Zuerich, Nov. 27, 1937.

Dear Professor Slochower:

I cannot write as fully as I should like, as my correspondence
is now again quite crowded; but I want to wait no longer and thank
you for sending me your manuscript, which I have studied with great
interest and delight. What you offer here is an extraordinary,
detailed and appreciative ("liebevoll") commentary on the Joseph cycle
up to its present stage; it is, indeed, a commentary which, through
its warmth and spirit ("Geist"), is thoroughly suited to make the
reader avid for the subject itself.

I should now like to ask you what you intend to do with the
work in a practical way. I can well imagine that Knopf would be
inclined to publish it as a pamphlet together with his fortcoming
edition of the third volume and, unless you have other plans, I
would urge you to let Knopf see the work and to make this proposal
to him. Since I cannot be sure of your acquiescence, I cannot write
to Knopf myself. But, if you agree, you can refer Knopf to my feelings
in the matter.

In the matter of the two dwarfs, you have no reason to feel
yourself on uncertain ground. What you say about the two little ones
hardly needs any supplementation. In inventing them, I had nothing
very definite in mind, although the invention is quite in the spirit
of the entire book, particularly in connection with the lovestroy
that constantly points across to the phallic symbol (also suggested
by the symbol of the donkey). The story of the two little ones,
the frightfully normal one and the one who is pure of sex, comprises
a kind of sex-satire that fits in, amusingly enough, with the
spiritual complex of the whole work. That the potent dwarf helps to
represent Egyptian nationalism, whereas Gottliebchen supports views
that are friendly toward the foreign, also belongs to the nicer
points of this invention. That is about all there is to be said about
it, and perhaps you might insert something along this line.

With many cordial thanks for your interest

THOMAS MANN
65 STOCKTON STREET
PRINCETON, N. J.

May 14, 1939

Mr. Cleanth Brooks, Jr.
THE SOUTHERN REVIEW
University, Louisiana

My dear Mr. Brooks,

Dr. Thomas Mann has asked me to answer
your letter in which you wish him to contribute to Thomas
Hardy's centennial. Grateful as he is for your invitation
he must confess that he feels not familiar enough with this
great author to deal with him in an article. So please do
not expect this contribution from Dr. Mann. Instead he will
give you very soon one of his addresses which he recently
spoke, for print in the SOUTHERN REVIEW, to fulfil a promise
given some months before. You will hear from him before
long.