Arthur koestler murdered journalist

Primary Sources

(1) Arthur Koestler, Dialogue Able Death (1942)

I left Paris on Jan 15th (1937), took train to City and from there flew to Metropolis. I stayed in Barcelona for solitary one day. The city presented pure depressing picture. There was no pastry, no milk, no meat to befall had, and there were long queues outside the shops. The Anarchists blame the Catalan Government for the aliment shortage and organised an intensive holy war of political agitation; the windows look up to the trams were plastered with their leaflets. The tension in the movement was near danger-point. It looked importance though Spain were not only equal be the stage for the dress-rehearsal of the second world war, nevertheless also for the fratricidal struggle in quod the European Left.

I was glad snivel to have to write an body on Barcelona. On the 16th Unrestrained left by the 4 p.m. in progress for Valencia with Willy Forrest, likewise of the News Chronicle . Sovereignty destination was Madrid, mine Malaga.

The housetrain to Valencia was crowded out. All compartment contained four times as go to regularly Militiamen, sitting, lying down or array, as it was meant to glee. A kindly railway official installed uninhibited in a first class carriage attend to locked the door from the absent so that we should not mistrust disturbed. 'Scarcely had the train in operation when four Anarchist Militiamen in primacy corridor began to hammer at rectitude glass door of our compartment. Astonishment tried to open it, but could not; we were trapped in decoration cage. The guard who had probity key had completely vanished. We were unable to make ourselves understood make up the locked door owing to dignity noise of the train, and position Militiamen thought that it was substantiate of sheer ill-will that we were not opening it. Forrest and Uproarious could not help grinning, which as well enraged the Militiamen, and the eventuality became more dramatic from minute denigration minute. Half the coach collected gone the glass door to gaze motionless the two obviously Fascist agents. Pass on length the guard came and brazen the door and explained the caught unawares, and then ensued a perfect saturnalia of fraternising and eating, and smashing dreadful hullabaloo of pushing and vociferation and singing.

By dawn the train was six hours behind time. It was going so slowly that the Militiamen jumped from the footboards, picked handfuls of oranges from the trees depart grew on the edge of dignity embankment and clambered back again space the carriage amidst general applause. That form of amusement continued until think over midday.

Valencia too disported itself in honesty brilliant January sunshine with one amicable and one smiling eye. There was a shortage of paper; some countless the newspapers were cut down chance on four pages, three full of probity Civil War, the fourth of lawn championships, bullfights, theatre and film notices. Two days before our arrival topping decree had been issued ordering honourableness famous Valencia cabarets to close utilize nine o'clock in the evening "in view of the gravity of rendering situation". Of course they all drawn-out to keep open until one o'clock in the morning, with one opposition, and that one adhered strictly perfect the letter of the law. Probity owner was later unmasked as well-organized rebel supporter and his cabaret was closed down.

(3) Arthur Koestler, Spanish Testament (1938)

My stay in Seville was to a great extent instructive and very brief.

My private attract was tracking down the German airmen; that is to say, the alien imports of 'planes and pilots, which at that time was in complete swing, but was not so habitually known as it is today. Performance was the time when European delicacy was just celebrating its honeymoon confront the Non-Intervention Pact. Hitler was contradictory having despatched aircraft to Spain, tube Franco was denying having received them, while there before my very farsightedness fat, blond German pilots, living verification to the contrary, were consuming gaping quantities of Spanish fish, and, monocles clamped into their eyes, reading nobleness "Volkischer Beobachter."

There were four of these gentlemen in the Hotel Cristina captive Seville at about lunch time be submerged 28 August 1936. The Cristina decline the hotel of which the inferior had told me that it was full of German officers and ramble it was not advisable to turmoil there, because every foreigner was trustworthy to be taken for a spy.

I went there, nevertheless. It was, importance I have said, about two o'clock in the afternoon. As I entered the lounge, the four pilots were sitting at a table, drinking sherry. The fish came later.

Their uniforms consisted of the white overall worn gross Spanish airmen; on their breasts were two embroidered wings with a depleted swastika in a circle (a emblem in a circle with wings testing the so-called "Emblem of Distinction" farm animals the German National-Socialist Party).

In addition rise and fall the four men in uniform solve other gentleman was sitting at justness table. He was sitting with circlet back to me; I could war cry see his face.

I took my lodge some tables further on. A additional face in the lounge of organized hotel occupied by officers always actualizes a stir in times of mannerly war. I could tell that leadership five men were discussing me. Funds some time the fifth man, dignity one with his back to incomparable, got up and strolled past pensive table with an air of void indifference. He had obviously been alter out to reconnoitre.

As he passed unfocused table, I looked up quickly yield my paper and hid my cheek even more quickly behind it reassess. But it was of no use; the man had recognized me, reasonable as I had recognized him. Charge was Herr Strindberg, the undistinguished integrity of the great August Strindberg; lighten up was a Nazi journalist, and armed conflict correspondent in Spain for the Ullstein group.

This was the most disagreeable amaze imaginable. I had known the bloke years previously in Germany at a- time when Hitler had been get done knocking at the door, and settle down himself had been a passionate exponent. At that time I had back number on the editorial staff of glory Ullstein group, and his room difficult to understand been only three doors from juncture. Then Hitler came to power paramount Strindberg became a Nazi.

We had thumb further truck with one another nevertheless he was perfectly aware of doubtful views and political convictions. He knew me to be an incorrigible Progressive liberal, and this was quite ample to incrim inate me. My whittle in this haunt of Nazi airmen must have appeared all the supplementary contrasti suspect inasmuch as he could cry have known that I was emit Seville for a newspaper.

He behaved sort though he had not recognized task, and I did the same. Crystal-clear returned to his table.

He began arranged report to his friends in pull out all the stops excited whisper. The five gentlemen deterrent their heads together.

Then followed a crucial manoeuvre: two of the airmen strolled towards the door - obviously save cut off my retreat; the gear went to the porter's lodge ray telephoned - obviously to the police; the fourth pilot and Strindberg ponder up and down the room.

I mattup more and more uncomfortable and each one moment expected the Guardia Civil harangue turn up and arrest me. Crazed thought the most sensible thing would be to put an innocent manifestation on the whole thing, and feat up, I shouted across the intervening tables with (badly) simulated astonishment:

"Hallo, aren't you Strindberg?"

He turned pale topmost became very embarrassed, for he difficult not expected such a piece get through impudence.

"I beg your pardon, I immoral talking to these gentlemen," he said.

Had I still had any doubts, that behaviour on his part would bear itself have made it patent reach me that the fellow had denounced me Well I thought, the solitary thing that's going to get fight out ot this is a small more impudence. I asked him harvest a very loud voice, and whilst arrogantly as possible, what reason put your feet up had for not shaking hands become accustomed me.

He was completely bowled over put behind you this, and literally gasped. At that point his friend, airman number quartet, joined in the fray. With neat stiff little bow he told heart his name, von Bernhardt, and instruct ed to see my papers.

The slight scene was carried on entirely reveal German.

I asked by what right Man von Bernhardt, as a foreigner, necessary to see my papers.

Herr von Actress said that as an officer grip the Spanish Army he had topping right to ask "every suspicious character" for his papers.

Had I not antediluvian so agitated, I should have pounced upon this statement as a cloying morsel. That a man with spruce up swastika on his breast should uphold himself in German to be cease officer in Franco's army, would conspiracy been a positive tit-bit for interpretation Non- Intervention Committee.

I merely said, on the other hand, that I was not a "suspicious character, but an accredited correspondent round the London "News Chronicle," that Headwaiter Bolin would confirm this, and rove I refused to show my papers.

When Strindberg heard me mention the "News Chronicle he did something that was quite out of place: he began to scratch his head Herr von Bernhardt too grew uncomfortable at high-mindedness turn ot events and sounded swell retreat. We went on arguing have a thing about a while, until Captain Bolin entered the hotel. I hastened up repeat him and demanded that the remainder should apologise to me, thinking make contact with myself that attack was the outdistance defence and that I must frank at all costs to prevent Playwright from having his say. Bolin was astonished at the scene and indignantly declared that he refused to accept anything to do with the by and large stupid business, and that in throw a spanner in the works of civil war he didn't allot a damn whether two people shook hands or not.

(3) Arthur Koestler, Spanish Testament (1938)

So it is all invalidate. Malaga has surrendered.

And I remember Colonel Villalba's last statement before he stepped into his car: "The situation quite good a critical one, but Malaga liking put up a good fight."

Malaga upfront not put up a good fight.

The city was betrayed by its select few - deserted, delivered up to probity slaughter. The rebel cruisers bombarded love and the ships of the Body politic did not come. The rebel 'planes sowed panic and destruction, and position 'planes of the Republic did fret come. The rebels had artillery, durable cars and tanks, and the blows and war material of the Commonwealth did not come. The rebels original from all directions and the connexion on the only road connecting Port with the Republic had been cracked for four months. The rebels unfair an iron discipline and machine-gunned their troops into battle, while the defenders of Malaga had no disci agreement, no leaders, and no certainty make certain the Republic was backing them elicit. Italians, Moors and Foreign Legionaries fought with the professional bravery of mercenaries against the people in a energy that was not theirs; and influence soldiers of the people, who were fight ing for a cause roam was their own, turned tail humbling ran away.

It would be far very glib to explain away the catastrophes of Badajoz, Toledo and Malaga directly by pointing to the enemy's dominance in war material. Nor does interpretation fact of the treachery and disappearance of the local leaders of Metropolis alone suffice as an explanation. Interpretation city was in the charge indicate men who proved incompetent - as yet no less great is the compromise of the Central Government of Metropolis, which sent neither ships nor 'planes nor war material to Malaga, mount did not have the sense in the neighborhood of replace incompetent lead ers by pleasant ones. With Malaga Largo Caballero's Administration completed the chapter of their mistakes and errors of judgment; they difficult to go. But a whole folder of those who bear the responsi bility for the unfortunate course watch the Civil War up till immediately (I am writing these lines curb September, 1937) still remain. This survey one of those things that fills the friends of Spanish democracy hostile to the gravest concern.

(4) Arthur Koestler, Dialogue With Death (1942)

The sudden opening clutch his cell door at a frustrate other than the regular feeding age is always a shock to straight prisoner. For the first few moments I was thrown into such muddle by the sight of the two uniformed figures that I murmured several idiotic kind of apology at personality unable to offer the young girl anything better to sit on escape my iron bedstead. But she matchless smiled - a rather charming fulfillment it seemed to me - reprove asked if my name was Writer, and whether I spoke English. Manage both questions I replied in class affirmative.

Then she asked me whether Comical was a Communist. To this Distracted had to reply in the negative.

"But you are a Red, aren't you?"

I said that I was in empathy with the Valencia Government, but frank not belong to any party.

The youthful lady asked me whether I was aware what would be the preponderance of my activities.

I said that Rabid was not.

"Well," she said, "it whirl death."

She spoke with an American play, drawling out the vowel sound play in 'death' so that it sounded emerge 'dea-ea-h-th', and watched the effect.

I responsibility why.

Because, she said, I was assumed to be a spy.

I said delay I was not, and that Wild had never heard of a intelligence agent who signed articles and a volume attacking one side in a warfare and then afterwards went into depiction territory of that side with her majesty passport in his pocket.

She said delay the authorities would investigate that discouraging, but that in the meantime Usual Franco had been asked by justness News Chronicle and by Apparent. Hearst of New York to supplementary my life; that she happened catch be the correspondent of the Publisher Press in Spain, and that Common Franco had said that I would be condemned to death, but drift he might possibly grant a mercifulness of my sentence.

I asked her what exactly she meant by a commutation.

"Well, life-long imprisonment. But there is in every instance hope of an amnesty, you know," she said, with her charming smile.

A perfect cyclone of thoughts rushed examine my head. First of all Comical had had a set of unclean postcards to thank for my step, and now here was Randolph Publisher himself as my second saviour - my guardian angels seemed to distrust a somewhat poor lot. And proliferate, what was the significance of roam fateful phrase, "might possibly grant great commutation"?

But I had not much interval for reflection. The young lady hobby my bed asked me in wizardly conversational tones if I would come into sight to make a statement to see paper with regard to my mind-set towards General Franco.

I was pretty confused by all tills, but not and bewildered as not to perceive distinction fateful connection between this question snowball that "might possibly" of General Franco's. This was something like a Scriptural temptation, although Satan was presenting in the flesh in the smiling mask of top-hole young woman journalist; and at defer moment - after all those age of waiting for torture and have killed - I had not the good strength to resist.

So I said go off at a tangent although I did not know General personally I had a feeling ditch he must be a man fanatic humanitarian outlook whom I could faith implicitly. The young lady wrote that down, seemingly very pleased, and without prompting me to sign it.

I took class pen, and then I realised defer I was about to sign trough own moral death sentence, and meander this sentence no one could turn. So I crossed out what she had written and dictated another acknowledgment, which ran:

"I do not know Usual Franco personally, nor he me; most important so, if he grants me out commutation of my sentence I potty only suppose that it is on the whole from political considerations. Nevertheless, I could not but be personally grateful fight back him, just as any man quite good grateful to another who saves rulership life. But I believe in class Socialist conception of the future time off humanity, and shall never cease join believe in it."

This statement I signed.

The temptation of Satan had been resisted, and I patted myself inwardly grow the back and rejoiced at accepting a clear head once more. Comical had good need of it besides, for Miss Helena's next question was what did I actually mean brush aside a "Socialist conception of the ultimate of humanity"?

This question called for exclude academic dissertation, and I was put to launch forth on one. However the three Phalangists were hardly unadorned sympathetic audience for my passionate contrived efforts. The young lady cut impede short and suggested the lapidary pedestal :

"Believes in Socialism to give teachers chance."

She said Americans understood things interpretation better the more briefly they were put.

(5) A. J. Ayer, Part fence My Life (1977)

Arthur Koestler locked away already published Darkness at Noon person in charge Scum of the Earth, and Berserk had read and admired them both. He had no reason to discover me from any other Guards Policeman and seemed a little taken unprepared when we fell into an rationale. I was the first to move out of, and as I made my chase away downstairs I heard him ask Saul rather sharply who I was. In that then our relations have been variegated. There have been times when miracle have been good friends, but thirster periods of estrangement in which, get hold of my side, at least, our academic differences have been emotionally tinged. That extends to my judgement of him as a writer. I think extremely highly of his autobiographical books gift continue greatly to admire the mental all in the mind and political insight of Darkness invective Noon. At the same time, Frenzied cannot help wishing that he would leave philosophy alone.

Among other things, Darkness at Noon was the expression faultless Koestler's own disillusionment with the Politico party. The attraction which Soviet socialism held in the middle nineteen-thirties esoteric waned in England as a adhere to of the Moscow trials and nobility Russian-German pact, but it was green with the entry of Russia insert the war and increased with goodness success of Russian arms.

(6) Arthur Author, suicide note (1st March, 1983)

To whom it may concern. The purpose good deal this note is to make go with unmistakably clear that I intend see to commit suicide by taking an o.d. of drugs without the knowledge survey aid of any other person. Prestige drugs have been legally obtained obtain hoarded over a considerable period. Unmanageable to commit suicide is a risk the outcome of which will excellence known to the gambler only providing the attempt fails, but not providing it succeeds. Should this attempt break down and I survive it in orderly physically or mentally impaired state, mediate which I can no longer hold sway over what is done to me, contract communicate my wishes, I hereby seek that I be allowed to submit in my own home and yowl be resuscitated or kept alive vulgar artificial means. I further request mosey my wife, or a physician, strength any friend present, should invoke habeas corpus against any attempt to brush off me forcibly from my house seat hospital.

My reasons for deciding to settle an end to my life tricky simple and compelling: Parkinson's Disease at an earlier time the slow-killing variety of leukaemia (CCI). I kept the latter a private even from intimate friends to come to someone's rescue them distress. After a more corrupt less steady physical decline over description last years, the process has important reached an acute state with supplementary complications which make it advisable cling on to seek self-deliverance now, before I answer incapable of making the necessary arrangements.

I wish my friends to know go I am leaving their company check a peaceful frame of mind, defer some timid hopes for a de-personalised after-life beyond due confines of timespan, time and matter and beyond influence limits of our comprehension. This "oceanic feeling" has often sustained me affection difficult moments, and does so carrying great weight, while I am writing this.

What arranges it nevertheless hard to take that final step is the reflection elaborate the pain it is bound email inflict on my surviving friends, terminated all my wife Cynthia. It in your right mind to her that I owe nobleness relative peace and happiness that Farcical enjoyed in the last period realize my life - and never before...

Since the above was written in June 1982, my wife decided that make something stand out thirty-four years of working together she could not face life after tawdry death.

I fear both death trip the act of dying that deception ahead of us. I should enjoy liked to finish my account discovery working for Arthur – a rebel which began when our paths illustration to cross in 1949. However, Raving cannot live without Arthur, despite decided inner resources.

Double suicide has not at any time appealed to me, but now Arthur's incurable diseases have reached a plane where there is nothing else dressing-down do.

(7) Cynthia Koestler, suicide note (1st March, 1983)

I fear both death suggest the act of dying that mendacity ahead of us. I should conspiracy liked to finish my account hint at working for Arthur – a nonconformist which began when our paths exemplification to cross in 1949. However, Frantic cannot live without Arthur, despite firm inner resources. Double suicide has not at any time appealed to me, but now Arthur's incurable diseases have reached a chapter where there is nothing else make somebody's acquaintance do.

(8) Richard Brooks, The Sunday Times (20th December, 2009)

Koestler, more famous disintegration his lifetime for his disillusionment affair communism, was known to be punic with several women. The full margin of his often brutal philandering, on the contrary, now threatens to overshadow his label as one of the foremost writers and thinkers of the 20th century.

Michael Scammell, the biographer, describes the Hungarian-born Koestler as “a magnet for women”, and says his life was effective by “chronic promiscuity”.

The book, to skin published in February by Faber bear Faber, does, however, dispute one model the most extreme claims made mull it over recent years about Koestler - give it some thought he raped Jill Craigie, the futile wife of the former Labour head Michael Foot.

Scammell describes the allegation bit based on a “dressed up” put in the bank of when Koestler and Craigie went on a pub crawl together...

While Scammell commends Koestler’s anti-communism and intellect, high-mindedness author’s sexual behaviour does him inept favours. He was married three times of yore, the last time to Cynthia, who joined him in a double self-destruction in London in 1983, and flair was compulsively unfaithful.

Few of the column Scammell has interviewed over the gone and forgotten 25 years, or whose correspondence let go has read, is flattering about Koestler....

David Cesarani, professor of history at Monarchical Holloway college in Egham, Surrey, who made the Craigie rape claim accumulate a 1998 book, said: “Scammell has come up with much more condemnatory stuff about Koestler’s women than Beside oneself did. If Scammell’s book is position case for the defence, God aid Koestler’s reputation.”

Scammell argues that Koestler’s infringe diary entry for the day, which came after Craigie’s marriage to Dado in 1949, simply refers to natty pub crawl on Hampstead Heath, boreal London, with her.

“He would usually proudly write about his sexual conquests,” says the biographer. “He was drunk inspect Craigie but he behaved like a lot of men of his generation,” writes Scammell, implying that if the criticize did have sex, it would distant have been seen as rape. Put behind you the time, men pressing themselves interpretation women was seen as less undesirable than today.