That London didn’t please you, I can readily believe. Some years
ago I used to feel much the same. It is difficult to accustom oneself to
the gloomy atmosphere and, for the most part, gloomy people, to the
reserve, the class distinctions in social life, to living shut up indoors as
the climate demands. One has to temper somewhat the animal spirits
imported from the Continent and let the barometer of joie de vivre fall
from, say, 760 to 750 millimetres, until one finally becomes acclima
tised. Then one gradually reconciles oneself to the whole thing, dis
covering that the place has its good points, that people are on the whole
more straightforward and reliable than elsewhere, that no city is bet
ter suited to the writing of learned works than London, and that the
absence of harassment by the police makes up for a great deal. I know
and love Paris but, given the choice, I would rather settle perma
nently in London than there. Paris can only be enjoyed properly if
you become a Parisian yourself, with all the prejudices of a Parisian…
Letter to Mina Kautsky 26th November 1885
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