Letter to Pasquale Martignetti, December 30, 1884

Author(s)	Friedrich Engels
Written	30 December 1884

First published in La corrispondenza di Marx e Engels con italiani. 1848-1895, Milano, 1964
Printed according to the original
Translated from the Italian
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 47

ENGELS TO PASQUALE MARTIGNETTI

IN BENEVENTO

London, 30 December 1884

Dear Sir,

Unfortunately it is not till now that your latest letter dated 18 November has received a reply from me. Please excuse me; I am overwhelmed with work and things to be done.

My Peasant War is a pamphlet which is only of interest to Germany. Besides, I must prepare a completely reworked edition, and I cannot begin before February or March. The book would be published around July (I know what to expect from our party press). Finally, what it deals with has nothing to do with the subject of The Origin etc.^b

I think therefore that it will be better to publish the latter separately; as for the way in which it is published, I leave the decision entirely in your hands.

As soon as The Peasant War is published, I shall be honoured to send you a copy. You can then judge whether it is worth the trouble of translating. I doubt it.

I remain with respect your devoted

F. Engels