Bertrand Russell's Letters to Helen Thomas Flexner and Lucy Martin Donnelly

Abstract

<p> This dissertation consists of a scholarly edition of Bertrand Russell's letters to Helen Thomas Flexner and Lucy Martin Donnelly. Although Russell's reputation as a writer of voluminous letters is well-known, to date there are no collected editions of his personal correspondence. As an editorial project this thesis is very much concerned with the problematic and often controversial methods of editorial procedure. Another major concern is the assessment of a set of letters that span nearly half a century of riveting social upheaval.</p> <p>Russell's letters to Helen Flexner and Lucy Donnelly convey the personal and public sides of his life. The correspondence with them provides biographical information for the reader who is unfamiliar with Russell's life and thought as well as for the specialist. The letters, however, represent more than just an account of one man's life. As historical documents they recount major world events such as the Great War and discuss significant issues such as political elections and women's suffrage. Thus, in its scope, this thesis embraces various disciplines that reflect the multifarious aspects of Russell's activities and writings.</p> <p> Undoubtedly, the editor's role in the preparation and transformation of private documents to public ones is a crucial part of any editorial undertaking. The strategies employed in this edition involve techniques of selecting and presenting annotative material in the most comprehensive manner. The purpose of such notes is to provide the reader with a sense of the historical, sociological and literary themes in Russell's correspondence.</p>