More Affirming - supplementary letters 1975-1997

An online selection of the more significant letters to have emerged since the publication of Affirming: Letters 1975–1997 (London, 2015: Chatto and Windus; London, 2017, Pimlico)

• First posted 18 January 2019
• Last updated (i.e. this edition) 18 June 2025

The four published volumes of Berlin's letters focus on the outgoing letters, i.e. those written by him. Where we have the other side of the correspondence, and have been able to secure the necessary copyright permission, the online supplements will now also include a selection of the more important letters written to Berlin, and where possible those about him:

• Included in this supplement are 3 letters from IB to his friend and colleague, the philosopher A. J. 'Freddie' Ayer: they include letters of condolence on the death of Ayer's daughter Valerie (in 1981), and his wife Vanessa (in 1985).  Also included here are letters to IB from the Riga-born Harvard philosopher Judith Shklar, and the US diplomat and historian George Kennan.

To see this Supplement click 'View Document' below