AGUTTES
12
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CÉLINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894–1961).
See original version (French)
12
-
CÉLINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894–1961).
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,000
Voluntary lot
Description
CÉLINE, Louis-Ferdinand (1894–1961).
Autograph letter signed ‘LF Céline’, Copenhagen, ‘In prison’, 1 March 1947, [to André ROUSSEAUX]; 3 folio-sized pages.
Note:
A strong reaction to an article on MONTHERLANT in *Le Figaro littéraire*. [André Rousseaux, ‘M. de Montherlant returns to literature’, 19 April 1947.] ‘Given the direction you’re taking in *Le Figaro littéraire*, I can no longer imagine that Gustave Lanson is actually dead—otherwise you’d surely find him suspect! I have always read your columns with great interest and I believe we even corresponded amicably in the past… and yet you’ve ended up here!… CHÉNIER explains all this, as you know, in *La Peur*… I shall not be cruel. It is my turn to be indulgent towards a veteran of both world wars, 80 per cent disabled, holder of the Military Medal since October 1914! I shall not defend MONTHERLANT; he defends himself very well indeed, as is evident. He comes out of it unscathed… But there are a few of us who are being torn to pieces for imaginary crimes… In your review of the writers of this generation, do you count MORAND for nothing? Yet today he is presenting *Ouvert la nuit*? Is it Aragon-Balzac? George Sand-Triolet? You are too shrewd… No, in truth, the downfall is complete. Too many wars have drained the blood. We’ve come to the point of turnip’s blood… And turnips mad with pride! Precisely what I wanted to spare us: to spare the blood. Nothing else! You’ll do me the honour of believing this and sparing me the insult. I value your esteem greatly. I know that martyrdom entails the insults and spittle of fools. I do not count you amongst the latter; that is generous of me. I have made too many enemies to escape unscathed, I know. A thousand times more of a bullfighter than MONTHERLANT, I have truly stepped into the arena, in person, and the beast has ripped me open; I lie here, sir, I do not have long left, and I bid you farewell, but do not insult me. Your article is full of insults, unspoken but there nonetheless’…
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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