomic Functionalism, published

this

England.

have no special opinion

1954

about
it.

yet,

it

372

only that

didn't see anything dangerous or misleading in

he sticks to concrete stories of self-regulation okay, but

If

will

he?

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

February

i,

1954

My dear Neill:
wish to acknowledge briefly your

you
I

still

would

fit,

my

worried about
like to grant

letter of

January 9th. Are

acceptance by the good world?

every healthy child of the future the right to have

whooping cough, an occasional accident and similar innocent

By all means, don't have them perfect! What

neurotic happenings.

counts
I

is

am

the foundation

and not the surface.

preparing beautiful material for a book which will be called

"Babies' Peace Offensive U.S.A."* Could not

I

was very happy

to

do

it

in

Moscow.

have had news from you, please write again.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

10,

1954

My dear Reich,
Just back after four

Sweden, twice

home 150

in

weeks

once

in Oslo, 7 times in

Denmark. Big audiences and good money

paying fares

etc.

Judith gave a party and to

my

after

lecturing,

Helps

to

keep the school

brought

off the red

in the bank.

as he always was, charming.

delight, Sigurd

Hoel came and was,

Nic was there and got aggressive

drinks (as she always does, although she

is

some
Raknes

after

a very nice person).

and Frau were there and next night he gave a birthday party with Nic
and Henrik Sorenson, an old acquaintance of mine to whom I can't
speak, for he

knows only French and I don't. Judith was in bed with

in her back, but managed to get up for her party.

something wrong

Lovely person Judith.

This project was never completed.

373

1954

No

one

in

Sweden seems

hagen several said

to

folks will be wild."

me:

know much about

to

you mention Reich

"If

you, but

Copen-

in

your lectures some

in

did mention you a few times but couldn't see any

visible reaction.

No one

in

Oslo had any news of Elsa Lindenberg. Ola Raknes

tower of strength, appreciated by everyone, a slow

Met

Communists

a lot of

Denmark among

in

man

is

but a sure one.

the intelligentsia, but

they are not so narrow as the British ones; most of them will agree to

bad things
the

New

in

in Russia,

main one.

but of course they

all

think the economic solution

why Margaret Mead found

asked them

the Arapesh tribe

Guinea loving children and growing up peaceful, while loo

away another tribe hates kids and their sex act means blood and
tearing? I told them both tribes had the same economic basis
living
on yams and fish. No answer. Some had been to see Russian schools
and they rhapsodised about what they did for children. I asked: Do
they allow adolescents to have a sex life? They didn't know but thought
miles

it

was very

me

out knowing the language

or kids, and of course
to U.S.A.

U.S.S.R. govt, invited

of

it. I

went

it

me

to

come and

likely to

it

An

expenses. With-

that

could never again

do

talk to their teachers

if

the

about free

that.

Raknes doesn't think much

carefully myself.

[Neill's letter of April 17, to

missing.

would mean

think of Ritter's magazine?

must read

all

not a likely event in any case. I'd go only

and they are not

What do you

go to see Russian schools for

could not get a thing firsthand from teachers

if I

to

would gladly give me

myself, saying that the U.S.S.R.

children,

unlikely.

Several people here keep asking

come

which the following

is

an answer,

is

injunction which included prohibition of the rental or

sale of accumulators

had been issued on March

19,

1954]

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
April 22, 1954

My dear Neill:
Your

letter of April

your worries about me, but

17th arrived yesterday morning.

in a certain

way

am

glad

it

share

happened the

1954

way

it

me, with one stroke, of a

did. It freed

work which

tive

374

unpaid administra-

lot of

have done for years for the Foundation. But

also

it

has cut off an income of about $3,000 per month, an amount badly

needed

to

Orgonon.

at

assume you have understood why

manner,
I

keep the work going

am

I at

least

not standing convicted.

who had

did not go to court. In this

my honor and

maintained

damage me.
The injunction
other grounds.
little

independence.

You are, of
You would not

nothing to do with the primordial Orgone Energy.

course, free to write whatever and wherever

intellectual

did not concede any authority to anyone

please.

being contested as unconstitutional and on

is

do not think

you

branch of the

total

it

will stand. If

body of

my

it

stands,

work.

am

many

has only killed

it

proceeding with

cosmic engineering, desert work and the cloudbuster which has been
televised both in

Maine and

Arizona.

in

does not do such big things as

neck, and should

my

ever break

am

neck,

it

One

not going under yet.

do without the

breaking one's

risk of

would make quite

a bit of

noise.
I

am

because

much about

sorry not to be able to write too

I

hate touching this

going to fight

in court,

stuff.

The

physicians in

know who

mainly
are

and there are also powerful friends around who

are fighting the evil in chemistry and medicine

scarcely

things,

New York

my

on

side,

though

they are.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

July 13, 1954

My dear Reich:
Glad
your work and

to hear
its

from you

future, but

the time, waiting to see

if

it

again.

We

seems

to

Indo China

universal extermination, waiting to see

man,

if

Malenkov

is

any

real

is
if

are

to

waiting for news of

all

be the starting point of our

Ike will show himself a strong

improvement on

The world sure is

question is: Will we destroy

all

be a case of our waiting

if McCarthy is
moment. The only

Stalin,

finished or not.

a melting pot at the

big

ourselves with

H- and Cobalt bombs

BEFORE

Reich's peaceful orgones are accepted?

happened

to Churchill? I don't

You

ask what has

know. His position must be most

diflS-

375

1954

he knows that

cult, for

war

in a

of U.S.A. and Russia and

would be wiped out while

Britain

much

China would

of

we

the differences between us and U.S.A. arise from the fact that

much more
Ritter

are

vulnerable.

making headway with

is

parts

survive. I think that

which has got an unex-

his journal

pected push forward owing to the legal verdict against you over there.

He

W.

says that

O.F.

him about

Steig has written

in U.S.A., but

if

your own work

is

getting subscribers to his

forbidden there, can he import

matter dealing with O. energy.

I

wish

could share your optimism about the way one can

On

government.

no judge can
what

kill

book unless

behind your case, why

is

with a

sitting

this side of the Atlantic

it

Food & Drug guy

nothing happened then.

It is all

She

isn't well.

is

it

Zoe, for

two hours

for

so mysterious.

hates

and care for her

after I

than ten years and

go on. Zoe

age; have to force myself to

is still

do what

new

together;

Box

to give the school

overcome an

my

fear for

begin to
.

live

feel

tell

meet new people.

my

kids a
I

have

and the world. Genius and energy go

unscientific

doubt

lazy devil.

had long had.

Counter reacts to death rays from atoms or radium;

energy, hence

regularly but

next.

want Ena to

a darling.

have proved clearly that I'm no genius.

can't

medicines and of

used to do easily

story, rehearse a play, dig a plot of ground,

nothing

life is free.

all

try to get her to use the

much more

1948 but

keep wondering what

one day and then says she hasn't time the

can't live

your

recall

in the lab in
I

free;

know

don't

still

your personal

if

difficult to advise,

course works far too hard.

she uses

obscene. But

bad

fight

more

is

suddenly came to a point.

you are doing, how you can work,

Ena

is

it

think freedom

G[eiger]

reacts to O.

it

doubt which can be expressed as a question:

Is

there

any other known good energy that reacts to a G[eiger]-MfUller] Counter

also?

my

much
know how

don't want your answer; too

ignorance. But I'd like to

to
all

do without dealing with

the orthodox scientists

explain the fact that the box does have a Geiger reaction;

does

One

it

fit

bright

into their scornful dismissal of

young

scientist

when he read

OR

Send us

latest

out of touch these days.

G-M

Good

photos of yourselves and Peter.

mean how

phantasy and bunk?

as

of your

"Obviously the G. Counter was a faulty one."

reaction said:

old science!

We

do

feel

so

much

1954

376

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine
July 17, 1954

My dear Neill:
Your

But

understood

do know

tortured

a great pleasure, indeed

itself

it

and

am

He seemed

him

moment

Orgone

firmer now.

heap of

thrilling.

is

political

cannot

FDA

the interference* any day now. But

world of yesterday

mains standing except

these facts,

i.e.,

public in a few

my

Peter and

first

in this

mire

me

tell

and other crooks.

more

at present,

many places, in
not come through

did

my

We

dead.

It

is

only so

the hands of
till

now. The

are expecting the result of

no matter what

is

good

is

fight for truth

And

the

outcome may
it. Nothing

know

be.
re-

my theory based on
Whether it will govern the
one hundred years I do not know. The sea

good, valid facts and

the true nature of the living.

months or

of emotional plague

having

confusing

Your question regarding

fighting bravely, in

judge had signed the injunction unread.

my own

at

quite

months ago, because

hoodlumism rampant here, but

middle of the American

in the

people unknown to me. The

Also

whether Eisenhower has taken

[asking]

much

is

justice against a great

My

world by the libera-

gullible

of the eruption of the plague against

dangerous but most

much:

upon a

of the political

He

found myself suddenly

and

in

quite dazed for a while, a few

he caught on quickly.
the present

do not know.

keep up one's natural standing

was glad you wrote

of the newness to

ask,

dead already, having

is

Nobody has succeeded

will admit.

of blood and stupidity perpetrated

I

You

standing outside this holocaust

still

yet. It's hard, I admit, to

tors.

and men and women to death

billions of children

an accomplishment you

control.

world asunder ...

will blast the

that this mechano-mystical world

an accelerated pace.

me

Orgone come through before the mechanists and chemists

will the

thus

came

letter just

is

in

deep indeed.

And

vacation in ten years.

Eva and looking

remain rather detached.

am

just enjoying

into the sky with the

am

Orgonon and

new knowledge

in

my head.
They have cleared out 114 political hoodlums from the very department of government from which emerged the conspiracy against my
discovery. The fight is on everywhere, hard and relentless. No quarter

Some

fifteen physicians trained

by Reich

hopes of overturning the injunction.

tried to intervene in the case, in the

377

1954

is given or expected. It is a new world against an old and dead world.

Eisenhower spoke publicly of the American revolution. I called it,

months ago, the second American Revolution.

Write again

Now

Neill.

have more

and heart

leisure

and

to read

write letters.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August

1954

9,

My dear Reich,
Poor old Wolfe.*
his

motor boat, then

escape

life.

think of

him

have often thought of him

no therapy

that

world can

in the

as a

happy schoolboy out with

the evening a miserable fellow drinking to

in

in

connection of your saying

fundamentally early character

alter

formation. Orgone could not fight Swiss Calvinism because

later.

But

still

had much success, for he did

it

liked the guy a lot;

my own

understanding him.

fine

it

started

work. Ena and

don't suppose Gladys helped but no

my

Scots Calvinism was perhaps a help in

woman

can

help a sick man.

do

Ritter. I can't

him.

He

publish

of course

all

a thing, can't even hint that

is

cashing

Reich's articles, etc."

unless you simply

tell

guy's point of view;

thusiasm. But

inadequate.

my

don't

him harshly

by anyone. But you and

it

you are

that

know what you can do about

you don't want

little

cruel to stop his evident en-

I'd feel

have also

if

some young

to think of the plague angle,

you envious of Ritter? Half

my

just

have to ask

to

me, half

stuff

Little

is

"on

Man

haven't read his journal

might have done.

Communism. Ex

had

be

age, understands

more about Orgone science than I do, is rather patronising

my last book as saying nothing new. You say his
the verge to drown in Little Man Socialism." I see the
part, but not the socialism, but then I confess

will

fellow started to explain

sneering at

so thoroughly as

it

to be interpreted

fancy anything he writes about your deeper work

myself: Neill, aren't

of

are always handicapped by seeing the other

would be a

know how

Summerhill.

* Neill

critical

on the U.S.A. ban ... "I can now

in

S'hill

teacher on

heard of Wolfe's death.

deputation

to

Rumania, party

1954

378

member of course. Said: "I

knew your books and said:

tried to sell S'hill to teachers there, but they

Neill's

it is

only a

right for delinquents

all

now we know, eh?

but not for normal children." So

reintroduced co-education, but

methods are

see U.S.S.R. has

means only attending same

it

Off to lecture to Cambridge University. Did Oxford

Query:

Am

ference

programme

is

called

"Freedom

in

me how you

can

how

are,

work

is

appeal going through?

If so,

going

or stopped

my

Oh,

wish

what

is

rays?

Damn

the observatory doing?

book
of

seller to

500

School

When

futility.

school, costing 200,000.

this

how you

concern rather.

part;

to

me

tell

[try] it? I

the latest.

hundred questions
will

wish

Orgonon be

strike

me

is

New

Over the

Silence.

Zealand has

and

just built

her biggest

The

front door are the words:

And

clear of danger

things that prevent our meeting again. East

all political

West both show the same

Motto of

way home

his

could talk with you.

what chances of success? And what

progress in rain-making? Did the authorities probieren

Raknes had stopped here on

The Con-

School and Society," but

without an income. Not curiosity on

live

Is the

the

summer.

last

out of date or have the universities progressed?

don't see sex freedom in the syllabus.

Tell

classes;

HEAD co-education.

a magistrate here has ordered a

burn The Decameron as obscene

Not bad

after a

run

years.

Orgonon
Rangeley, Maine

August 29, 1954

My dear Neill:
I

am

late in

answering your

summary of our situation:

We have won the case against

letter of

August

9th.

Here

is

brief

the legal angle of

lifting

FDA

the

the injunction.

No

factually.*

books

have strong support from government quarters

combat.

An

and California

to

Reich believed that he had blocked the

is

still

We

drought

preparing to go

do serious desert work.

FDA

is

be burned.

in matters of

expedition of 4 men, including myself,

to the S.W. Arizona

will

There

by not appearing

We

in court.

have

379

broken the drought

tor,

and Dr.

it

my

with

advice.

shall

FDA-EP

background of the

material, the

East on several occasions. Moise,* our opera-

in the

Silvertf did

1954

have the "conspiracy"

[Emotional Plague] case

which

is

dead

Use

is

gone for good. She was too afraid of Oranur for years. Since

sent to you.

she permitted herself to

know

and our separation was

felt

alone. Peter

The

is

with

Eva and

it

also, things

as the proper
Bill

Moise

in

went much better with

and

rational solution.

TRUE

ending

Functionalism.

in utter confusion. If there

am

He

claims

a kind of precursor.

any kernel of science

is

am

Hancock, Maine.

Ritter case has developed unpleasantly lately.

establish the

us,

in

now
He

to
is

him, he

out of the tangle. Otherwise he will submerge in obscurity or

will get

insanity.

He

my

works without

my

questions open which require answers.

He

has no right to publish any of

permission.

Wolfe's death has

left

died from his basic decency which objected to his inability to

continually.

Though

work

had no contact with him for several years,

was deeply saddened.

Neill, I

am

far out in space as

new menace from outer space?

If

it

not

were. Are you oriented about the

I

shall

send you some authentical

literature.

My

ship

is

flying high

from the platform of

and

strong though not too happy.

get

some opportunity

It is

fast.

Most people have gone, looking on

their respective stations in

My

work

is

life.

This keeps

very productive, and

*
t

me

hope

to

to talk things over with you.

always a great thing to have a

letter

from you, therefore, keep

writing please.
In spite of the

world being on

fire,

we

are

moving

William Moise, Reich's son-in-law.

Michael Silvert, M.D., a young associate and student of Reich's.

1954

380

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

15,

1954

My dear Reich,
Someone
is

the

FDA

what they

details of

Box
I

in the right

was surprised

was better

so,

He

revenge.

sent

me

tried?

any proof of

Any

way? The answer

that

What

the N.Y. Post [article].*

"tests." Is there

reads as

if

Any

me

written

guarantee that they constructed their

of course to

all

these questions

you gave the guy an interview

for he

interested

their attempts?

to

but

much damaging

might have written

he were trying

at all,

be

fair,

no.

is

I see

it

in

stuff

an unusual thing in

journalism.

That

article in the

Post

fails to

why Freud was

see

accepted com-

paratively soon while you weren't. Freud didn't go deep enough to touch

humanity on the raw. No, Reich,

when

kids have soft stomachs

all

you'll
.

be universally acknowledged

and by that time you and

I will

be a long time dead. Sad thought though.

Your last letter was joyful for me to read.

What of Peter? When Use asked about a
it

were good to be 3000 miles from her son.

job in
I

S'hill I

asked her

if

told her that the saddest

who don't see

Eva may be a

cases of children of separated parents in S'hill are those

Do you

both father and mother in vacations.

agree?

Mutterersatz aber [mother substitute but] any Ersatz [substitute]

isn't

good enough.
Letter after almost a year's silence from

had been

in

U.S.A. and had seen you

Mrs Haymes. She

and

was a

said she

bit jealous of

her

hope

so.

luck there.

That

Do

article talks as if the

send

making.

Observatory

is

now

livable in. I

me any newspaper cuttings about any results with your

And can't you get McCarthy to investigate the FDA?

"The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich," September

5,

1954,

rain-

by Irwin Ross.

381

1954

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

i6,

1954

My dear Reich,
For the past weeks

have been concerned with the vexed

question of health, vexed because

orthodox medical friends say

the

me

bug theory. What troubles

cause of disease. So

many

cannot find any solution.

have caught a bug. But

is

that

no one seems

to

My

can't believe

know

the root

think they hold the secret of health. Naturo-

paths with their diet and cold compresses, doctors with their drugs and

who

injections, all sorts of cranks

health.

The young doctors here

Churchill

who

energy

full of

is

is

fit

man, while many

a vegetarian

not.

have slowly come to the conclusion that the Box

this climate.

Raknes's shooter

with more layers, does not.

sphere. I can

V^ hour in

sit

to think that R.
I

diets,

Then a
smoked too

of psychosomatic.

talk

has eaten unbalanced

much, drunk too much brandy

crank

think that higher thought will give

all

am

is

more

say

Oslo gave
it is

the

me

isn't

suited for

hot waves; mine here,

dampness ever

mine and not get too

fully

71 tomorrow and

in

in our

atmo-

hot. It doesn't help

me

charged with orgone energy.

take

it

that

from now to the end health and

more of my attention. I hear that Use is at the

Hamiltons'. Only other news is that Dianetics is becoming a popular
craze in London. The tenth rate always succeeds.
I fancy that the Democrats will get a majority next month and if they
some

illness will

do there

just

take

might be an easing of the visa situation, but the hope

only one in a million.

wish

could think that east and west could

is

live

and fear that next year the Chinese will attempt to take
Formosa, U.S.A. will support Formosa and the 3rd war will begin.
Danish teacher back from visit to U.S.S.R. says to me: "The Kindergartens are all Pavlovised. A baby must never be alone because he
in peace;

can't

would become an
and thinks

individual, so that teachers see that every child feels

as the group."

Sorry to send so dull a

P.S. Still

letter.

no word of the federal verdict being annulled.

1954

382

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

December

1954

7,

My dear Reich,
Reminds me

in vain.

government here has issued a booklet on rain-making;

send

already

and dismiss as

Steig sent

me

be anything

to you, but there won't

it

me

it

you believing

Reich

can't be true;

saucer he won't accept

it

take

it

that

Orgonon

disaster

it

that

I'll

get

one and

you don't know

from a speech of yours.

in visits

is

from other

gave

It

planets.

No,

a scientist and unless he sees a flying

is

as a reality.

can't understand

men idea.* Too deep for me. He mentions

CORE. J I haven't seen it.
hell of a life of struggle

in

that the

useless.

a circular with extracts

a great shock to find

I said,

REICH

look every day in the papers to see a headline:

REIGNS IN ARIZONA DESERT ...

new

it.

CORE

This

publication called

closed up now. God, Reich, you have had a

and work and opposition.

was simply a reason

It

looks as

your going on to something

for

if

every

else.

No special news from here. Zoe was 8 the other day; she is tall and
bonny and quite clever. She has little interest in grown-ups (including
me) but enters fully into the group life of her pals. She has just come to
me reciting a very obscene rhyme a boy taught her, and last week said
she liked hymns and would like to go to church. Just shows how far a
journey

You
really,

it is

to a self-regulation world.

me

wrote
but

at

71

getting-old

man

listening to

my

to

worry

find

it

less

and

live

difficult to live

LP

ality

all

being lonely.

May

and she

in

am

just a

chopping

records (mostly Chopin and

Wagner

to try to

make

a penny or two.

My long separation from your dynamic personI literally

visitors

have no one to talk to

have nothing to

conventional gossip about cars or cinemas. Mrs.

Sheffield

much

golfing,

has been a long sadness for me.

about anything of value. Most

in

don't worry

wood,

and Schumann). Lecturing sometimes

Worst of

more. No, Reich,

now

with simple interests

super radiogram

more.

will bring a little of the inspiring

Haymes

offer
is

me,

just

coming over

breeze that blew around

and Rangeley.

Cosmic orgone energy, Reich

believed,

was

the

power used by the spacemen

UFO's.
t

Cosmic ORgone Engineering. The successor journal

Bulletin.

to the

Orgone Energy

383
I

begin to

tire

be an organised
School

still

necessary to

of the expression self-regulation;

affair

girl

make

it

pay.

it

is

getting to

therefore.

its life

much

guess you also are feeling the financial

of your

income from books and boxes

of 18 gave a party the other day in a

10,000. Her father

the

soon lose most of

will

now

always near bankruptcy, only 42 pupils instead of the 60

strain after losing so

and a

and

1954

made

London

hotel. It cost

a fortune in Malaya. Nice advertisement for

communist papers of course.

Well, Reich, bless you,

trouble and want to talk to

think of you often, especially

someone who

will listen.

must he always be thousands of miles away from me?

Damn

when

am

the man,

in

why

19^5"

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 15, 1955

My

dear Reich,

Thanks

for

CORE

Reich and had read

was

that the author

CORE.

either

in centuries. Since I

said to myself: If

for the

know you

hold that the internal desert

will

cure for the external desert. But

chunk

time

had never heard of

would have concluded

[crazy] or the greatest discoverer

aren't

alternative. I can't follow you ...

Raknes and Hoppe? You see there

able to turn a

first

meschugge

is

meschugge

have to accept the

there anyone

are so

many

who

can, barring

You

contradictions.

prevent humanity from accepting a

is

that true really?

Suppose you are

of Arizona desert into fertile land, will

American

Were
when you

farmers refuse to use that land because of their inside deserts?

the

two

fruit

farmers

got rain for them?

scientists

too

much

in

Maine

free

from the

internal desert

incline to think that the internal desert does

accepting Orgones, the Bernals, Einsteins.

from

man
moon and Rudolf

to lose, but the ordinary business

The farmers who sow by

the

keep

They have

thinks of gain not loss.

Steiner* are convinced

that they get better products.

Emotionally
planet.

Do

can't see

described them.

German

this

they land and then go away at once? Otherwise there would

be some witnesses

any proof that space ships have come to

who took photos or spoke with the guys or at least

am not thinking of scientists; I am wondering why

occultist, philosopher;

founder of anthroposophy.

385

1955

386

our sensational press has not got hold of ordinary citizen witnesses and

made

The

a stunt out of their reports.

The

derful a chance of a scoop.

tell

me

that

you made

if

(and people) would ignore

it

it

Sunday

editor of a paper like

would publish a photo of potatoes growing on

can't

won-

press could not resist so

Pictorial

his mother's grave.

rain in the Sahara the

because of inner plague.

matter in the case of health. The inner plague would

a different

It is

make

a thousand

doctors reject an orgone cure for cancer; millions of parents reject

same reason. What

regulation for the

regulation paid in dividends and profits

am

trying to say

that

is

if

pass their inner deserts

it

selfself-

would be advertised and ex-

it

ploited. I'm not being cynical, only realistic in a material age. If

can make Arizona sand into cultivated

You

whole world press

the

fields

and of course say:

It

Americans

you

will by-

wasn't Reich really;

was the H-bomb.

how you

Incidentally,

CORE

lish

and

can't get staff

that

This

to build

pure envy;

is

rainmakers and pubI

can't

one long worry about the

life is

fascism growing and

see

Caning

money

get the

can't guess.

Added

to

freedom for children being hated.

our schools gets worse; lack of discipline

in

pupils,

get

future.

judges for the cosh [blackjack] boys

who rob

blamed by

is

with violence.

Makes me

makes me feel that most of my work has been in vain.

They have debates in press and radio here about education. No one

feel depressed,

me

ever asked

You

you?), while

now

to take part.

haven't your pioneering patience, Reich.

work triumph in a hundred years (Or are

mine triumph in my lifetime. Only 40 pupils

are content to see your

I

want

to see

out of a few million British kids.

However, there are compensations. Zoe

is

and

a delight

am

not

ill

in body.

Just heard

Family

in '48.

from the N.Y. publishers who published

They had

U.S.A. didn't buy the book.

sold so well that

chance of

my

women and

song

depressing

as "remainder" stock because

Odd though

that the Japanese translation

have 800

ever touching
.

it

in a

Tokyo bank

unless

as royalties, frozen,

go to Japan to spend

rather late at 71 for geisha girls

letter.

my Problem

3500

to sell out

Partly the awful weather.

By

it

no

on wine,

fear.

the

way

I see

no

sign of blackening of stones or queer cloud formations here,* but then

I

wouldn't

know one cloud from

Manifestations of

DOR

another. Piece in today's paper says the

(Deadly Orgone)

in the

atmosphere.

387

1955

Coliseum

Rome

in

danger of

in

is

And Hoppe

upper stones.

owing

falling

crumbling of the

to

Westminster Abbey stone was peeling

said

off.

Finally

damn

why

you,

are

you so

far

away?

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February

My

1955

5,

dear Reich,

came

Ritter

your

letter to

him.

me

to see

told

the originator was alive and at

He

much

disturbed by

difficulty in explaining

an idea when

yesterday.

him the

is

work and advised him

to

change the name

of the journal so that he did not appear to be interpreting you officially.

He

doesn't want to

do

that. If

it

me

rested with

on, hoping and thinking the good he does

will

him carry

I'd say to

much outweigh any wrong

interpreting.

To me
Formosa
day that

the matter seems klein [small] today

affair will

the

if

by the end of

no way out

bomb

end us

Formosa

issue

airbase

is

this year. I see

at all for us
is

if

not settled humanity

is

may be

didn't

want

life

on

this island.

first

see

Long ago you

to believe you.

target,

humanity

fear your plague

is

said that

too

War

miserably think you

letter.

Your spacemen may be benign

but the blighters are too late to save a very unbenign world.

Do

destroyed

rightly.

Sorry to write so cheerless a

P.S.

the

think that the

that U.S.A. especially will rather see

both sides to save the situation.

would come and

if

no way out for China or U.S.A.;

destroyed than have universal communism.

prophesied

looks as

seven miles from Summerhill; we'd be the

fundamental ground

III

it

world war comes. The biggest U.S.A. atom

but in any case radiation will destroy

strong on

when

over here. Bertrand Russell said yester-

all

try to give Ritter a little

hope

for his enterprise.

1955

388

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

[undated]

My

dear Reich,
Ritter

how

upset about your letter to him.

is

qualified he

to interpret

is

OF

have tried to explain

you must wonder how

that he didn't go through therapy, that

it is,

[Orgonomic Functionalism].

have ad-

vised him to change the name to Self-Regn. [Regulation] and not claim
to

be an interpreter of OF.

He

how tactless! Latest number says Zoe

warm clothes because she has met with authority or lifenegative people. He must realise that to readers that means me and
Ena. Kann sein, aber so etwas sagt man nicht [Perhaps so, but one
is

a well-meaning guy but

won't put on

doesn't say such things].

Much

worried about Formosa and the danger of a world war. Nearest

U.S.A. airbase

Zoe

to die for

one

else. I

say

well, I don't

my

want

sadly think that the fighting forces will destroy us

Big question:
struction

seven miles away, so that

is

Chiang Kai-shek or Malenkov or Ike or Churchill or any-

Is

enough

all

conscious knowledge that atom war means total deto prevent

war? To

hell with nationalism of all kinds,

I.

[Neill enclosed the following notes

on a separate

sheet.]

Fragments of an Analysis with Freud, by Joseph Wortis, M.D.

[New York: Simon & Schuster, 1954]

Page 106, Freud

said:

"An

analyst

by the name of Wilheim Reich went

to Russia and lectured there, and talked so

that they finally asked

Page

65

him

much about

promiscuity

to leave."*

"Reich, a talented psychoanalyst, will probably have to leave

the

movement because he has turned Communist and

He

believes,

e.g.,

that the

altered his views.

aggressive instinct and sex problems are

products of the class struggle instead of inborn biological drives."

Reich underlined

this,

and wrote

in the

margin: Liars

Scoundrels!!

389

1955

Desert Research Area

February

My

17,

1955

dear Neill:
I

have received your several

desert research that

that

we have

little

letters.

We

are so busy here with

time to keep up with correspondence

not immediately urgent. Therefore the delay which

is

hope you

will excuse.

have sent you a "bibliography"

even

in

as

me

am,

to say:

that

you

London Times does not mention me. Why

heaven's name do you, who has given so much to education, yearn
be honored by nobodies like Bemal? Your name will stand in history
a great educator when the world will have long forgotten such petty

feel I

to

order to convince you that

you are so hurt by not being recognised by your enemies

I feel

in

in

England, not dependent on people Hke Ritter. Permit

am

stuff as

a failure since the

[Bertrand] Russell's on the twentieth century of

lovely look in a child's eye that constitutes

you expect.

would

feel

late.

my compliment

something was wrong with

me

It is

the

and not what

if I

had

a present-day Nobel Prize with a researcher in anti-biotics.

to share

Enough

of

now.

this
If

you have mercy

him

for Ritter, please convince

best advantage to stop using

it

would be

and further abusing the well-defined term

Also, he should stop printing our material

Functionalism.*

my

permission; and he should not dare to do therapy using

any way.

He

is

self-regulation

a most tactless, neurotic fellow.

is

babble of the worst, cheap

issue in order not to

neck please ...

to his

Even

sort,

make enemies. Would you

would hate

to

his

without

authority in

outpouring on

which avoids the true

try to get

him

off

my

have to use moral force against him.

The advice you gave him already may serve as a springboard for further
moves to disconnect him completely. Otherwise, soon all crackpots
and neurotics who failed to reach my bandwagon will be gathered in
an awful cacophony around

With regard to Wortis:

Fascist conspirators.
to him. This stuff

He

his lack of responsibility

is

do not believe

was put

Defined as the study of

that

into his writings

living,

and

a well-used stooge of the

tact.

American Red

Freud ever said such things

by Moskau hoodlums who

changeable, functioning processes (in contrast to

mechanisms) through which Reich came to discover the presence of an

energy ("orgone energy") which he saw as actuating such functioning. Thus,
"orgonomic functionalism" became the conceptual framework for all his further

repetitive

research.

1955

fear me. After

my

printed

and
I

had

Moskau

left

Berlin editions. Also,

have never said that the neurosis

Moskau Academie Kommunists

the

Psychoanalyse und Dialektischer Materialismus*

Moskau and

their

390

is

both

in

have never turned Communist

due to the

class struggle.

have done and what these psychopaths hate most

that

is

What

brought

depth-psychology into Marxian and other sociology, including an understanding of such psychopaths as Stalin, Hider and the

We

like.

are continuously drawing moisture into the desert, causing rain

and we keep the deadly

at times,

DOR out

in a

realm of about 60 to 80

miles radius.

hope you do well and are cheerful

Keep

as

much

as matters permit.

writing.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 21, 1955

My

dear Reich,
Just got your letter.

without being brutal?

I can't

But how to convey

R. wants you to cease interpreting him in Britain

he

will raise a sheaf of

you get

I think

to Ritter the verdict

quote him your words. All

.

can say

that

is

and then of course

whys?

me wrong

about

my

enemies. Nay, where I get impatient

wanting to be recognised by
is

to see the other side

my

making

victories; here caning in schools increases, here the talk of religious

moulding
one.

It

flourishes;

on the radio you hear only the one

doesn't matter

if

am

recognised, but

it

side

matters

the enemy
much that

children aren't recognised.

I

am

very pessimistic these days.

to all rather

have been made

and shout:

Dialektischer

"Dialectical

almost sure the idiots on both

all.

to choose, but I tremble to think that

arise

am

The official line now seems to be atomic death

than have communism. But what a choice! I don't have

sides will kill us

our fate depends on

anti-life in their cradles

War

is

universal suicide;

Materialismus

Materialism

(New York: Vintage

1972).

men who must

Will no great statesman

no one can win;

und Psychoanalyse

and Psychoanalysis,"

Press,

in

(1934),

all

and

Sex Pol Essays,

must

in

lose.

English,

1924-1934

391

The only chance

How
both

to disarm all round, to divide the world

is

But

to the division.

there can be peace

Meanwhile we

sides.

My

dear friend,
not.

we now
to see

be pleased

Last week

London

Mein

it

much

hate and fear on

has no say in his

wish we did not have to

damn

on

live

see you acclaimed in the

if

in all

papers, not for your

fertile land. If a

Bernal could do

broadcast also.

gave the Foundation Oration

stick

a large gathering in

at

University Education Dept. Over 6oo there including profs of

psychology

Now

to see

and

his voice be heard.

common man

your name

fame, but for your turning desert into

I'd

do.

don't care a

do want

let

can't imagine; too

just wait; the

destiny either in East or West. But

Times or

would not

fear the plague

the edge of a volcano as

it

1955

They seemed

etc.

must

sit

down and

to enjoy the lecture.

think out what

young are so

Gott, the

difficult to

am

to say to Ritter.

handle.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 23, 1955

My

dear Reich,

have written

you don't

want him

him in very guarded words that

OF [Orgonomic Functionalism]. I

to Ritter telling

to carry

on with

could not of course quote what you say about him.

likely

be that he

will

and

you'll get fed

that

you

send you long

up with him. So

settle the

you won't tolerate any

gone therapy with a

am

qualified

troubled

how

am

going to

am

result will

make

most

the suggestion

getting tired of explaining to

interpreters, especially

is

to restrain

any

who have

him

that

not under-

man.

his enthusiasm, his

alive has anything to say of

cult

One

defence and explanation

matter by telhng him plainly but kindly what you

don't like in his magazine.

Where

letters of

genuine belief that no one

any value barring W.R. That makes

him without dealing

blow

a mortal

it

diffi-

at

his

enthusiasm.

You

are like me,

you hate

to

be cruel to

folks. In a

can act but when one has to censure someone

in

fit

of temper

cold blood

it is

we

an un-

happy business.

Damn all this waste of time and paper and postage on Ritter's behalf.
Go on, Reich; tell him his self-regn. is wrong, his functionalism abused.

etc. I

1955

392

say this partly in self defence;

neck because he thinks that

am

don't want to have

your

sort of

oJBficial

him on

deputy on

my
this

side of the ocean.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

My

5,

1955

dear Reich,

Yours today. But you don't say

yourself. I can

do

little

you have written

if

with the guy because

to Ritter

simply must not quote

him what you have written to me.

Thanks for the [flying] saucers book which came a few days ago. It
sure made me sit up. So much air force testimony can't be ignored.
to

then got hold of the other book.* Leslie almost gets near your Or-

gones, but

spaceman.
language?

can't accept

Adamski's account of

How could he possibly get

Why you write that the space

his interview

with a

conversation without

the

all

problem

is

quite acute I don't

guess. Inclined to accept your opinion that they are benign, the only acute

problem

can imagine would be their arrival here to stop the inevitable

atomic destruction of
as

if

Freud was

Mutual fear won't stop war. Almost looks

all life.

right in saying there is a

death instinct when one sees

the whole mass of people thinking of football and radio etc. at a time

when the
asm of a

Formosa or the enthusiU.S. pilot might set the light to the gunpowder barrel. Hence
I say: let the spacemen come; they might save us and if they came as
destroyers they could not be more dangerous than man himself. What
do you mean when you say the problem is most acute?
I

wish

sinking of a U.S. aircraft carrier off

could talk with you.

and got a long reply from Tajar.

So you have been on

am

in so

you are

much

TV

again.

of the dark about

wrote to the Hamiltons after years

was good
Good.

to

hear from him again.

wish

could have seen

what you are doing and what

it.

results

getting.

Things

all

right at this end.

mostly. I simply can't see

It

Flying Saucers

(New York:

British

how

My

only trouble

is

Angst about

my

child

East and West are to go on without war.

Have Landed, by Desmond

Book Centre, 1953).

Leslie

and George Adamski

393
If

1955

we do

only they could meet openly and say: Let us see what things

want

common

in

aber

mentals? Our Govt, published

N. Korea. Every C.P.

what meeting could get down

[but],

member

week

last

in the

to funda-

story of Chinese atrocities in

country sneers that

of hes. If the Chinese gave out a report that S. Koreans

it

is all

a bundle

had tortured N.

Koreans and Chinese with the aid of U.S.A. men, every communist
the world
tion

is

would believe the

on both

sides,

on

and dangerous plague

You

write:

[but, friend],

he

see;

How

is

We
what

is

evil,

can

settle

you

said that years ago.

liberal to evil.

Aber, Freund

anyway? Latin:

way

if

who want

workers.

To me

liber,

possible,

liberal

can

to take

Formosa by

force

that force

And what do you mean by the word

To me the word means taking the

is evil.

free.

not killing the Rosenbergs, not shooting

not hanging criminals,

Malant or

from the emotions and egocentricity of youth.

the Chinese

anything important

unhateful
Beria,*

Everywhere. In other words the main

the political one. But

evil? Ritter, for instance, isn't evil so far as

To me

in

such emotional determina-

and for the same reason the Pentagon which thinks

are

liberal

alas,

cannot be, must not be

just suffering

to see evil?

all sides.

is

And,

story.

not

caning children,

means knowing

the Natives. Dislike of

all

not

exploiting

once what side you are on,

at

tough guys. But what

is

the use

You seem nowadays to mix up liberalism with weakness.

Maybe you are right. don't know what you think these days. Do you
think that the men who can decide Peter and Zoe's fate, the Molotovs,
Edens, Dulleses are wiser than you and I are? Do you approve of this
idea that fear of war will restrain anyone? Damn it all, how we could
going on.

talk over a bottle of the best.

We

never

will.

It

is

a most depressing

thought.

Lavrenti Beria, for

many

years head of the Russian secret police; shot in

December 1953.
t Then Prime Minister of South

Africa.

1955

394

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

My dear

4,

1955

Reich,

komme

Ich

around to

zum

sehr selten

[I

very seldom get

The

cottage in which

Schreiben

writing]. I always lose energy in spring.

we are mostly over in the main

school building. So every winter the Box feels damp and useless. It is
only now that the spring winds have come that it functions. I can now

we

live

use
of

it

has very

for at least six months. I think that in this country that difficulty

dampness

Thanks
ing.

heating because

little

You

will

for

say

be everywhere; hardly a house has central heating.

CORE No
I

am

2.

Fascinating reading, but to

too impatient for recognition, but

your telegrams to State Heads and Ike

no attention
I

I get wild. If

can understand

one and

new

or

all, I

at least as

and cactus

and know that they are given

you don't you must be super (or sub) human.

and scientists saying: "Orgones are bunk. We

you bust a cloud and make rain that is visible
see why someone doesn't take it up as something

if

can't

news.

Hoppe

etc. to die. It just

tells

me you

got grass to

grow

beats me. Saucers and orgones

in

rain.

officialdom with telegrams about what

Arizona

come from

too far off to be accepted by the masses. So I'm not quite sure

bombard

irritat-

read of

officials

can't see them," but

to

etc.

me most
when

why you

you are doing about

Unless to force them to have a record that can be consulted in the

year 2000.

Much
don't

worried about money. Constant

know how

42 and our fees

believers in

long
just

we can

carry on.

make ends meet and I

Numbers dropped from 60 to
fight to

about half those of big schools, reason being that

freedom are nearly always poor

folks.

Invited to an educational conference in Weilburg, near Coblenz, in

German

August, free hospitality from the

I

haven't seen for over 34 years.

for pedagogues can't laugh.

Ena and Zoe both

well.

fear

it

teachers. Will

will

meet people

be a solemn conference,

395

1955

Summerhill School
Lei St on, Suffolk

May

My

at the

to

my

not sure which article you mean;*

copy

the

one read for

me

kept and fear that

from a man

a visit

motor

driving.

He

his interested friends

might not agree with what

said

met some years ago,

as they can of

a curious card, teacher

has a Reich library but never lends out the books;

come

to his

guy, and his library readers are

if

years ago.

Had
of

am

1950 conference please cut out anything that might be dangerous

school
zB. [i.e.] if I mentioned Beischlaj [intercourse]. I can't

find the
five

1955

25,

dear Reich,

He is a genuinely keen
who want to get as much

house to read.

all

young

folks

your work.

have been thinking of U.S.A. a

lot recently.

What

puzzles

me

is

that

so large a nation does not seem able to produce leaders. Ike, for ex-

ample, appears to some of us over here as weak, and like Dulles, open
to influences, like the

Voting
voters

is

tomorrow and looks

seem not

match takes
thought of a

Eden and

China Lobby which would

to care about

infinitely

as

if

who

a world

war.

the Tories are going in again.

Most

rules them.

more emotion from

Our election now

DOR world.

risk

The Saturday

football

the millions than does the

is

a dirty business;

men

like

Attlee saying things that children would say about each other.

know of no politician in the world I'd trust to give me advice on any

damned thing. I share your contempt for the lot.
Anarchist paper Freedom has new editor who seems to be anti-Reich
and anti-Neill. The New Statesman & Nation won't have either of us
nowadays. Makes me begin to share your long view on liberals in
I

general.
I'll

strengthen

my

Box.

For weeks now I am in U.S.A. in my dreams almost nightly. I

awaken feeling sad about their stupid visa rule, but an American professor tells me things are slackening now that McCarthy is a negative

P.S.

number. But

doubt

if

the time will ever

* Reich had asked about publishing

Orgonon Conference of 1950.

the

come when

paper Neill gave

can get a

in

visa.

absentia at the

1955

396

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

June

1955

8,

My dear Reich,
Thanks

for ms.

Do you mind

if

rewrite

it? It

could be called

One

a 1950 Conference Speech re-edited five years later, nicht [no]?

difficulty

what

is

published

if

my work

proviso

this

When

she

to say

dunno.

have a nasty

home

was

her

home

to write an honest article with

years ago a lovely Danish

got a lawyer in

from the

letter

17 came.

girl of

bill

and never answered

Copenhagen

to write her mother.

woman

came
etc. The

saying her daughter

and spending-money, and had

sex

all

once or have had Vollmacht

at

the mother.

you

tell

lead to disaster.

pregnant
years of
I

Two

how

pregnant because there was no supervision of the sexes

girl

may

go on. But

to

her mother never paid the whole

left

requests for payment.

Now

is

about adolescent sex. The truth simply can't be

was the

it

[full

been wise

have sent

from

show
mother in a letter
time a boy had made a

that approving of adolescent sex

this to

told the

first

I'd

authority] in writing

that
girl

if

the girl was

pregnant

in

35

S'hill.

read your response* with enthusiasm, wondering

you can publish

since the Clifford!

it

of Orgones in print.
setting the

house on

factories see

you

also

fire

wonder why you always

.

why

all

the time

why

judgment prohibited any mention

a fascist of

as a danger to their wares

find a red fascist

any colour?

If

the drug

where does the

political

come in? Why should the prosecution be Moscow directed? Must

you find some external reason for every American act of hate and greed?
What red has any power in the U.S.A. today? I don't try to defend
Moscowism; it is evil, but I say that when you meet evil in U.S.A. why
not see it as a home product? McCarthy isn't inspired by red fascism.
colour

review of one of

a danger to

all

a R.C. priest.
factor

my

books from

Rome

says

ought to be shut up as

children, but the writer isn't a fascist of any colour, only

I

think you spoil your case by introducing the political

UNLESS

you have

secret evidence of the fire-raisers. Profit

* History of the Discovery of the Life Energy, Documentary Supplement No. i

"Response to Ignorance" (Orgone Institute Press, 1955), in which Reich explains
why he did not appear in court as a "defendant" to answer the complaint brought
by the FDA.
t Judge John D. Clifford, Jr., who issued the default injunction against Reich
to which Neill is here alluding.
t In the margin are two words, strongly underlined: HE IS.

1955

Tatsache

397

and defense of

has no political label;

profit

is

it

[fact]

anywhere.

We

are always having something to differ about,

everyone

silent

about space ships now?

No

you and

I'm posting ordinary post copy of Freedom because

on

Ritter.

send

it

Why

I!

is

them anywhere.

reports of

it

has an attack

sealed so that no one can accuse you of receiving

an anarchist paper.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

August 22, 1955

My dear Reich,
My Weilburg

Conference was what

pletely divorced

from

answered.

them they were

told

reality. I

German

could see the

expected, almost com-

took up sex only to be

educationist

where he was

is

with forming character by setting an example. But

my

and

favourite drink Helles [light beer]

wurst

left

almost un-

theory and mysticism. So far as

all

1921, concerned

in

did drink a lot of

my

ate a lot of

pet Leber-

[liver sausage].

Had a visit from Ritter the other

now a leading Dianetics man, which

day.

book by Hubbard

bosh to

seemed

just

He

tells

me

doesn't surprise

utter

that

Barakan

me one

me when

read

few

it

is

The

bit.

years ago.
feel

sad about the death of Flugel.

He

owe my

friendship with you mainly to

him

chairman

my

at

Oslo meeting said

man

distinguished

in

German) and was

invited

me

echt [genuine] Freudian

so

many

brilliant

To

at

and

me

lent

so interested in

to dinner. Yes,

it

a nice chap. I

for when my
"You had a very

Dr Wilhelm Reich,"

your Fascism book to read

that I at

(in

once phoned you and you

he was a good guy, Jack Flugel, the only

who was human and genial. True he stuck like

"Up to that point Reich was
but you know the story told so often.

your Character Analysis.

great, but

.'"

return to Ritter ... he can't see

dear fellow,

was

indirectly,

after the lecture:

your audience tonight

was excited because Flugel had

really

if

you

started a

his

point

when

say to him:

magazine called Summerhill News

object strongly, for as long as a

can possibly interpret

my

man

work."

is

alive

think he

"My

should

and working no other man

is

genuine

spread the gospel according to St Wilhelm. That

is

why

in his desire to

he worries me;

1955

398

don't like to see his enemies crow: "So the great Reich has given

the big push!"

faults of youth.

in spite of
I

think Ritter

I
I

have a sneaking admiration for

your opposition, even

wonder

visa policy.

think he

if I

is

would be a great joy

to

on

his decision to carry

misguided.

Geneva [summit conference] U.S.A.

after

if

It

you

as I say, genuine even with all his

is,

will relax

be able to come over

her

you

to see

again.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

September

8,

1955

My dear Reich,
Here

is

the copy [the edited version of Neill's 1950 paper]. I

simply can't say more about sex; safety

motto

as long as I

first

must continue

Your new booklet about Red Fascism* makes sad reading

I think: "It is appalling to think that

and energy on

to waste his time

don't

mean much

who

will

a creative

so that

I
I

know

man

for me.

R. should have

like

who fundamentally
name in 1974? I wish I

Brady's

mob

of nobodies."

have never been persecuted, never been attacked by the law,

can't think personally about

you overstretch the red

before either
Galileo

my

enemies

fighting

could see you ignore the whole bloody

True

be

to

have Summerhill.

communism

fascist

it

all.

But,

my

dear friend,

I feel

element; innovators were persecuted

or fascism were invented.

Would you

was the victim of red fascism? Unless you mean

today of yesterday's Pharisee or Inquisitionist

is

red.

say that

that the colour

I

dunno.

You

confuse me.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October

5,

1955

My dear Reich,
One

of

my

old pupils married a psychoanalyst and

went

to

the wedding party. Filled with followers of Melanie Klein. Interesting

The Red Thread of a Conspiracy (Orgone

Institute Press,

1955)-

399

to hear their talk.

mentioned your name as a

1955

faces clouded

test; their

with disapproval which amused me. They can't laugh; Melanie has
evidently

man

shown them

should have.

humour

that

To my

plexes there was silence.

is

complex which no normal

I said:

you

humanity but you can

can't analyse

No

attempt to get a humanity that won't need analysis.

they were a dull crowd.

free

asking what Klein was doing to prevent com-

answer. Gott,

couldn't help comparing them with the

life

and energy of the Orgonon conferences. They depressed me

rather
like talking to communists with a blank curtain that you can't penetrate.
.

Am

having a

difficult

teacher; they won't

I

have

am

time in the school.

for the small salary

to teach all the time myself,

children
I

come

how

to

count 2 and

and

at

Can't get a necessary

and
72

I
it

can't
is

pay more. So

no fun

to teach

7.

hoping that by next summer the U.S.A.

will

have relaxed their

visa policy.
I

haven't heard from you for

seem

to

some

time.

Now

that

Use has gone you

have to write by hand. She writes sometimes from

Sheffield.

i95"6

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 13, 1956

My dear Reich,
Your Xmas card
for air mail."

arrived today stamped "insufficiently stamped

was wondering

my end what had happened

at

to you,

not hearing from you. For myself I've been stagnating, vegetating for

weeks with

interest in anything. I feel so out of

little

you are doing. The orgone

Some weeks ago

perpetual, for

see

not

if

qualify, but

I'll

has receded from

if

go. It

make

replied that

don't

know how

For of course without earned dollars

lectures, conscious of the fact that

am

beginning to find

the dark

damp

with spring.

To work

life

my ban was
summer

to

should come and have a talk with

would sure be great

I

if

a trip to U.S.A. next

you can qualify for a

and so many others, but

touch with what

my view.

wrote to the U.S.A. embassy asking

I'd like to

my co-workers. They

the consul "to see

field

visa."

to see

word

resent the

you again,

my

friend,

can get anything organised.

I can't

come.

I'd

have to have

have nothing new to say these days.

rather sad. Partly the time of the year,

days of an English January;

hope that hope

will return

much more easily worried about shortness of cash too.

many years and see red ink in the bank all the time is

get

for so

depressing.

We

should never be proud of our children. Zoe

nothing but bread and potatoes, refuses

Bockbeinig [Pigheaded] about

and looks pasty-faced

it

all

now

nine will eat

greens and most

fruits.

too. She gets catarrh and ear trouble

and one can't do

40

damn

thing about

it.

Self-

1956

402

But I hope it is just a necessary phase, when the growing

body needs mostly starch and sugar. I dunno.
What are you doing in Washington?* I have reluctantly rejected the

regulation!

fancy that Ike sent for you saying: "This coronary business, Reich,
upsetting. I

need you to stand by to take

my

is

place for a bit." That would

be attributing to Ike more sense than he has.

How

are you?

with a dog and

have no news, only rumours

Tom Ross

at Orgn., that

after trying to understand

probably

right, that

your orgone writings

you are mad, for

folks don't understand, then, sure,

it

if

that

you were alone

you were madder than ever

madman

a guy that ordinary

is

you are one! But men

awfully dull for us so-called sane people ... oh

think that they are

how

like

dull

you make

we can be

especially at educational conferences.

Dunno what
book on

Ritter

Self-Regn.;

doing.

is

said

He

wants

thought the book had any value.

He

Life goes
dull visitors

on

his

message a

la the

in a rut really here, the

who

take

all

to write a preface to his

won't accept

preach a prophet's words as long as he

dead and then corrupt

me

would read the ms. and write one only

my

is alive.

if I

view that you can't

Best to wait

till

he

is

Freudians.

same

daily

round with too many

the time and have nothing to give.

[Telegram]

JAN i8, 1956

ALEXANDER
NEILL
LT.f
ANY HELP RENDERED BY YOU TO PAUL RITTER WILL GRAVELY DAMAGE
MY V^ORK AND REPUTATION. P R MOST LIKELY VICTIM-HOST OF RED
FASCIST EMOTIONAL TAPEWORM. LETTER FOLLOWS.

Reich lived in Washington during the winters of 1956 and 1957.

Reich considered himself to be at war and regarded Neill as one of his

lieutenants.

403

1956

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

January i8, 1956

My dear Neill:
was a great pleasure, indeed,

It

from you again.

to hear

It

was sad to notice that you are not quite happy. I understand fully why.
It would be splendid if you came to the U.S.A. this summer. You could

my summer

stay in

house as

my

guest.

Though

things have greatly

changed since 1950, and much new has happened,

would get along.

According
your land
matter

to reports

from

suffers

now what

are

am

certain

we

from England and also from your description,

DOR,

OR

i.e.,

the reason, atomic

atmosphere. But there

we

is little

energy gone sour or

stale,

bombs, space ships or plain

doubt as

to the nature of the

no

a dying

predicament

in.

Your sad news about Zoe does not surprise me. I saw it coming. Selfwork without its physiological, sex-economic
basis. The lack of full application of this basis is the reason for so many

regulation cannot possibly

failures.

have a very hard time keeping Peter's

reasons which I'd rather not mention

at this point.

life

He

going well for

wants, at present,

become a flier. He was with the expedition in Arizona and he loved

the work and what he witnessed there. He had trouble in Hamilton's
school since the subject of desert work seems taboo there. Ranger told
me point blank that I am a paranoic, and everybody, including Use,
avoids the subject of my work at present. Can you tell me why they
to

always, instead of simply stating that they cannot understand, as you

do, have to cover their ignorance
sent

you

up by malignant slander?

a telegram about Ritter.

We

here, sane responsible people

who work hard on the atmospheric problem, are convinced

can only be made comprehensible if one assumes that he is
by

pestilent politicians of

He
You

himself

wish
I

whatever kind to discredit

knows nothing about

write about

knew who

my

that Ritter

being used

orgone work.

it.

what "ordinary folks" are

these people are

who

telling

you about me.

spread the rumours as you say.

do not care much, but why do they hide?

My

Function has been translated into Spanish, French and

an Italian translation

Would you
do

it,

tell

is

me

asked
the

now

also

for.

name

of the pestilent slanderer?

or will you protect the gossiper?

It

Would you

does not matter really

have discovered a new way of doing what

have

tried

so hard to do

all

1956

my

medical

404

Getting the poison out of people's character.

life:

may make

this time. It is the

Medical

DOR

many

physicians including completely sane ones are working with

their offices. It

it

a medical variant of the

is

Buster so-called;

think

in

it

Cloud Buster which draws

energy from the atmosphere.

me know what happened

Let

likely return

from Washington

your request for a

to

visa. I shall

most

Orgonon around May.

to

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

January 21, 1956

My dear Neill:
This will be a

days ago.
U.S.A.

me when

to

you

I invited

my summer

in

frank amendment to

brief,

me

be with

to

house

put in the invitation, due to

4-5 years we

that for the past

all

letter of a

and when you come

if

my

The lower house

had gone through

whoever

lives there

many people

run

Orgonon

hell at

Wolfe, McDonald, Use, Eva and

it

me

for

It is

many

others. I

had

There was no one for

job.

or really to take care of

may be

It

that

I shall

me

except the

workers

be again alone

first

at

seeing what

it

Orgonon with no

to clean.

Orgonon and

at

in the

world

Oranur and Core do not seem

new

in the

this score.

At any

field

about

here that the

to discredit

my

man

my

to

am

do not count.
certain that

at large.

make

rate I could not put

again there and

Now

my

made

such a pity that you are reluctant to understand what really

happened

am

do

to

unwise for you to come there without

one to cook or

on

not

Tom Ross who was brave and is still there.

think

does to you.

as

to stay

is

but the charges are high, and

has to adjust bio-energetically. Oranur has

no one there but had

years to cook a meal
faithful

lately,

is

to the

it

because of the atmospheric conditions there. The Observatory

inhabitable.

few

had not occurred

wanting you at Orgonon,

Orgonon. However,

at

my

I shall

my

That such exact reports

sense to you, that dozens of

not try to say more on

invitation into effect unless

you would be

safe there.

telegram re Ritter again: Neill, there

is

is

agreement

being used as a tool by people of the extreme

work.

He and

his kind are trying

left

hard to "get in"

in

405

many

ways, as students, as patients,

not permit them to

in

1956

come

in.

We

We know

etc.

them now and we do

require utter scientific discipline and

Moskau political Higs are not associated

HIG (Hoodlum In Government). The whole

every case certainty that

this

goes for any kind of

FDA

affair

was running

in this

framework.

It

would be most

regrettable

name involved. I would have to react

against it immediately in public. They are now trying to break into my
fortress through your liberal attitude toward the Moskau Higs. I have
if

they succeeded in getting your

not fought an American Government agency which was governed by

Higs only to get an English Hig into

Neill.
I

many

that

think of

tion" in the making, as

Would you
It

domain. All

this is

very serious,

hope you understand.

assume you are aware

1950

my

would

much has changed

that so very
all in

here since

terms of a "Second American Revolu-

were.

all this

over and

me know

let

how you

soon

decide.

certainly be grand to have a few of those great talks again.

To sum
the past

think

it

it

up:

If

lies in

you come, do not be surprised

whole world of

that a

fragments, psychoanalysis, marxism of the political type,

a great deal of wrongly applied liberalism, that desert development has

entered upon the

human

scene, that

we

learned

fight the pestilent character, the carrier of the

fights rats

who

how

to recognize

transmit the black bubonic plague; that national and

boundaries have collapsed; that boundaries

political

and to

Emotional Plague, as one

basically collapsed, that our world

is

full

science have

in

of problems of space and

space travel, that the primordial cosmic energy has been discovered,
that a

new kind

of industrial use of a noiseless energy

we begin to
much? I do not

of being born; that

Is this

too

learn

how

think so.

to
It

is in

the process

handle the climate,

is

etc. etc.

rather too late, possibly,

since the obstruction by prejudice and obscurantism and a false sense of

"love thy neighbor" the wrong

way has

for so long held

have been done maybe 40 to 60 years ago already.

All this is only a prelude to our possible meeting
Let

me

in

up what could

summer

1956.

hear from you.

(Would you be

willing to

sound a warning about the

"self-regulation" in education to
to kill a

new

all

you can reach.

false religion of easy-going

Will you? Especially into Israel?)

It is

heavens before

it

difficulties of

very necessary
is

too late

1956

4o6

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 29, 1956

My dear Reich,
got your cable re Ritter. Luckily

book because

his

view of self-regn.

his

is

have no

conflict

about

far too local with too

many

irrelevant details that can't interest the outside reader.

So

won't write

any preface for him.

At

same time I think you have not been wise about the guy. He
you approve of him and only your disciples are against

the

thinks that

still

him.

could not disillusion him because

opinion as given in your

you should send him a

for all time

to interpret your work. That

stand your saying that he

simple one, that he

regn., only that

he

capable

is

he

is

a victim of red fascism;

is

is

And

hear so

no point

Zoe has bad

what

is

and

just

much

in asking

of the

been told that

my

must be renewed at once. Possible

it

have 800 book royalties frozen

I

Tokyo!

in

only hear the opposition

have been proved to be nonsense.

rather lost

I feel

sources.

tonsils

but

starch and

want them taken out,

some permanent purpose in

I don't

there by nature has

eats too

the

Catholics.

about your work these days.

away from

far

is

have to

90%

be believed,

to

read of rainmaking but never a word about yours. So

and

view

have sleepless nights nowadays. Finance

side, for instance that flying saucers

I

my own

ask what invitation

is

pupils and rising prices

to think

little

will

will say that there is

Roman

electric wiring is out-of-date

cost 500.

now he

on the N.Y. Times

right but I

all

Too few

trouble.

never under-

of.

staff are Irish

health

you do not want him

misguided into thinking he understands more than

is

for a visa. If a friend

My

think to settle the question

letter saying that

quite sincere in his belief in orgones and self-

go to America. With none he

immigration

could not betray your private

I really

would be the kindest way.

go to the U.S.A. consul

If I

me.

letters to

how

to

make her

believing that
the body. She

eat balanced food

is

our

problem.
Sorry that this

bored

me

letter isn't

funeral yesterday.

never spoke to
life]

too cheerful.

Maybe because

with his conversation for over twenty years.

He
.

has

left a

and not

a neighbour
I

was

large fortune to his relations

penny

or rather das Sterben [dying].

to

me. So

ist

at his

whom

das Leben [Such

he
is

407

1956

tell me what you are doing now. Relaxing

you not working.

Write soon and

I

can't picture

hope, but

A Wan Towers
Washington, D.C.

February

3,

1956

Dear Neill:
have received your

you an

position to send

last

invitation;

Unfortunately

letter.

you

know

will

am

no

in

the true reason in a

year or two.
I suggest that you tell him that his paper has nothing
do with the term Orgonomic Functionalism and the best thing for
him to do would be just simply to drop that term from the title. You may

Regarding Ritter

to

my

also indicate

own

for their
I

am

belief that

evil

he

is

a victim of

Red

Fascists,

sending along a book on an

official

are using

account of flying saucers.

This book will show you what malignant blabber of

souls

who

purposes his strong identification with me.

around me amounts

frightened

you reveal the

identity of

to.

would expect from you

the person or persons

little

who

as a friend that

are supplying

you with

all

the nice rumours.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

February 22, 1956

My dear Reich,
I
I

gave Ritter your message two weeks ago but got no answer.

have very

little

to write about today.

You

you where the rumours are coming from.

much spoken about over

is

said

ask

me

as a friend to

tell

You

are

simply don't know.

here by admirers and their opposites, but what

so unbedeutend [unimportant] that one forgets

is

my

But

my

part, for

think

and mine

who

said which.

mentioning the rumours to you was a spot of plague on

ought to have remembered that your attitude to gossip
I don't care a damn what they say about me

differ widely.

I don't care because the gossipers don't

they aren't true. In your case

it

mean

may be

a thing to

true that

me and

because

you were alone

in

1956

Orgonon
aren't

408

anyway

for a bit (what the hell

mad

I can't

say you are.

part

Maybe annoyance
hand, z.B.

it

matters

if

if

you were?) but

[i.e.]

warum

ich weiss nicht [why,

news

at getting

you

guess

it

was

don't know].

news not gossip) of you second-

(real

Hoppe, Raknes, who both

cation of orgones to disease which

since

a hundred plague merchants

ought to have remembered that though, and

my

plague on

think what

me

about the

new

appli-

hadn't heard of and

still

know

told

nothing about.
I

don't think

I'll

want me. But maybe

orgone work
sonality

that

broken and

links are

and

is all

know me and
maybe I feel that

U.S.A. doesn't

try for a visa.

rationalization;

new

can't face

ones.

I shall

value as long as

the old

never understood your

really; too old, too set, too conditioned.

friend

doesn't

But you

as a per-

I live.

You carry on from old to new. I can't. My work has been done and
am discovering nothing new. I should retire but know that if I did I'd

die.

Yet

or two

I feel like starting

if I

again in a

new

line; I

want

to write a play

can.

My father used

to say that age brings loneliness; I begin to feel

it

too.

many of my contemporaries have died. If I sometimes think:

have many more years now, it isn't a thought that alarms me. I

Lately so
I can't

don't fear death;

I fear

ceasing to live and of course the

method

of dying.

Nay, Reich, one can't put the clock back. The Hamiltons' seminars,
the

happy time with you

in

Maine;

can't think that another visit

would

be half as good.
If I

sound rather depressed blame the cold for we have had three

weeks of the coldest weather known

and
P.S.

all

in

our pipes are frozen and our feet

An unknown

sexual urge.

Am

factor in
useless

life

now

in

England within

living

memory,

like ice.

the result when age gets past the

work because sex has no more mean-

is

room for a valuable essay on this aspect. I suppose that

one could dig out much evidence that the dying of sex does not affect
the creative urge. Would make a very interesting book this topic, but
it would mean so much research.

ing? There

is

409

1956

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

February 29, 1956

My dear Neill:
I

was deeply touched by your

Feb. 22nd.

letter of

You

are

one of the very few honest ones.

hope you have received the book on Space Ships by Ruppelt.* Let

me know what you think

about

would be most helpful

It

thusiasm of the Jews

regulation.

Israel

in

Would you

it.

if

tell

you could dampen somewhat the enabout the present

possibilities of self-

them how tough the problems involved

really

are.

Otherwise a new disastrous religion of "Self-regulation" without

true

change of the deep structure of

Your

man

will result

and

decision not to

rational to me.
liberal attitude

come

continue

that

you would enjoy

would be appreciated. Liberalism

sharp public scrutiny as to

its

seems

to the U.S.A. at the present time

do not believe

itself

it

has

or that your

come under

true function in society. I personally

love to have you at Orgonon, but Oranur has destroyed

and

will

another 2000 years.

killing for

its

would

peacefulness

liveability.

[The following

letter

was never

sent.}

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

March

3,

1956

My dear Neill,
After having mailed

from Paul

Ritter.

between the

Somehow

test liberalism is

in

my last letter to you I received a letter

my mind a connection was established

undergoing

at

present and the Ritter case.

shall use his case in a planned publication under the

roads Ahead" where

shall attempt, concluding

title

"Cross-

from past experiences,

sound a few warnings against continuation of a many-folded stupidity,

including my own. I wonder whether it has become clear to you that it
to

The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, by Edward

New York: Doubleday, 1956).

City,

J.

Ruppelt (Garden

1956

is

410

human endeavor

disastrous to any kind of

principle of the dignity of

man,

to

which

to confuse the liberal

know from

past

basically agree with the following:

dis-

toward crackpots and potential future murderers.

you

discussions with

that

you

with being liberal

I subscribe,
I

from the

tinguishing authoritarian discipline for the sake of cruelty

work democratic

naturally given

man

discipline

work

of

Hu-

processes.

operations require a natural discipline crucial to any professional

activity.

Looking back

find that

though you have clearly distinguished

between license and freedom you have not clearly enough emphasized

way

the requirement for a natural disciplined

of

human

of procedure in any type

natural work. In the Ritter sense, I have never been a rebel,

never a revolutionary, but an orderly, well-organized, professionally

man

disciplined

of science and medicine. In this respect

been conservative

mainder of

my

in the

good sense and

democratic manner but not

To

hope

days. In other words, nature

in

is

to

always have

remain so the

functioning in a

a libertine sense of democracy.

return to the example of social pathology in Ritter, he

don't accept

him

understand, and never

will,

because

as a

work democratic
an organ

that before

democratically in an organism

re-

work

it

had

of the specific organismic function.

It

partner.

doesn't

functioning

is

mad

is

He

work

to integrate itself into the totality

had

patiently in continuous well ordered and,

to

if

grow

slowly, carefully,

you don't mind,

and

''disciplined,''

coordination, and cooperation with the total purpose. Orgonomists, as

any other
workers
their

specialist,

in a free

own ways

disciplined

common

in the

strictly

training.

We

are training our

respecting their personalities, letting

to the

manner

and

carefully

have to go through

way

goal, but

above sense,

to get his

we

them choose

are training

just as a pilot has to

airplane safely from

them

in a

be trained

New York

to

London.
Nothing shows up the psychopathic crackpot better than the fresh

remark that "Birth

is

NOT

a shock, the baby works for

movement and then it purrs with delight.

Not a shock,
makes nonsense of life but an orgasm for mother and
The idiot wants to be equal with me, does not realize and forgot

voluntary
please

child."

with in-

it

that

what he has read, namely that most

uteri

have for ages been spastic and

therefore the births have been painful. Neill, whether

you

like

it

or not,

agree or not, I'm ready to teach. But the world of the Barakans and the
Ritters has nothing to

misery through the ages.

do with

learning. In that

world grew

all

the

411

1956

It is

up

to

you and

about the content of

at

your responsibility what you want

to

tell

him

this letter.

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

March

8,

1956

My dear Neill:
I'm enclosing a photostat copy of a
Ritter.

The poor fellow

is

letter

received from

in the throes of his alleged friend

His remark with regard that birth

is

Boadella.*

not a shock shows his abysmal

ignorance and charlatanism.

in

In spite of my 35 years of high-pitch psychiatric

handling such minor things as the case of Ritter.

do not write him

me

to entangle

me

directly since he

is

still

poor

letter

from

I'm

skill

only waiting for a

endlessly.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

March

9,

1956

My dear Reich,
Ruppelt's book arrived just as

with bad influenza. So that

The guy
and

is

tied to

it

came

took to

at the right

my

bed for a week

moment. Many thanks.

typical of the stiff-stomached breed, full of fears

an anchorage. Yet the book has one merit

and doubts

at least

...

does debunk some of the more phantastic claims made for saucers

The

satisfying feature

is

that even

centage can't be explained away.

from

Ruppelt has to admit that a per-

My own

the fact that there has never

it

doubts about space ships arise

been any proof of a landing or any

wreckage, which means that another planet has reached the stage of

100%

safety

which

is

hard to believe. Another doubt

them over U.S.A.? Some say because of

An
To

English university student

who

in a lecture

about flying saucers.

why most

of
it

learned of Reich through Neill's writings.

Reich's
it on himself to describe

Reich's extreme indignation, he had taken

work

is

the atomic energy plants, but

1956

would be

412

came because

just as reasonable to say that they

of

Orgone

energy plant. The descriptions given appear to be nearer Orgone than

atomic energy anyway. Ruppelt's book forces on us the question you

have so often put:

his soul

Is seeing

and body are

and experiencing by a

scientist

enough when

rigid?

The New Education Fellowship has a monthly journal, the New Era.
in 1920. The present editor writes me asking if she had

was editor

any chance of an

article

by Reich.

think she had, for you

I said I didn't

are too busy a man. But since the journal

is

world-wide and most of

its

means frightened sitters on the fence,

I think it would be worthwhile to read what a live educationist had to
say. "The Source of the Human No"* would make em sit up and take
notice. Would you allow a reprint of the article?
readers are "progressives" which

A big question mark???????

If

you can produce

chemicals into clouds?

rain
If

why

most devout Christians would use

that the Devil stole

would use

'em.

It is

humanity playing with throwing

is

make

the Devil himself could

his

methods

(after

it

rain even the

first

announcing

them from the genuine God of course), but they

a melancholy thought that

if

human

rigidity

can

prevent seeing, there seems no hope for humanity in a million years.

Someone
grass

said to

me

that

was known within

there shout

rainmaker?"

all
I

the

way

you got grass

living

to the

to

grow

in

Arizona where no

memory. Then why did not every farmer

White House
"We demand Reich's
.

can never think of a good enough reason for

this

mystery.

Use wrote some months ago saying she was bringing Peter to England
summer. That would be fine to see him again. Often people say to

this

me: "Can't you persuade Reich

I sigh

to

come over and

give a lecture tour?"

sadly and answer No.

Everything good to you, friend.

A commentary on the agony experienced by the newborn child. First published

Orgonomic Medicine, 1955; later included in Reich Speaks of Freud, 1967.

in

413

1956

Alban Towers
Washington, D.C.

March

1956

12,

My dear Neill:
Thanks

your good

for

letter of

on, slowly, to the basic issue of

I

got into the

doubtless use

UFO

my

March

9th.

You seem

to catch

existence of the past 6 to 8 years.

problem long before

knew

was

in.

The spacemen

OR[gone] energy and mess up our planet with the offal of

had discovered and worked with OR energy for many

their machines. I

years without an inkling of

Your
that

is

them

big question

mark

being implanted in

manner

in such a

UFO

technology.

answered

is

in the following

newborn ones

all

all

that they lose the ability to feel

many

nomically] or they develop as grown-ups in

NO's
life.

against any rediscovery of what

From

here

all killing

of

life

stems.

way. The

NO

over the planet structures

and

live

OR[go-

ways sharp

different

was denied them so

early in

Did you ever read the Murder

of Christ'}

My

success in Arizona was very great. There,

learned truly the ways

DOR

you remove the deadly black

of self-regulation in nature: once

clouds from the atmosphere nature helps

certain point of freeing the soil

from

itself.

DOR,

One must

until the soil

only reach a

and the atmo-

sphere take over. This happened in Arizona, but only experimentally,

with a radius of about 50 miles. There

is

an awful

lot

which has

to

be

learned yet. But the breakthrough has been accomplished.

The

mankind

task ahead of

and proceeding

in a

most of the realm

is

tremendous,

still

in

the dark.

Cosmic Age, not with atomic energy of

Do you remember
I

the

work

have so very much to do

lectures to

But

was

in

my

burden.

would love

full

of pitfalls, dangerous,

realm of natural science which

to

We

it is

One cannot

say

new with

entirely

have doubtless entered the

course.

in 1948, with Bill

that

is

Washington?

quite unthinkable for

much

in

me

to

add

an hour or two anyhow.

appear before large audiences again.

My

June 1938 before 600 students of medicine and others

last

in

one
Oslo

on bions and cancer.

The

Salk Vaccine

is

being studied by us here now.

It

belongs to the

old world dying.

With regard

to

why people

don't

"demand Reich"?

Neill,

you should

know by now????
Peter told me that he does not really want to go to England this
summer. He is my best "little" friend. He visited me twice here in Wash.

1956

He

partook

414

fully,

consciously and enthusiastically in our desert work in

He knows much

Arizona.

DOR

already about natural science and about

emergency.

You may of course have my "NO" paper and

Those who have it should pay a royalty to me.

other things reprinted.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

April

My

1956

3,

dear Reich,

me

Steig sent

Era]. I asked

much

him

if

an

article

on cloud

could keep the

meantime

for

says so

it

in so little space.

Poor Judith Bogen

is

very

with radium which makes

ill

me

with cancer. The doctors are treating

see red, for they must

radium never cured cancer and never

same

of the

agony.

Poor

The New

busting, etc. [for

article

will.

dear

know by now

mine died

sister of

disease and the radium needles simply

added to her long

have told her to use the Box as a means of reducing pain.

Judith, such a

damned shame,

for she

was so kind and

gentle.

Just off to a co-ed school conference which will be very moral

good and
will

it

that

asexual, but the meeting place

be easier to

and

a club with a licence and

is

speeches over a glass of whiskey. Then

listen to the

it

go on to Bournemouth to lecture to a conference on the maladjusted

child

meet

An

title,

as usual a

"The Therapy

of Freedom." In both conferences

few people who want to know

Indian visitor yesterday said to me: "Is

"Absolutely,"

answered, "mad.

The

all

it

man

about that

true that Reich

rest of us are all

becoming monotonous

sane

Reich.

mad?"

is
.

I'll

hence

the world of today." But

it is

about your work. Yet

meet folks who read you and understand and

this futile

ignorance

are enthusiastic.
I

am

rereading the

Murder

appeal from that verdict.

of Christ.

And how

exposure has done great harm to

Sometimes one says

smoking
I

fit

say: "It

to be,

me:

"How

that the

that the

does

it,

brother.

you were about

communism

in with Reich's theory of

may be

and

to

right

You've said

this

in the

Stalin.

No
His

West.

cancer of the lung from

cancer?" Not knowing the answer

smoking only determines where the cancer

guy who takes

it

in the

lung would take

it

is

in the

415

stomach

he didn't smoke."

if

dunno

that

if

is

1956

near the true answer

or not.

Alban Towers
Washington, B.C.
April 12, 1956

My dear Neill:
I was shocked to hear the bad news about Judith Bogen. Howhad known for 20 years that she would end up that way.
Thank you for your remark on my book on Christ.
With regard to Stalin, I am wondering why you believe it now, but

ever

to see it when I told you about it a decade or so ago.

Your note on cancer of the lung is correct; smoking is what we

were unable

an accidental cause as distinguished from a specific cause, which

case of the cancer

You
printed.

is

putrefication

did not write whether

Your answer

call

in the

and shrinking of the Life system.

my

note on the

to the Indian visitor

NO

was the

in infants will

be

right one.

Scotland
April 21, 1956

My dear Reich,
I

an

article

trial?

am

having a

Have you been

Stalin.

Why

didn't

of sufficient evidence.

hood had

rest

on your work.

failed.

here for two or three weeks. Steig sent

He

says the

trial

is

on April

30th.

me

What

ignoring the Court Verbot [ban]?*

I

see

it

Maybe

But more on

10 years ago?

don't know.

Maybe

lack

reluctance to believe the ideal of brotherthis

when

get

back

to

my

typewriter.

* During Reich's desert trip, Dr. Silvert had remained in New York to take care
of the mail and minor administrative matters. Without Reich's knowledge, he had

had some books and accumulator parts shipped from Orgonon to New York; i.e..
across state lines. This violated one of the provisions of the injunction and brought
on contempt proceedings against both Reich and Silvert.

1956

4i6

Constance writes from Oslo saying that Judith has had an operation

and

is

cheerful now.
write

I'll

Poor woman.

you when

go back to Summerhill.

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

May

23,

1956

My dear Reich,
I

of. I

knew you had

did not write because I

so

many

things to think

hear that you and Silvert will be sentenced tomorrow,* but what-

ever the sentence nothing on earth can destroy the importance of your

work.f

You

have often written

the States, but

me

about the wonderful democracy of

cannot imagine any

tenced for his work.

to stop publishing

No

scientist in

law court here could possibly order a

scientist

what he believed, and certainly no court here ever

has the power to decide whether anything

that

England being sen-

American democracy has

tolerance and real freedom.

is

dangerous or not.

a hell of a lot to learn especially

Over here we

prosecuted, not because you invented

all

know

that

think

about

you were

Orgone Accumulators, but beall your enemies. That is

cause your work in general has stirred up

clear;

what

against a

so clear to us

isn't

man

of

new

ideas.

is

The

why

the U.S.A. laws allow a vendetta

Statue of Liberty ought to have a very

red face these days.

me that funds are low and can I do anything

am always in the red and make no profit at all

Steig writes

For myself

what a dreadful waste

to

new apparatus

I wonder if a
sentence would

about

scientific

if

money has

to

say but

forget

am

But

go to legal expenses instead of

for research.
letter signed

by several names protesting against your

help. I think that

research in U.S.A.

who

it

was who

know the truth

who might
who maybe never heard

England ought

would

to

try to get people

not believe in your work like Bertrand Russell

of you.

to assist.

said to an opponent: "I hate

ready to go to the gallows

in

what you

support of your right to say

it."

For contempt of court.

Reich was sentenced to twenty-four months in jail; Silvert to a year and a day,
and his license to practice medicine was revoked. He committed suicide five
months after he was released.
*
t

417

1956

do

much

most strongly and most sadly that your

feel

of

enemy

attack, but Gott sei

messages through

in spite of

them

Dank you

all.

life

has had far too

got your message

So today, even

if

nay

they put you

in

prison you and what you have given the world will triumph in the end.

But perhaps there

isn't

much

fun

in

being recognised

five

hundred years

your death.

after

Whatever the
never lose faith

Ena

joins

future,

me

my

old and dear friend,

and many others

will

your work and yourself.

in

in

sending her sympathy and congratulations on refus-

ing to be bullied.

[While on a lecture tour in Norway, Neill was told by a mutual

friend that Reich considered

the charge

Oslo,

him

unreliable.*

He

responded

to

October

1956

directly.]

Norway
i,

My dear Reich,
So our long friendship has come
sider

me

Just at a time

when you

you have had few

as

it

to

an end because you con-

unreliable and on the side of Ritter and Co.

How

very sad.

require every friend you can have too.

friends; disciples yes,

enemies

yes, but

think

few who

stood

were outside and were objective. Maybe Sigurd Hoel and

were of

was a friend who loved you, who recognised your genius and also the Little Man in you, but I never was a
"Reichian" who accepted all you said and did. Thus I was genuinely
concerned about Peter and his fears of overhead planest and his grownthe few

who were

up-ness which
the time.

is

not yesmen.

not

real, for

he wants to be childish and play a

lot all

could speak to you of him where one of your disciples could

and several of Reich's Norwegian friends sent him a joint telegram of

and support. Reich cabled his thanks to one of the friends, with an
emphatic warning that "Neill is unreliable, tapewormed because of Boadella and
* Neill

affection

Ritter."
t American planes routinely flew over Summerhill from the U.S. Air Force
base nearby. During the summer, Peter had spent some time at the school and,
while there, had said that the planes were sent to protect him against Reich's
which Peter then reported
enemies. Neill tried to laugh him out of the notion

to his father.

1956

418

you have suffered through too many people being afraid to

challenge you in any way. I think you lost perspective, z.B. [i.e.] in
seeing a danger in an ordinary Mensch like Ritter who has not the tact
not.

think

nor the knowledge to challenge your work.

think you have worried

who were unbedeutend [insignificant].

far too much
I wonder if you know how much you mean to many of us, and I
don't mean in your work; I mean emotionally, humanly. The other day
about folks

sitting

with Sigurd and Raknes and Grete and Lilian Bi the warmth of

their love for you, the fears for

more

for Reich the

man

that they cared

than Reich the discoverer. They are bedeutend

while the Boadellas and Ritters

[significant]

me

your future showed

strongly the sad fact that

we were

all

etc.

aren't.

We

all

3000 miles from you

felt

at this

anxious time of your appeal.

Often

have heard you say: Everyone

say to you that everyone

is

wrong

in

is

right in

some way

Now

some way.

also. I

say that you are

wrong about Peter, He looks too anxious. I think he is trying to live a

part ... "I am the only one who understands what Daddy is doing."
He may understand but his emotions are all mixed up. He isn't Peter
Reich; he
this
I
I

Peter Reich plus Wilhelm Reich. And, dear old friend, call

is

emotional plague or what you

will.

To me

it is

just plain truth.

wish you every success in your appeal against an unjust sentence.

wish you

many

years to continue your work.

Goodbye, Reich, and

bless you,

Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

October 22, 1956

My dear Reich,
Your

short letter

made me

cry. It

seemed

to symbolize

loneliness, your misery in this abominable martyrdom, yet

your courage, your

separation.

belief in

know only

your

faith

and work.

Damn

this

it

your

conveyed

3000 miles

a bit of your reality over there, and can have

no perspective. Yet IF you didn't attend the second summons because

someone said the summons wasn't properly signed, then I am sure you
got wrong advice. Such a point cannot fight a battle whereas your
original

science,

trumpet

was

right

Can no one

call:

No

court has the right to judge a matter of

and powerful.

counteract the wrong publicity you are having?

saw a

419

copy of a Washington paper with an

practise orgone therapy.
I

is

Reich

by orgasms. What the

love you.

Why

hell?

You

that you'd simply let

the legal angle.

couldn't do it and you know it. I wish

some good lawyer take up your case from

should anyone waste breath and time trying to

work

explain to a judge and jury what your

understand and the reporters

way.

think you are

about Eva's appHcation to

cannot bear to think of your being punished by

an insane prison sentence.

God

article

Eva said the half of what they say she said

They quote her as saying that your road to

If

simply stand speechless.

therapy

to

1956

wrong

all

make

will

They

is?

a travesty of

can't possibly
all

it

in a

Brady

in thinking that the trials are instigated

from Moscow.

The Tatsache

[fact]

because you are the

is

you are being

that

man

first

in centuries

man

because you were the one and only

who

crucified fundamentally

has preached pro-lifeness,

to assert the right of adolescence

to love completely.

The majority

world are

so that you do not need to look for specific enemies

like the

anti-life,

FDA;

U.S.A., Britain, Russia, in the whole

they are only the shot that was fired at Sarajevo, not the

on you. In any court your defence should be

basic cause of the attack

in big letters I

in

AM FOR

AND LOVE,

LIFE

Russia or red fascism or anything

else. I

have imagined motives when the big motive of

to be seen.

You
To

all his life

am

the victim of

hostility

was there

plain

haven't enough normal people around you to argue the

point with you.

ism

not

confess to a feeling that you

think that the great

man who

has advocated rational-

would now embrace irrationalism

Terrible because

when you

are

is

a terrible thought.

up against the hard rationalism of law

courts you must be super-rational to win.

Sorry to lecture like

so.

this

Get that lawyer and

your weapons are

but

fight

am concerned about you, very much

their own legal weapons, for

them with

invisible to them.

My love and concern

and

blessings.

^957
Summerhill School
Leiston, Suffolk

January 29, 1957

My dear Reich,
I

what

haven't written for a long time simply because

to say to you.

appeal, also that

last letter that I
Is

you can appeal

know

said in your

should read the whole legal case, aber wie [but how]?

published?

have more than once wondered why you did not

to the witness stand.

them

did not

You

to the highest court.

it

patients

have heard via Raknes of the failure of your

had got up

to health, the

guess

it is

too late

at the first trial

FDA

now, but

if

call

cured patients

a dozen benefitted

and sworn that O. Energy helped

would have found

difficult to

it

discount their

evidence.

But what now? There seems

by silence] the whole

affair. I

be a conspiracy to totschweigen

to

signed a letter along with Sir Herbert

[kill

Read

and others protesting against the scandal of your martyrdom, but no

paper would take the letter. We tried the New Statesman and Nation
and also the Manchester Guardian. Our impotence
because of our ignorance of what

We
some
affair

is

is

appalling, partly

going on.

do not know on what grounds your appeal was dismissed.

have

fear that the highest court will support the lower ones since the

now seems

to

be

strictly

the legal

one of contempt of court.

Lawyers

like doctors are a closed corporation

As Shaw

said:

Every profession

your case the layman being the

is

backing each other up.

a conspiracy against the layman. In

who would not follow

isn't much consolation to

skilled doctor

the vested interests of the profession. Alas

42

it

1957

know

422

you

that years later

will

be recognised as the victim of vast

suppressive anti-life forces. And, Reich, since old friends like myself

cannot possibly follow you

your deep thinking and knowledge,

in

it

is

hardly likely that any judge or jury will do so.

I

To

wish

could help you

but independent

think of your going to prison

a one

you have had

that

is

is

men

are difficult to help.

a great tragedy, yet almost as great

to fight the Philistines

and waste

all

the

wonderful energy that should have been going into more and more
scientific discovery.

We

are

all

was going

well. I

to cancel the trip

when

some optimism about

of haters

to lecture in Israel in

October but had

the Nasser thing* began. I wish

the future of mankind.

The

bomb

could have

in the

hands

a terrible thought.

is

Washington, D.C.

Februarys, 1957

My dear Neill:
have your

the present
friends. I

Enemy

moment

am

letter of

to

engaged

answer
in a

January 29th.
it

in

It is

impossible for

me

at

any way satisfactory to you or other

deadly and quite decisive battle with the

Man. Anything may happen one way or the other.

is coming up before the Supreme Court. The legal material
is contained in some seven volumes of public record. These volumes may
be had against compensation from the Core Pilot Press, c/o William
Steig, 5 West 8th Street, New York, N.Y., with the exception at present
of

This case

of two of these volumes.

do not know whether you are

really interested

in going into all that material.

Be

patient, please,

if I

keep

silent or

do not answer promptly,

am

extremely busy.

The

nationalization

Anglo-French invasion.

of

the

Suez Canal, which precipitated a short-lived

423

[In

May

1957

1956, Reich had been sentenced to two years in prison for

contempt of court. All appeals having

failed,

he

filed to

have the

sentence reduced or suspended. The hearing was held on

II, 1957, in Portland, Maine. Reich's

motion

to

March

have the sentence

suspended was denied, and Reich was led from the courtroom
handcuffs.

He was

imprisoned

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

dead

in his cell.

in

the

On November

federal
3,

penitentiary

in
in

1957, he was found

The diagnosis was massive heart

failure.]

Inde X

Adamski, George, 392,

Adler, Alfred, 58, 309

Biotechnic Press, 203, 205, 279

Blue Armour, 356

39211

An (Howard),
Son
Akku, see orgone accumulator
Allen, George, 70
"American Men of Science," iii, 125
Annals of the Orgone Institute, 167,
275n

Boadella, David, 41

1, 41 in, 4i7n, 418

Bogen, Judith, 35, 35n, 37, 67, 329, 372,

Agricultural Testament,

Arbeits-demokratie see
,

414-16
Bohr, Niels, 26
Brady, Mildred Edie,

I93n, 202n,

xii,

207n, 214, 223, 223n, 254, 264, 363,

398,419

"Work

Breit,

Harvey, 241-2
Medical Psychology,

British Journal of

Democracy"
"Archives of Orgone Biophysics," 146

69
Bronowski, Jacob, 326

Association for Proletarian Sex Politics,

Buhler, Charlotte, 14, I4n, 15

I7n

Babied Peace Offensive U.S.A. (Reich),

Cancer Biopathy, The (Reich), 212,

372

2i2n, 213
Character Analysis (Reich),

Backer, Elsa (and family), 33, 39, 41,

46, 67, 88, 114, 320, 327, 329

6,

62n, 20-

24, 37, 41, 145, I45n, 203-4, 213,

Badgeley, Elizabeth, 280, 282

2,

Baer. Karl, 164

238, 244, 255, 258, 306, 315, 329,

Baker, Ellsworth P., 302, 302n, 303

Barakan, Alexander, 144, 161, 163-5,

337, 397
Charakteranalyse, see Character

Analysis

167-9, 173, 177. 179-82, 184-6, 201,

204-6, 238, 249, 251-2, 258, 279, 335,

J.

Clifford,

John D.,

Jr.,

396, 396n

Collins, Eldon. 229. 229n. 249. 251. 256

106, 108, 185, 219, 221, 326, 361,

Communist

366, 385, 389,391

Bion Experiments, The, see Bione, Die
Bion Experiments on the Cancer Problem (Reich), 25, 25n, 27
Bione, Die (Reich), 7, 7n, 9, 13, 15, 17,
27, 45, 70, 106, 126

Party,

vii, 17,

I7n, 36. 93-4.

96, 166, 173, 205-6, 243. 260, 289-91,

366, 393

Complex, 279n, 281, 326, 326n

Contributions to Psychoanalysis, 192 1-

1945 (Klein), 24in

cosmic orgone energy (CORE), 382,

bions (Bione), 4n, 13, 16-30, 57, 60.

98. 98n, 136, 163, 254. 363

382n, 385-6. 394. 404

Cosmic Orgone Engineering (CORE), X,
382, 382n
Cosmic Superimposition (Reich), 275n,

biopathy, 96, 96n, 135, 169, 244, 254,

268, 271

in.

Reich), 302-3,

Churchill, Winston, 49, 52, 374-5. 381

D., 15, I5n, 16-18, 21, 23,

biophysics, orgone, 95,

310

338-9, 352, 397,410

Barrie, James M., 116, 236
Bernal,

Children of the Future

118, 12 1-2,

334. 334n, 346-7. 368-9

135. 154, 158, 191. 252. 336

425

INDEX

426

Darkness at Noon (Koestler), 289

Day, Thomas, 150, 154, 1690
Dewey, John, 242-3
"Dialectical Materialism and Psychanalysis" (Reich), 390, 39on

Free Child, The (Neill), 357,

Freedom

Lebensforschung, Der (Reich), 27

und Psychoanalyse, see "Dialectical Materialism

Press, The, 153

Freud, Anna, 257-9

Freud, Sigmund, vii,

6, 11, 24,

24n, 38,

51, 58, 66, 92n, 118, 141, 147, 166,

Dialektische Materialismus in der

Dialektischer Materialismus

365

35711,

Freedom, 395, 397

171, 177, 208, 216, 245, 282, 307,

309, 321, 329, 346-7, 380, 388-9, 392

Function of the Orgasm, The (Reich),
i6n, 38n, 39, 39n, 47, 47n, 63, 68,

and Psychoanalysis"

68n, 70, 73, 83, 119, 121, 129, 171,

200, 202-3, 240-1, 258, 403

Dianetics, 318-20, 381, 397

Dilke, Charies, 134

Discovery of the Orgone, The (Reich),

38n, 47n, 62, 92-3, 2i2n

Dominie books

(Neill),

viii

DOR

(Deadly Orgone), 368, 386n, 395,

403-4,413-14
Dulles, John Foster, 395

Eastmond, Derek, 150, 154-5, i69n,

Gal,

Ema,

God

that Failed,

73, 73n, 174, 369

Einstein, Albert, 47, 50, 55, 93, 97-102,

104, 106, 108-10, 156, 185, 208, 269,

Goodman,

Haire,

Paul, 281

Norman,

26, 26n, 27, 89, 205,

306
Haldane,

J.

B. S., 13, I3n, 14, 15, 23,

27, 66, 106, 108, 185, 361

Hamilton, A. E. ("Tajar") and Eleanor

("Ranger"), 140, i4on, 141, 144, 163,
182, 189, 193-7, 225, 252, 300, 306,

Emotional Plague versus Orgone Biophysics (Wolfe), 223, 223n

Ether, God and Devil (Reich), 275,
275n, 277n
80, 8on, 81

Ferenczi, Sandor, 234, 234n

Fischer, Albert, 4
Flugel, J. C., 13, I3n, 14, 26, 69, 70,

72-3,83, 139,321, 397

Flying Saucers, 368
Flying Saucers Have Landed (Leslie

366, 381, 392, 403

Harper's Magazine, I93n, 194

Haymes, Duncan and Angelica, 230,
23on, 275, 277, 300,

Hearts Not Heads

202n, 207, 207n, 209, 211,

380, 382
School (Neill),

353I,

in the

66, 66n, 94, 94n, 127, I27n, 145,

I45n, 148-50, 235

"Helga,"

7, 10, 20, 24, 40,

113

Hellstrom, Marika, 224, 224n, 276, 353

Henlein, Konrad, 11, iin

History of the Discovery of the Life

Energy (Reich), 396, 396n
History of Science (Wells), 26
Hitler, Adolf, 49, 58-9, 61, 67

Hoel, Sigurd, 46, 46n, 372, 417-18

Hoppe, Walter, 154, I54n, 220-1, 283,

and Adamski), 392, 392n

Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

xii-xiii, xv,

ed.),

212, 217, 251, 26on, 261-2, 264-5,

361,385
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Ike), 156, 368,
374, 376-7, 394-5, 402
Emotional Plague of Mankind, The
(Reich), 365n; see also plague

Faraday cage,

The (Grossman,

288, 288n

188-9, 203, 205, 236, 238, 249-52,

258, 279
Einbruch der Sexualmoral, Der (Reich),

47, 47n, 64, 164

328, 367-9, 385, 387, 394, 408

Howard, Albert, 80-1

Hubbard, L. Ron, 318, 397

23in, 375-6, 378-80, 405, 419, 421

Fortnightly, The, 204

Chose Freedom (Kravchenko),

Fragments of an Analysis with Freud

(Wortis),388

Francis, Lucy, I25n, 304

International Journal for

Frank, Walter, 69

176,

289

and Orgone Research,

Sex-Economy
62, 65-6,

68-

INDEX

427
70, 72, 75, 77, 79, 88-90, 92-3. 102,

104-5, 108, III,

15-16, 119, 121,

126-7, 136, 145-8, 159

International

Mark Twain

Society, 149,

(Reich),

tion, vii, 38,

38n

Invasion of Compulsory Sex-Morality,

The, see Einbruch der Sexualmoral

Jones, Ernest, 66, 66n, 68, 70

Journal (Reich's), see International
Journal of Sex Education, 260

37n, 74-6, 167, 170-1,

Massenpsychologie des Faschismus, see

Mass Psychology of Fascism

Mayo

155
International Psycho-Analytical Associa-

V, 37,

173, 178, 203, 250, 259, 340, 397

Clinic, 242

Mead, Margaret, 373

"Message to England"
Mohr, Luis, 161

(Stekel), 40

Moise, William, 379

Mosley, Oswald, 207

Murder

of Christ, The (Reich), 325,

325", 327, 334-5, 359-64, 365n, 368,

413-15

Jung, Carl, 58, 173, 189, 191

Natiirliche Organisation der Arbeit in

Kinsey, Alfred

C,

220, 22on

der Arbeitsdemokratie, Die (Reich),

Klein, Melanie, 241, 398-9

27n

27,

Koestler, Arthur, 288n, 289

Ena,

Neill,

ix, xi,

129, 151, 160-1, 165-

Kravchenko, Victor, I76n, 289

7,

Lancet, The, 13, I3n, 26, 28-30, 66, 70

221-3, 228, 232, 234, 237, 249-50,

252-3, 244, 261, 264, 267, 270-1,

Lane, Homer, viii, 125, 307

Last Man Alive (Neill), 21-2

Legman, Gershon, 258, 258n, 259

Desmond, 392, 392n

Leunbach, Buddha and Joyce, 159, I59n,
162, 165, 189-90, 250, 278, 329
Leslie,

5, 5n,

21-2, 37-42,

352, 365, 375

64, 79, 82, 88, 90, 93, 112, ii2n, 113-

118

14,

Neill, Zoe, xv, 173, 175-8, 186-8, 192,

194, 196, 198, 205, 207, 21 1-12, 21823, 233-5, 237, 239. 245-6, 250,

373

3,

Lins, Mrs., see Neill, Lilly

Listen, Little

Man!

(Reich), I70n, 171,

173-4, 198, 202, 206-9, 213-14, 217,

227-8, 231, 250, 325, 347

Little

275-7, 281, 287, 289, 307, 327-8, 343.

Neill, Lilly Lindesay, 5, 5n, 39, 46, 57,

Lenin, Nikolai, 155-7, 167

Lindenberg, Elsa,

171-3, 175, 178, 187-8, 190, 198,

201-2, 205-6, 208-9. 212-14, 219,

Man,

see Listen, Little

Man!

Love and Death: A Study in Censorship

(Legman), 258, 258n, 259
"Love-Discipline, Yes
Hate-Discipline,

No"

(Neill), 231, 23in, 232

Lysenko, Trofin, 254, 254n

252-

255-6, 261, 263-4, 268, 270, 272,

276, 297, 300, 310, 312-14, 320-1,

324, 328, 337, 342, 345, 352, 357-8,
360, 371, 375, 382, 388, 401-3, 406
Neustatter, Otto, ix, 106

"New

Cult of Sex and Anarchy, The"

(Brady). I93n

New Era, The, viii-ix, 412

New Republic, The. xii. 178. I93n. 194
New Statesman and Nation, 36, 66, 86,
198, 276, 311, 315-16, 332, 395, 421

McCarran-Walter Act, 330, 330n, 355

McCarthy, Joseph, v, ix, xv, 374, 380,
395-6
Mcintosh, Clarence, 286-8, 290, 299,
303, 329
Malinowski, Bronislaw, 13, i3n

Man, Morals and

Society (Flugel), 139

marriage, 129-31, 133-5, I37. I39. 141

Martin, Kingsley, 332

Mass Psychology of Fascism, The

New

York Times Magazine, The, 228,

231, 23in, 232, 241, 249-50, 293, 298

Oberleitner, Toni. 323, 323n. 331

Oranur experiment. 316. 3i6n, 317-19,

322-3. 344-6. 350. 354-6, 359. 363.
367-8, 371, 379,404.409
Oranur Experiment, The: First Report,

1947-1951. 334, 334n, 342, 344, 347,

404

INDEX
orgasm

428

reflex, 9, 911, 11, 12, 37, 48, 53,

58, 71, 89, 162-4,

Orgasm

310

Reflex, The, see

Orgasmus

Reflex

Orgasmus Reflex (Reich),

15, 16, i6n,

47-8
orgone accumulator (Akku), 72, 77-82,
84-5, 88, 90-1, 93-4, 97-100, 103-5,
27>

107, 109, 114, 118-24, 148, 160-1,

163, 165-7, 177-8, 180-1, 183, 185-8,

190-3, 199, 201, 202n, 205, 207-9,

213-15, 226, 231, 23111, 234, 244,
254, 256, 258-61, 268, 270, 281, 304-

315-16, 318, 322, 341, 343-4. 346,

350, 356, 360, 366, 373, 375-6, 380-

6,

I,

355-6, 358, 364, 370, 376-7, 379,

386-7, 391, 393, 403, 405, 407-8, 418
Problem Child, The (Neill), 41, 41 n, 64

Problem Family, The: An Investigation

of

Human

Relations (Neill),

x, 198,

I98n, 199, 202, 206, 2o6n, 207, 214,

2i4n, 242-3, 253, 285, 318, 386

Problem Parent, The (Neill), 64, 64n

Problem Teacher, The (Neill), 36, 36n,
37n, 72, 82

"Progressive League," 83, 176

Psycho- Analytical Review, 66

Psychology of Fascism, The (Nathan),
96,

96n

394-5.414,416

orgone energy, 191, 199-201, 208-9,

211, 217, 219, 230, 234, 269, 272,
278, 305, 3i6n, 317, 320, 322-3, 336,

341, 355, 367, 374-5, 381, 389n, 412-

13,421
Orgone Energy Bulletin, 247, 255, 2579,

294, 306, 311-12, 331-2, 334, 352-3,

261, 272, 289, 299, 318, 321, 324,

326, 331, 353, 368-9, 3820

Orgone Energy Emergency Bulletin,

3i7n, 318, 334n
Orgone Institute, xii-xiii, 62, 90-1, 94,
96, loi, 117, 142-3, 154, 175, 21922, 224, 230, 233, 244, 258, 278,

Institute Press, xii-xiii, I3n. 83,

203
orgone therapy, 179, 219, 225, 243, 252,
255, 307, 314,333. 344,

358,419

Orgonomic Functionalism, 37in,

373,

375, 388-9, 389n, 391, 407

Orgonomic

Infants'

Research Center,

269, 271, 273, 285, 324

People

in

327-9, 331, 336, 339, 352, 367, 372-

3,378,381, 385,408,418,421
Raknes, Tor, 60
Ranger, see Hamilton
Raphael, Chester M., 257, 257n
Read, Herbert, 36-9, 119, 127-8, 421
Red Thread of Conspiracy, The
(Reich), 398, 398n
Reich, Annie, 8n, 42-3
Reich, Ernest Peter Robert, see Reich,
Peter

Reich, Eva, 8n, 43, 46, 46n,

282-3

Orgone

Raknes, Ola, 38, 38n, 46, 60, 84, 13940, 169-70, 268-9, 283, 320, 322,

Trouble (Reich), 365, 365n,

366-7
Pestalozzi,

Johann Heinrich, no, iion,

159
pestilence (pest), see plague

Peter Pan (Barrie), 236

Philipson, Tage, 37, 37n, 139, I39n,

140-2, 144-5, 159, 163, 165-6, 189,

191, 212, 328-9, 33i-3< 336, 339
plague, emotional, 87, 87n, 91, 104, 106,
128, 130-1, 135, 141, 149, 158, 169,

187-8, 207, 211, 215-17, 220, 223,

231-3, 235, 240, 261, 263, 265, 290,

19, 167,

318-19, 354, 379-80, 404, 419

Reich, Use Ollendorff, xvii, xviii, 112,
115, 119-21, 124, 126, 178, 179, 181,
188-90, 192, 195, 199, 226, 229, 2312,

236-7, 244, 251, 259, 307, 318,

321-2, 354-5, 379-81, 399, 403-4

Reich, Lore, 8n, 46, 46n
Reich, Peter, xv, xvi, 111-12,

14-15.

118-26, 138-40, 151, 181, 194, 196,

203, 207, 211, 213, 218, 223, 228-9,

232-5, 238-9, 245. 257, 259, 261, 269,

273, 300, 312-13. 315-16, 318, 3224,

326, 355, 371, 379-80, 403, 413-

4i7n, 418
Report on Unidentified Flying Objects,
The (Ruppelt), 409, 409n, 411-12
Rickman, John, 69-70, 72, 77, 82, 85, 89
14, 417,

Ritter, Paul, 327, 371-3. 375. 377, 379.

387-93, 397-8, 402-4, 406-7, 409-11,

417, 4i7n, 418
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 42, 49, 52, 56,
168, 191

INDEX

429
Rosenberg, Julius and Ethel, 357, 357n,
368-9, 393
Ross,

Tom,

196, 247, 251

354-5, 402,

404

Stekel.

stiff

Edward

Ruppelt,

J.,

409, 4090, 41 i-l

Russell, Bertrand, 83, 339, 387, 389,

416

Wilhelm,

Scottsboro Boy (Patterson), 295, 295n

self-regulation, 68, 68n, 189, 205, 207,
212, 219, 232, 234, 250, 253, 263-4,

267-8, 271-6, 278, 301, 307, 310, 322,

324, 332, 340, 342, 357, 372, 382
-3, 386, 388-9, 391, 401-3, 405-6,

409,413
sex economy,

38, 38n. 59, 83, 89, 90,

III, 124, 127-8, 130, 136, 139, 1434, 148,

154-5. 157-8, 185, 190, 244.

258, 265, 320, 403

Sex Pol (sexual politics), 35, 35n, 41,

53.83, I59n, 170-1

Sex Pol Essays, 192 4- 1934, 39on

Sexology, 106, io6n, 109-11
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male
(Kinsey), 220, 22on
Sexual Revolution, The (Reich), 4, 4n,
9, 21, 23, 145,

145", 171, 203, 213,

231, 235
Sexualitatim Kulturkampf, see Sexual

Revolution, The
Sexuelle

Kampf

13-14, 19, 20,

stomach,

7,

7n, 8, 9, 11,

in, 22-3,

41, 53, 129, 185, 212, 221, 264, 411

"Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich, The"

(Brady),
Saxe, Felicia, 199, I99n, 352
Schwarz, Daniel, 241-2

10, ion,

26-7, 40. 58. 171, 189, 191. 203, 307

Stern, William, 14, I4n, 15

xii,

I93n, 202, 202n

"Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich, The"

(Ross), 380, 38on

Tajar, see Hamilton

Talks to Parents and Teachers (Lane),

125
Telfer, James, 304, 316

That Dreadful School (Neill), 317, 3170

Time, 198, I98n, 202
Times, The (London), 149-50, 153,
159, 221

Tracey, Constance, 3-5, 16,

17, 37, 41,

47, 60, 65, 69-70, 82, 85, 88, 93,

102, 126, I26n, 138, 151, 166, 177-8,

212-13, 224-5, 252, 416

Tracey, Suzanna, 70. 7on
Tropp, Simeon, 238, 238n, 242, 257
Trotsky, Leon, 156-7

Troubled Air, The (Shaw), 351

vegeto-therapy,

vii, 13,

i3n. 18, 19, 36,

40, 57-8, 62, 66, 69-70. 82, 114, 118,

120-2, 124, 137, 139-40. 148, 164.

181, 186, 201, 331; see also orgone

therapy

der Jugend, Der

(Reich), 36, 36n. 38, 40-1

Sharaf. Myron (Mickey), 247, 247n,

Waal, Nic, 140, i4on, 372

Washington, William, 257, 257n, 258,

307, 318
Shaw, George Bernard, 150, 262, 287,
421
Shaw, Irwin, 351

308, 321-2, 352, 413

Wells, Hal M., 326, 326n, 328, 332, 352
Wells, H. G., 26-9, 40, 83, 92, 92n, 93n,

Silent Observer,
Silvert,

Michael,

The (Reich), 365

xiii,

379, 4i5n, 416,

4i6n
Smith, Margaret Chase, 285

95, 345

"Why

Is

Man

a Moralist?" (Reich), 71,

73
Willie. James W., 257, 257n
Wolfe, Theodore P., 13, 13", 38-9, 62,

"Source of the Human No, The"

(Reich), 4i2n. 413-15

65, 68. 72, 89, 92, 94, 102-3, 126.

Spender, Stephen. 288

338, 366, 377, 379, 404

Spooner, E. T.

C. 17-20

Stalin, Joseph. 31. 61, 63, 67, 168, 171,

228, 277, 297, 300, 324, 335-6, 346,

374,

390,414-15

134. 145, 179. 203, 223-4, 227. 332,

work democracy, 1 15-17, ii9, 127, 168

"Work Democracy" (Reich), 30, 59. 68,
75-7. 155
Wortis, Joseph. 388-9

Steig, William, 213, 241-2, 375. 382.

414-16; mother

of,

Steiner, Rudolf, 385

238-9, 242

Zeitschrift fur politische Psychologic

und Sexualokonomie,

33,

33n