PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922). Autograph letter signed to Princess Marthe Bibesco, 102 Bd. Haussmann, 'Lundi 29 mars' n.y. [1908] , declaring that his sadness at her leaving is the greater for having seen and talked with her again, and for having read her book, continuing to praise the book, 'quel nom peut-on donner a cet oeuvre d'art nouvelle qui s'adresse a tous les sens à la fois ... ces pages delicieusement peintes en turquerie xvii siecle ou vous faites tout un decor, toute une atmosphere à un vers de Bajazet', hailing her as a perfect writer but also offering criticism, 'Je me permettrai seulement trois critiques: 'corps de femme' est devenue, je ne sais pourquoi, employe ainsi vulgaire', noting that she has apparently written some lines in imitation of Barres, 'Or je suis l'ennemi de tout pastiche, excepté quand il est voulu, et encore' and discoursing on the impossibility of addressing towns in direct speech, as in his own work, 'Quimperle ... Pont Aven!', finally regretting the choice of Le Figaro for the publication of excerpts of the book, on mourning paper, 6 pages, 8vo (traces of tape); and an autograph envelope addressed to Princess Bibesco at Comarnic in Romania. It was earlier in 1908, at the Opera, that Proust first met Princess Marthe Bibesco (born Lahovary, 1887-1973), the cousin of his two close friends, Antoine and Emmanuel Bibesco. They met again at dinner a few days laters ('Faites assavoir à la Princesse qu'elle est belle et geniale, de cela je n'ai pas de cesse, mais ou l'ecrire', he wrote to Emmanuel afterwards). Four years later they were to meet again at the 'Bal de l'Intransigeant', recalled by the Princess in Au bal avec Marcel Proust . (She later dedicated to him a second work of fantasy, Le Voyageur Voilé ). Thereafter their friendship continued through their correspondence. This letter was written in the early days of their aquaintance. Princess Bibesco, with her husband, Prince George Valentin Bibesco, left Paris for Romania on 4 March 1908 (Kolb, IX, 243, n.1). The Princess's new work which Proust discusses so warmly was Les Huit Paradis: Perse - Asie Mineur - Constantinople , excerpts of which had been printed in the literary supplement of Le Figaro on 29 February. Proust praises different aspects of the book, mentioning the oriental folklore 'que vous inventez bien je suppose', her use of epigraphs from Constantinople, and the gaiety and originality which sustain her thought. Finally he compares the lines which close the book with certain passages of Ruskin, which she will not know and which in no way detract from her originality.
PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922). Autograph letter signed to Princess Marthe Bibesco, 102 Bd. Haussmann, 'Lundi 29 mars' n.y. [1908] , declaring that his sadness at her leaving is the greater for having seen and talked with her again, and for having read her book, continuing to praise the book, 'quel nom peut-on donner a cet oeuvre d'art nouvelle qui s'adresse a tous les sens à la fois ... ces pages delicieusement peintes en turquerie xvii siecle ou vous faites tout un decor, toute une atmosphere à un vers de Bajazet', hailing her as a perfect writer but also offering criticism, 'Je me permettrai seulement trois critiques: 'corps de femme' est devenue, je ne sais pourquoi, employe ainsi vulgaire', noting that she has apparently written some lines in imitation of Barres, 'Or je suis l'ennemi de tout pastiche, excepté quand il est voulu, et encore' and discoursing on the impossibility of addressing towns in direct speech, as in his own work, 'Quimperle ... Pont Aven!', finally regretting the choice of Le Figaro for the publication of excerpts of the book, on mourning paper, 6 pages, 8vo (traces of tape); and an autograph envelope addressed to Princess Bibesco at Comarnic in Romania. It was earlier in 1908, at the Opera, that Proust first met Princess Marthe Bibesco (born Lahovary, 1887-1973), the cousin of his two close friends, Antoine and Emmanuel Bibesco. They met again at dinner a few days laters ('Faites assavoir à la Princesse qu'elle est belle et geniale, de cela je n'ai pas de cesse, mais ou l'ecrire', he wrote to Emmanuel afterwards). Four years later they were to meet again at the 'Bal de l'Intransigeant', recalled by the Princess in Au bal avec Marcel Proust . (She later dedicated to him a second work of fantasy, Le Voyageur Voilé ). Thereafter their friendship continued through their correspondence. This letter was written in the early days of their aquaintance. Princess Bibesco, with her husband, Prince George Valentin Bibesco, left Paris for Romania on 4 March 1908 (Kolb, IX, 243, n.1). The Princess's new work which Proust discusses so warmly was Les Huit Paradis: Perse - Asie Mineur - Constantinople , excerpts of which had been printed in the literary supplement of Le Figaro on 29 February. Proust praises different aspects of the book, mentioning the oriental folklore 'que vous inventez bien je suppose', her use of epigraphs from Constantinople, and the gaiety and originality which sustain her thought. Finally he compares the lines which close the book with certain passages of Ruskin, which she will not know and which in no way detract from her originality.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
