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Women in the Work
Diary of Madame Egout Pour Sweet
With Mr. Gurdjieff in Paris 1948-1949
by Rina Hands
The word 'Egout' is the French word for sewer or drain and refers to the honorary title conferred upon Rina Hands by Mr. Gurdjieff during her stay with him in Paris. This was during the last few months of his life from August 1948 to October 1949.
Rina was involved in the original typing of 'All and Everything' and she went to Gurdjieff's flat on Rue des Colonels each day. There she took part in whatever was going on at the time and this included Movements classes and Gurdjieff's extraordinary meals.
The diary was written primarily for herself but it seems that even then she knew the importance that would be attached to Mr. Gurdjieff's work.
After Mr. Gurdjieff's death she returned to England and continued with 'group' work under J.G.Bennett at Coombe Springs. She began to realize the value of what had been given to her by Gurdjieff and resolved to 'repay'. This took the form, in 1951, of working fortnightly with a group in Yorkshire where she became their leader.
ISBN 0-89756-017-5