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155 - Pierre Drieu la Rochelle (1893–1945), novelist, essayist and…
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Pierre Drieu la Rochelle (1893–1945), novelist, essayist and journalist A letter and a publication Autograph letter, 29 January 1940, addressed to René Benjamin, 5 pp., in-4; the author discusses his views on Maurice Barrès and his experience of the Great War, as well as the positions of other intellectuals of his time such as Péguy, Maurras, Montherlant and Malraux Dear Sir, What a nuisance. Firstly, although I usually buy *Candide* quite regularly, I had unfortunately missed out on it this week. Secondly, I did not wish for a letter from you, suddenly addressed to me, to come across as a rebuff. I can only say one thing in reply: I am completely taken aback. I had no intention whatsoever of casting the slightest shadow over the memory of Barrès, whom I have always admired and loved. As recently as two years ago, I wrote a long article in Doriot’s newspaper in which there was nothing but respect and affection. And I enjoy speaking of him with his son. But it seems to me that a veteran who is not afraid that frank speech may be less rich in profound praise than any other language can describe Barrès’s devotion no other way than I do. That was how I addressed him myself. Despite all his love and all his prudence, he lacked something: the experience of war. That cannot be replaced in the eyes of those who have fought at length. A man in the thick of battle can surely not, at that very moment, write a novel or a poem that speaks of passion. There was something intangible and unreal that shrouded everything Barrès said about war and which made him a stranger—albeit only slightly, but noticeably so—to the soldier in the trenches. How often since then have I heard men—nationalists and his literary admirers—acknowledge this with embarrassment and sadness. Above all, they suffered at seeing him thereby leave himself open to very lowly adversaries who, of course, took advantage of this in a despicable manner. That is what I meant by the words ‘exquisitely inadequate’. He did everything he could, but he could do no more. I must point out that others, who had no more experience of war than he did, displayed a surer instinct for military matters. There were not many of them: I can count no more than two. Péguy was so deeply engaged in the events unfolding before him that he possessed an accurate premonition of them. Hence, one can reread everything he wrote before 1914 on the subject of war with complete satisfaction. And Maurras, who was more deeply involved in day-to-day political life than Barrès, always expressed himself with a tact that did not offend the combatant. That is why so many combatants turned to him after the war. Whilst Barrès experienced a degree of isolation from the younger generation, Montherlant, others and I would approach him with a touch of ill humour mingled with all our delight. Montherlant has since given free rein to that ill humour. I refrained from doing so. When I speak of silence, I mean a hushed tone, a profound hushed tone. But note the complete silence of Bernanos, Montherlant and Malraux (who had, however, distanced himself from communism for two or three years). These men have a part of Barrès within them. Mauriac and Duhamel approach the matter obliquely, with a certain apprehension. Besides, why give all this any thought? The subtle analysis you offer in your article of Barrès’s attitude captures all those nuances which I summarised, with the conciseness demanded by the subject of my article, in these words: ‘exquisitely inadequate’ Your defence is exquisitely anxious… Gilles Paris, NRF, Gallimard, 1939 First edition, press copy Paperback, 21 x 14.5 cm
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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
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