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three old letters are sitting on top of a piece of paper
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356 - [Victor HUGO]. Louis-Eugène Hennet de KESLER (1804–1870), ma…
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Estimate €500 - €600
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Description
[Victor HUGO]. Louis-Eugène Hennet de KESLER (1804–1870), man of letters, fellow exile of V. Hugo. 2 autograph letters and 4 signed letters, Guernsey 1867–1869, to the ‘dear citizen’ Félix Hémon; 15 pages in-8 in blue pencil and ink, 2 bearing his cipher and motto ‘Fides impavida’. A brief account of life at Hauteville House. This correspondence is addressed to the young poet Félix Hémon (1848–1916), who went on to become a teacher and literary critic, and was the father of the author of *Maria Chapdelaine*. 30 July 1867. The Master received Hémon’s letter and read it to them ‘in a very fine voice and with great emphasis’; he wrote to him to congratulate him on his verses. As for Kesler, he is writing a novel ‘sold to a New York publisher. I write only in London, Brussels and America; I need freedom of thought and freedom of the press’… – 21 October 1867, regarding *Ruy Blas*: ‘We still doubt whether it will be performed, for it is a hard pill for your government to swallow; fortunately, a ban will serve our cause just as well, and even better, than a licence. […] The Master has been here for eight days; the eagle has returned to its nest”… – 5 November 1868. He forwards a letter from Victor Hugo and places his trust in the youth for the future of France… – 24 November 1868. He feels there is too much talk of the Baudin affair and asks for a copy of *La Marseillaise* and ‘the romance *Quand tu chantes le soir bercée entre mes bras* (When you sing in the evening, cradled in my arms), lyrics by Victor Hugo, music by Gounod’... – 2 March 1869, on the possibility of a newspaper: “It is a mistake to believe that Victor Hugo wishes to found a newspaper; on the contrary, he does not wish to be associated with any, either directly or indirectly, neither financially nor editorially. That is not how he understands his political role; *Le Rappel* is a possibility, run by his sons, Vackeray [Vacquerie], Meurice, Rochefort, &c.”... – 9 April 1869. ‘The work required to earn my meagre living as an exile is killing me’ and he no longer has time to write to his friends; he sends ‘the portrait of the friend we have lost’ [Adèle Hugo, who died on 27 November 1868]. Enclosed is a handwritten letter from Paul Meurice, Paris, 21 February 1905 (1 p., in-8), offering to come and see him, to “provide as much information as I can about the excellent Kessler, whom I knew very well”…
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part II
Auction location
Auction time 10/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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