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a handwritten letter written in french on a piece of paperthree old handwritten letters are on a piece of paperseveral old letters and pictures of a house on a tablea close up of a piece of paper with a stamp on itseveral old letters and envelopes on a white surfacean old black and white photo of a man in a suit and tie next to a handwritten lettersome old newspapers are sitting on a table with a piece of paperseveral old newspapers are stacked on top of each other on a tableseveral old papers are piled on top of each other on a tablesome old papers are piled on top of each other on a tablea close up of a piece of paper with writing on it
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99 - Léon Daudet (1867–1942) and René Benjamin: a loyal and liter…
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Estimate €500 - €800
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Léon Daudet (1867–1942) and René Benjamin: a loyal and literary friendship that defied the established order of the Third Republic A collection of correspondence, press cuttings and handwritten notes FIND THE FULL AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION CATALOGUE 25 letters from the author and postcards, 1927–1942, addressed to René Benjamin, including: Letter from the author, Thursday, undated [1927] Dear friend ( ) I will be unable to attend tomorrow evening’s banquet. Mrs Benjamin must have told you that I voted in every round for Maurice Brillant, author of *L’amour sur les tréteaux ou la fidélité punie*. He is a fine man, very talented, who has never had a stroke of luck, who writes for *Le Correspondant* (for a pittance) and who has a real feel for the French language. Pesquidoux is set to win the Académie’s prize, and Rivoire is an Arian writer: he’ll come to nothing. Meanwhile, Brillant is pottering about on the stairs of *Le Correspondant* ( ) This argument isn’t one to be put forward, but between you and me, he’s not half bad. L.A.S., 20 July 1928, Le Zoute-sur-Mer ( ) they’re going to exonerate the ‘Bonnet Rouge’, and that’s a serious matter. In Germany’s eyes, it’s a Fournié affair, just like the acquittal of Caillaux. So I thought of this: could you not speak to Clemenceau about this, or at least write him a heartfelt letter, showing him the danger of the situation and asking him to intervene publicly and forcefully? It was he who, in the Senate on 22 July 1917, exposed the Bonnet Rouge affair. It was under his presidency that those [ ] were convicted. Poincaré knew all about it, and yet today he is allowing Barthou and the Criminal Chamber to have their way. It is abominable. A public letter from Clemenceau, as he knows how to write them, would have an immense impact and would bring these despicable ministers to their knees... L.A.S., Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, 18 October 1939 Dear friend, I have received your letter and am delighted to learn that your dear son has left the Maginot Line for the ‘Maures’. As for Jean Rameau, I think it is up to the Société des Gens de Lettres to look after him. I have written to Jean Ajalbert saying that I voted for Lebesgue (Philéas), of whom I have nothing, but that, according to our friends, there are issues worth supporting. As for the prize, I have informed the same Ajalbert that I voted in every round for Simone (Mr François Porché) and his latest novel, which strikes me as superior to all the others. It would be absurd not to award the prize this year. On that point I agree with Descaves. You know what I think of Hitler – a madman – and of the war, which can only be a disaster for Germany, and one that I believe will be swift, contrary to common opinion. As for the military leaders (Gamelin, Giraud, etc.), Hitler had the good sense to choose Escoffier Fritset. I have high hopes for your initiatives… Handwritten notes by René Benjamin, on loose sheets, over 100 pp. in-12 and in-8 formats; accounts of encounters, reading notes, drafts for lectures and articles, 1923–1940 The first meeting Daudet’s visit to La Santé prison, 20 June 1927 Remarks made during numerous dinners at Léon Daudet’s home (Paris, Zoute-sur-Mer, Brussels, and at Mrs Ruxton’s), visits to *L’Action Française*, 1923–1940, including 3 February 1936 at Mrs Ruxton’s Draft for a lecture on Léon Daudet, 6 pp. in-8: his Catholicism and his royalism; violence; joy in work; the gift of storytelling; personal qualities (imagination, cheerfulness) Draft of the protest against the imprisonment of Léon Daudet, signed by Anna de Noailles, André Antoine and Henry Bernstein Over 50 extracts from press articles (mostly from *L’Action Française*) and journals written by Léon Daudet Handwritten notes by René Benjamin on loose sheets in-8 and in-12, 1921–1942 + press cuttings on Léon Daudet, 1925–1946; on the murder of Philippe Daudet and the Bajot-Daudet trial, including extracts from *L’Action Française* nos. 300 (25 Oct. 1925) to 325 (21 November 1925) 26 letters from the sender (L.A.S.) and postcards (P.A.S.), 1926–1960, from Marthe Allard-Daudet, Léon Daudet’s second wife, addressed to René Benjamin and his wife Elisabeth Lecoy + 6 letters from Charles Daudet, François Daudet and Edmée Daudet-Chauvelot Etc... FIND THE FULL AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT IN OUR ONLINE AUCTION CATALOGUE
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About the sale René Benjamin, the 20th-century Balzac scholar
Auction location
Auction time 10/06/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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