Mr.                                      Vienna, 28 March 1966
W.H.Auden
Hinterholz 5
Kirchstetten
Niederösterreich


Dear Sir,

     Last year the "Österreichische Gesellschaft für Literatur"
arranged two International Round-Table Conferences to discuss
"The theatre of today and today in the theatre" and "The novel
in the present century". Both were attended by some of the lead-
ing writers and critics of the day, and the world-wide interest
evidenced by the long extracts from the discussions in newspapers,
literary periodicals, and radio and TV reports has led us to plan
a further Conference next autumn to discuss "Literature: tradi-
tion and revolution". A feature of the Conference, as in the case
of last year's, will be the presence of leading authorities from
both East and West.

     The Conference will be from 23-25 October 1966 in Vienna,
the three mornings being set aside for discussions in the
presence of an invited audience of journalists and critics. The
languages of the Conference will be English, French and German.
As last year, a number of journalists bothfrom both East and West
will come to Vienna with the special purpose of reporoting on
this Conference. On the third evening all those taking part in
the Conference will foregather in the Redoutensaal of the Hofburg
for a meeting, open to the public, at which the results of the
Conference will be summarised.

     May we have the pleasure of inviting you to this Conference?
We are confident that anything you have to say will be much
appreciated by all present. You will shortly be sent further
details; but meanwhile it would greatly assist us if you would
let us know whether you can accept our invitation or not. We are
glad to be able to offer you a compensation of S 3.000, and we
shall of course be responsible for your air ticket and your
hotel accommodation., in case you should not be in Austria.

     Hoping to receive your acceptance in dure course,


                     I remain with cordial greetings,


                                         Yours truly,


                                      (Dr. Wolfgang Kraus)