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Description of original facsimile: A one-page, two-sided typed letter (on Niels Hoyer letterhead) in purple (likely a carbon copy) with two holes punched in the lefthand margin; part of the first sentence of the last paragraph is underlined in red crayon with # in the margin.

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  • Photographed by Pamela L. Caughie
  • Images prepared by Matthew Gallagher
  • Transcription completed by Tatjana Willms-Jones
  • Translation completed by Tatjana Willms-Jones
  • Translation reviewed by Sabine Meyer
  • Encoding completed by Anna McCue
  • Encoding assistance and/or XML proofing completed by Rebecca J. Parker, Xiamara Hohman, Orion Elrod
  • XML transformed into HTML on 05/26/2023 by Greer Martin
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Transcription

Page 1

KopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark

24.3.32.

Carl Reissner/Verlag

Dresden N.

(01) Lieber Herr SchumannHarry Schumann (historical), head of Carl Reissner Verlag, the German publishing house in Dresden!

(02) Mit gleicher Post sende ich Ihnen den Schluss meines Lili ElbeLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931-Manuskriptes. Es hat länger als beabsichtigt gedauert. Ich war krank, bin noch nicht wieder "auf dem Damm". Mein Herz machte Schwierigkeiten. Ich konnte nicht arbeiten. Hoffentlich sind Sie jetzt zufrieden. Das Manuskript ist von meiner Hand jetzt druckreif. Sie können es also in Druck geben. Ich werde in der Korrektur keine Änderungen vornehmen. Dies sage ich zu Ihrer Beruhigung, damit Sie wissen, dass unnötige Korrekturspesen durch mich nicht entstehen werden.

(03) Jetzt einige erklärende Worte bezüglich des Schlusses, den Sie nun zusammen mit diesen Zeilen erhalten:

(04) Das Kapitel 15., auf Seite 159 beginnend erfährt eine Veränderung; von Seite 160 werden die letzten 7 Zeilen fortgenommen und kommen an den Anfang des Kapitels 16 auf Seite 161. Das Kapitel 16 beginnt also mit der Zeile: "Und wieder lag LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 in ihrem Liegestuhl drausse im Park...."

(05) ZWISCHEN SEITE 160 und 161 KOMMT NUN DIE GROSSE ERGÄNZUNG: LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931s Briefe aus der FrauenklinikMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." an GreteGrete Sparre (fictional), modeled on Gerda Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator nach ParisParis (historical), capital of France. Ich habe die eingefügten Seiten laufend mir Buchstaben nummeriert, beginnend mit a und fortgeführt bis v, also 21 neue Manuskriptseiten, die ausschliesslich Originalbriefe LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931s enthalten. Sie zeigen die 100% ige Umwandlung vom Mann zur Frau! Jch glaube, sie werden dem ganzen Buch sehr förderlich sein.

(06) Es ist nun die Frage, ob ich eine kleine Fussnote dort, wo im Anschluss an Seite 160 die Briefe beginnen, ggehen soll, vielleicht: "Die nachfolgenden Originalbriefe sind dem Herausgeber erst nach dem Tode LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931s zur Veröffentlichung übergeben worden."

(07) Ausser diesen Briefen (darin übrigens auch die Szene mit dem Kinde, die Herr Prof. Dr. WarnekrosKurt Warnekros (1882–1949), a German gynecologist who performed all but the first of four surgeries on Lili Elvenes; director of the Women’s Clinic in Dresden (Staatliche Frauenklinik) from 1925 to 1948 erwähnt, zu finden ist) besitze ich noch einige Briefe, die LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 an ihren SchwagerThomas Christian Thomsen (1883-1963), married to Einar’s sister, Christiane Thomsen, and father of Einar’s nephew, Sigurd Thomsen in KopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark aus DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany und der sächsischen SchweizSwitzerland (historical), a Central European nation bordered by Germany, France and Italy. gleichzeitig mit diesen Briefen gerichgeschrieben hat; sind sie z.T. sehr interessant, es handelt sich um 7 Briefe. Dann habe ich noch das Vorwort, das sie mir aus DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany sandte und schliesslich noch 15 handgeschriebene Oktav-Seiten, Aufzeichnungen eines jungen ArztesSigurd Wegener Thomsen (1905-1953), Einar’s nephew, der Lili ElbeLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 aus nächster Nähe in KopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark, von DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany zurückgekehrt, beobachten konnte. Dieser Arzt ist der So ihres SchwagerSigurd Wegener Thomsen (1905-1953), Einar’s nephews, mit dem sie viele vertrauliche Gespräche geführt h te.

Page 2

(08) Wichtig erscheint mir vor allem ein Brief von LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 an mich aus DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany vom 15.Juni 1931. Jch lege eine Übersetzung bei. Er bezieht sich auf das letzte Gespräch, dass ich mit LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 hier geführt habe, sowie auf die letzte Zeile des Buches vor dem Epilog.-

(09) Dieser Brief würde dann in den Epiloggnach dem ersten Brief stehen müssen.-

(10) So, das wäre genug für heute. Ob ich die vorher erwähnten Briefe (7), die AuzsAufzeichnungen des jungen Arztes und das Vorwort auch noch aufnehmen werde, darüber bin ich mir noch nicht ganz klar. Mein Vorwort wird noch etwas ergänzt werden. Sie erhalten es bald.–

(11) Geben Stie mir jetzt bitte bald Bescheid, wann Sie mit dem Druck beginnen werden. Je früher, desto lieber. Denn ich werde in nicht allzu ferner Zeit für mehrere Wochen verreisen. Wohl im Mai. Daher möchte ich im April mit der Korrektur fertig sein. Werden Sie dies ermöglichen können?-

(12) Seit etwa vier Wochen habe ich von 18 deyutschen Verlergern Vertragsangebote erhalten. In verschiedenen Zeitungen DeutschlandGermany is a western European country whose capital is Berlin.s etc. soll mein Buch sehr gut besprochen worden sein, so neulich in dem Prager Tageblatt -@Editor: PLC. Vielleicht könnten Sie irgendwo veröffentlichen, dass Ihr Verlag das Werk für das deutsche Sprachgebiet erworben hat. Dann würden diese unnötigen Angebote unterblieeiben.-

(13) Indem ich auf Antworten wegen verschiedener alter Fragen -@Editor: XEH von mir warte, hoffe ich bald von Ihnen zu hören. Hauptsache: dass das Buch billig wird, dass doie Propaganda zugkräftig und rührig wird, dass das Buch nicht zu spät erscheint, - und dass es nicht als literarische Delikatesse ausgegeben wird. Es ist an sich unliterarisch! Hat nichts mit Roman-Literatur zu tun, ist fern aller Kunst, ist einen menschlicher Berich vom Menschen, über einen Menschen, ist eine Confessio.- Aber Sie verstehen mich gewiss.-

(14) Nun meine herzlichsten Ostergrüsse!

(15) Ihr ergebenster

Translation

Page 1

CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark 3/24/32

Carl Reissner/Publishing Company

DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany N.

(01) Dear Mr. SchumannHarry Schumann (historical), head of Carl Reissner Verlag, the German publishing house in Dresden!

(02) I am sending you the end of my Lili ElbeLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 manuscript along with this letter. It took longer than intended. I was sick, and have not quite recovered yet. My heart was giving me some trouble. I wasn’t able to work. I hope that you are satisfied now. The manuscript is now ready to be printed. You can now send it out for printing. I will not change any of the corrections anymore. I am saying this to assure you, that any costs that arise from adding additional corrections after it has been printed, will not be caused by me.

(03) Now a couple of explanations regarding the end of the manuscript, which you are receiving along with this letter:

(04) Chapter 15, which starts on page 159, is receiving a change; the last 7 lines from page 160 will be taken away and added to the beginning of chapter 16 on page 161. Consequently, chapter 16 will begin with the line: “And again, LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 laid in her lounging chair in the park....“

(05) BETWEEN PAGE 160 and 161 THERE WILL BE A BIG ADDITION: LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931’s letters from the women’s hospitalMunicipal Women's Clinic (fictional and historical) is the Staatliche Frauenklinik in Dresden, directed by Professor Kurt Warnekros from 1925 to 1948." to GreteGrete Sparre (fictional), modeled on Gerda Wegener (1885-1940), an art deco painter and illustrator in ParisParis (historical), capital of France. I have marked the pages that are to be included with letters, beginning with a and continued until v, so there are 21 new pages to the manuscript, that are exclusively for LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931’s original letters. They show her 100% change from a man into a woman! I think that they will be a helpful addition to the book.

(06) Now there’s the question, if I should add a little footnote, at the bottom of page 160, because the letters begin on the next page. I could add: “The following original letters were given to the publisher for publication only after LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931’s death."

(07) In addition to the letters (which includes the situation with the child, that Mr. Prof. WarnekrosKurt Warnekros (1882–1949), a German gynecologist who performed all but the first of four surgeries on Lili Elvenes; director of the Women’s Clinic in Dresden (Staatliche Frauenklinik) from 1925 to 1948 mentions) I also have some letters that LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 wrote in DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany and in Saxon SwitzerlandSwitzerland (historical), a Central European nation bordered by Germany, France and Italy. to her brother-in-lawThomas Christian Thomsen (1883-1963), married to Einar’s sister, Christiane Thomsen, and father of Einar’s nephew, Sigurd Thomsen in CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark during the same time. There are 7 letters and they are very interesting. I also have the foreword that she sent to me from DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany, and 15 handwritten pages, notes from a young doctorSigurd Wegener Thomsen (1905-1953), Einar’s nephew, who was able to watch Lili ElbeLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 very closely as she returned to CopenhagenCopenhagen (historical), capital of Denmark from DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany. This doctor is her brother-in-law’s sonNephew (fictional), modeled on Einar Wegener’s nephew, Harald Sigurd Wegener Thomsen (1905-1953), son of Christiane and Thomas C. Thomsen, with whom she had many private conversations.

Page 2

(08) A letter that seemed especially important to me, was one that LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 wrote to me from DresdenDresden (historical), city in Germany on the 15th of June 1931. I will include a translation. It’s about the last conversation that I had with LiliLili Elbe (fictional and historical), legal name Lili Ilse Elvenes; born Einar Wegener (1882), died in Dresden, 1931 here, and references the last line of the book, before the epilogue.

(09) This letter would have to be included in the epilogue, after the first letter.

(10) That’s enough for today. I haven’t decided if I want to include the aforementioned letters (7), the young doctor’s notes and the foreword. I am still adding to my foreword. You will receive it soon. -

(11) Please let me know, when you are going to start printing. The sooner, the better. Because I will be going on vacation for a couple of weeks, not too long from now. Probably in May. That’s why I would like to have completed the corrections by April. Will you be able to accommodate this?

(12) For about four weeks, I have been receiving offers from 18 German publishing companies. According to the Prager Tageblatt -@Editor: PLC, my book was a popular topic of discussion in many German newspapers. Perhaps you could announce that your publishing company has received this book for the German version. Then these unnecessary offers would stop.

(13) Since I am waiting on answers to some old questions, I hope to hear from you soon. Most importantly: the book must be cheap, the advertisement has to be attractive and lively, it cannot be published too late, - and it cannot be advertised as a literary delicacy. It is not literary! It has nothing to do with novels, it’s far from art, it is a human report by a human, about a human, it is a confession. But I’m sure you understand.-

(14) My warmest Easter greetings!

(15) Yours sincerely