ALLILUYEVA SVETLANA: (1926-2011) Soviet writer and lecturer, the youngest child and only daughter ...

ALLILUYEVA SVETLANA: (1926-2011) Soviet writer and lecturer, the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph Stalin and his second wife Nadezhda Alliluyeva. Svetlana Alliluyeva caused an international sensation in 1967 by defecting to the United States, becoming a naturalised citizen in 1978. An interesting A.L.S., L. Peters, five pages, 4to, London, 14 ^th March 1993, to Maurice Dalinval of Le Figaro. Alliluyeva states that she was glad to have met her correspondent the previous day and hopes that they will be able to work together on various projects, continuing to write, in part, ‘Since I’m seeing…..the young geologist from Kamchatka, Russia, I’ll ask him (without revealing the purpose) about some most interesting aspects of the “Science in Eastern Serbia” since that is the Grand theme which one should undertake while going there. A place of exile – in the past – the Eastern Siberia…..was place of massive “colonisation by scientist”, undertaken since late 1940ies and the idea was from the centre, then, of course. The reason was a wealth of underground treasures traced by geologists (including things like uranium, plutonium and others, needed for Atomic industries). The large “Army” of young scientist were recrouted (sic) – or went voluntarily…..new towns were built….(more military purposes & organisations were not revealed to public). Yet in the 5 decades two generations of dedicated scientists emerged there; cities flourished; schools were better than that in the European part of USSR……There is a lot what to film about there and what to talk about and I’d be most gratefull (sic) if “Le Figaro” takes me on board (but quietly), so that I could then meet with my daughter. Yet this personal event should not (please!!) be advertised from the very beginning: there is so much more to speak about. Neither Americans (too lazy) nor British (too indifferent) are yet to speak about this unique huge area of development: they still believe the Siberia is a place of exile only. Not so……Another project – about a Book of Questions and Answers (how strange: that was my idea after I’ve returned from USSR to USA in 1986! Americans thought it was no good…..) With a good lively questions one can make a very interesting book……it shouldn’t be too light, though – there is a lot of serious things to talk about (and I hate to say anything that could upset my children on both sides of the globe)…….Finally, I hasten to explain that an Essay on the subject “Why I’ve become a Catholic” is strictly for the audience of Catholics or clergy; it is not a popular or secular subject…..So, thank you very much again, - and please let us stay in touch about these new projects: those can be very interesting’. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Alliluyeva and marked ‘Personal & Private’ and signed ( ‘L. P.’) by Alliluyeva with her initials in the return address panel to the verso. A few very light, minor creases, otherwise VG