GIONO, Jean.

Lot 1468
Go to lot
Estimation :
800 - 1200 EUR
GIONO, Jean.
Letter addressed to Louis Brun. [Manosque], April 29 [1931]. Autograph letter signed "Jean Giono", 4 pages in-4, envelope. Remarkable and long letter addressed to Louis Brun, literary director of the Grasset editions: having given a book to the Gallimard editions, Jean Giono explains his position. Jean Giono reports from his trip to London where he "went for a film script on the transhumance of sheep." He also thanks his correspondent for the Northcliffe prize for his novel (this distinction will prevent him from receiving the Goncourt prize). Then he talks about his forthcoming book, The Great Flock, which he has entrusted to Gallimard Editions. Yes, I promised the Great Herd to Gallimard. Right away I say, and I affirm to you that it was never a question for me to leave the Grasset house, but only to establish a sharing, and thanks to this sharing to live with my family without having the worry of the ends of months which last three weeks. I signed, my old Brown. I signed, and when I signed I did it with the certainty that I had a friend in you, that you would understand the difficulties of money that one has even in Manosque when one lives only of his pen and that one has to support six people. He evokes the purchase of his house, the monthly repayments and reaffirms his friendship for Louis Brun. I am not writing to the director of Grasset, but to my friend; it is only for you that I have renewed the contract with you. At that time, I had magnificent offers both from Gallimard and from Rieder. [...] I said to you - quite timidly, I admit - "let me have the freedom to give a book elsewhere each year". You said yes. I know, Brown, I should have insisted and told you everything and explained everything and left nothing in the dark. Things worked out without my total consent, pushed by events and fate. Will you, of your own free will, break my back? Because, I know well, because I am not under any illusions, if you want to break my back, I will not resist, it is useless, my back is already broken. You are the strongest, you are the strongest in everything. All I have to live on, to support my little girl and the others, is this 1500 francs from you and the 2500 from Gallimard go to this fund [sic] which must pay for the house. [...] If you get angry with me, and if all this collides around the Great Herd, it is not only a legal struggle but it is my end, without alternative. Deprived of your monthly payments and those of Gallimard, I have to look for a bank job again, right now, right away, and even, Brown, I beg you, if you have to crush me, think of all my people and crush me if it will give you self-esteem satisfaction, but help me to find work to live on. Crush me with this hand, but with the other hand help me; make me a bank clerk again, so I can give bread to my people. Brown, I am ashamed to bring friendship into the middle of all this. You know my idea when I signed? You know what I saw, with my short-sightedness of a poet who can't see beyond his nose? I saw my life as peaceful and secure...
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue