Letters from Peierls to Genia
MS. 11619/10/A.115
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Description
From Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts.
Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts contains descriptions of the Bodleian Libraries’ archival collections, including post-1500 manuscripts. Some manuscripts with records in other catalogues are also described here as part of a description of a larger archive. Learn more.
Title
Letters from Peierls to Genia
Shelfmark
MS. 11619/10/A.115
Summary
At the time of their meeting at Odessa, Peierls spoke no Russian and Genia no German. Their shared language was English, which Peierls says 'Genia could speak reasonably but not fluently', and this continued to be the medium of their correspondence. Peierls however started taking Russian lessons 'since the language intrigued me' (Bird of Passage, p. 67), and it is remarkable to observe in the correspondence his use of Russian grow from brief phrases of endearment to sentences, paragraphs and eventually almost entire letters. This, together with the accounts of his scientific, social and personal life in Pauli's Zürich laboratory at this time, make this one of the most interesting items in the collection.
Date
24 Sep 1930-15 Feb 1931
Language
Russian
English
Physical extent
1 file
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
Supplementary catalogue of the archive of Rudolf (Ernst) Peierls (1907-1995)
SECTION A BIOGRAPHICAL
Family correspondence and material
Genia Peierls
Letters from Peierls to Genia
