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69
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Paul ÉLUARD. The Poets I Knew. [1949].
See original version (French)
69
-
Paul ÉLUARD. The Poets I Knew. [1949].
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
Paul ÉLUARD. The Poets I Knew. [1949]. Signed autograph manuscript, 2 pages, in-4.
A clean copy of a poem about Aragon, published in issue no. 11 of *La Nouvelle Critique*, December 1949.
Poem dedicated to the writer and journalist Jean Fréville, a member of the French Communist Party (PCF), a close associate of Maurice Thorez and an editor at *La Nouvelle Critique*.
The nineteen lines, referring specifically to Aragon, had appeared in the collective pamphlet, published in October 1949, *La Guirlande d’Aragon privé de ses droits civiques*. The aim was to support Aragon, who had been charged with a press offence and spreading false news in the newspaper *Ce Soir*.
Shortly afterwards, for the reprint of his poem, Éluard added verses in homage to the poets who had taken up the call to arms, to justice and to fraternity, concluding with a few lines of prose:
Of all the poets I have known, Aragon is the one who was most right – right against the monsters, and right against me. He showed me the right path; he still shows it today to all those who have not understood that to fight against injustice is to fight for their own lives, for a life blossoming with hope and for all the love in the world. (Éluard,
Complete Works II, Pléiade, p. 369.)
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale
Henri Michaux, the Sven Pitsey collection
Auction location
Auction time
10/29/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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