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=[http://www.corr-proust.org/letter/03979 Louis de Robert à Marcel Proust <nowiki>[le jeudi 11 décembre 1919]</nowiki>]=
=[http://www.corr-proust.org/letter/03979 Louis de Robert to Marcel Proust <nowiki>[Thursday 11 December 1919]</nowiki>]=
<small>(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the ''Corr-Proust'' digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)</small>


<ref name="n1" />
<ref name="n1" />


Bravo, cher Marcel.
Bravo, dear Marcel.


Je ne croyais pas à votre succès parce que je me fondais sur l'état d'esprit qui avait jusqu'ici influencé les votes. Mais cet état d'esprit représenté principalement par Mirbeau et Descaves ne pouvait prévaloir contre vous puisque Mirbeau n'est plus et que — je l'apprends par les journaux de ce matin — Descaves boude l'Académie Goncourt<ref name="n2" />.
I did not believe in your success because I was relying on the state of mind that had so far influenced the votes. But this state of mind represented mainly by Mirbeau and Descaves could not prevail against you since Mirbeau is no more and - as I read in this morning's newspapers - Descaves is ignoring the Goncourt Academy <ref name="n2" />.


La surprise augmente ma joie. Vous voilà célèbre. Mais vous l'étiez presque déjà. Et je ne le savais pas. Je vis si solitaire que j'ignorais que tout le monde avait lu Du côté de chez Swann au moment où j'écrivais dans le Roman d'une Comédienne « ce livre peu connu » (!)<ref name="n3" /> Vous avez dû sourire de me voir si mal informé.
The surprise increases my joy. You are now famous. But you were almost already famous. And I did not know it. I live such a solitary existence that I did not know that everyone had read Swann's Way at the time I wrote in the Roman d'une Comédienne "this little-known book"(!)<ref name="n3" /> You must have smiled to find me so ill-informed.


Vous triomphez d'une tradition détestable qui faisait du prix Goncourt une prime à la pauvreté. La pauvreté est respectable, j'en sais quelque chose. Mais enfin quand il s'agit de juger une œuvre d'art, est-ce que ces questions comptent ? Que l'auteur soit pauvre ou riche, qu'est- ce que cela fait ?
You triumphed over a detestable tradition that made the Goncourt Prize a bonus for poverty. Poverty is respectable, I know something about it. But finally, when it comes to judging a work of art, do these questions count? Whether the author is poor or rich, what does it matter?


De tout cœur vôtre,
Yours sincerely,


Louis de Robert
Louis de Robert


PS – Je n'ai plus votre adresse. Donnez-la-moi<ref name="n4" />.
PS – I no longer have your address. Give it to me<ref name="n4" />.


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<ref name="n1"> Note 1 </ref>
<ref name="n1">This letter is dated [Thursday, December 11, 1919]: reference to the morning papers about Descaves. [PK]</ref>


<ref name="n2"> L'Éclair du jeudi 11 décembre 1919 publie en première page l'article de M. Gérault-Richard intitulé Les Trois Petits Tours du Scrutin. On y lit : « Les "Goncourt" se sont réunis hier chez Drouant […] N'assistaient pas à la réunion : MM. Émile Bergerat et Lucien Descaves, qui votèrent par correspondance. […] Le scrutin terminé, le vote proclamé, les académiciens se laissèrent aller, en enfilant leurs pardessus, à quelques confidences. — Descaves et Bergerat ont voté à tous les tours pour Les Croix de bois, déclara Jean Ajalbert. — Mais, fit Léon Hennique, mais moi aussi. » [PK] </ref>
<ref name="n2"> L'Éclair of Thursday, December 11 1919 published on the front page an article by M. Gérault-Richard entitled Les Trois Petits Tours du Scrutin. We read: "The "Goncourts" met yesterday at Drouant's [...] Not present at the meeting were Messrs. Émile Bergerat and Lucien Descaves, who voted by mail. [...] Once the ballot was over and the vote declared, the academicians allowed themselves to share in each others’ confidences as they were putting on their overcoats. - Descaves and Bergerat voted in every round for Les Croix de bois, declared Jean Ajalbert. - "But," said Léon Hennique, "so did I."" [PK]</ref>


<ref name="n3"> Dans Le Roman d'une comédienne (Paris, Flammarion, 1919), Thérèse écrit à Sir George : « J'ai plusieurs livres en train […] un livre peu connu de Marcel Proust, Du côté de chez Swann ; le titre ne dit pas grand'chose, mais […] Louis de Robert en est très enthousiaste » (p. 184). [PK] </ref>
<ref name="n3"> In Le Roman d'une comédienne (Paris, Flammarion, 1919), Thérèse writes to Sir George: "I have several books in progress [...] a little-known book by Marcel Proust, Du côté de chez Swann; the title does not say much, but [...] Louis de Robert is very enthusiastic about it" (p. 184). [PK]</ref>


<ref name="n4"> Proust déménage deux fois en 1919 : vers le 31 mai, du 102 boulevard Haussmann au 8 bis rue Laurent-Pichat, dans un appartement qui appartient à l'actrice Réjane, puis de la rue Laurent-Pichat au 44 rue Hamelin vers le 1er octobre. Il avait déjà signalé ses problèmes de logement à Louis de Robert dans une lettre datée des [premiers jours de septembre 1919] : « Si vous m'écrivez, comme le bail provisoire que m'avait consenti Réjane expire et qu'il est très difficile de trouver à se loger, mon adresse n'est pas tout à fait certaine et le mieux serait que vous m'écriviez aux soins de la Nouvelle Revue Française, 37, rue Madame » (CP 03902 ; Kolb, XVIII, nº 221). [CSz] </ref>
<ref name="n4">Proust moved twice in 1919: around May 31, from 102 boulevard Haussmann to 8 bis rue Laurent-Pichat, to an apartment belonging to the actress Réjane, then from rue Laurent-Pichat to 44 rue Hamelin around October 1. He had already mentioned his housing problems to Louis de Robert in a letter dated [first days of September 1919]: "As the provisional lease granted to me by Réjane is expiring and it is very difficult to find lodgings, my address is not quite certain, so the best thing would be for you to write to me in care of the Nouvelle Revue Française, 37, rue Madame" (CP 03902; Kolb, XVIII, no. 221). [CSz]</ref>


<ref name="n5"> (Notes de traduction) </ref>
<ref name="n5"> Translation notes: </ref>


<ref name="n6"> (Contributeurs) </ref>
<ref name="n6"> Contributors: Lverstraten</ref>


</references>
</references>

Latest revision as of 05:07, 24 June 2021

Other languages:

Louis de Robert to Marcel Proust [Thursday 11 December 1919]

(Click on the link above to see this letter and its notes in the Corr-Proust digital edition, including all relevant hyperlinks.)

[1]

Bravo, dear Marcel.

I did not believe in your success because I was relying on the state of mind that had so far influenced the votes. But this state of mind represented mainly by Mirbeau and Descaves could not prevail against you since Mirbeau is no more and - as I read in this morning's newspapers - Descaves is ignoring the Goncourt Academy [2].

The surprise increases my joy. You are now famous. But you were almost already famous. And I did not know it. I live such a solitary existence that I did not know that everyone had read Swann's Way at the time I wrote in the Roman d'une Comédienne "this little-known book"(!)[3] You must have smiled to find me so ill-informed.

You triumphed over a detestable tradition that made the Goncourt Prize a bonus for poverty. Poverty is respectable, I know something about it. But finally, when it comes to judging a work of art, do these questions count? Whether the author is poor or rich, what does it matter?

Yours sincerely,

Louis de Robert

PS – I no longer have your address. Give it to me[4].

[5] [6]

Notes

  1. ↑ This letter is dated [Thursday, December 11, 1919]: reference to the morning papers about Descaves. [PK]
  2. ↑ L'Éclair of Thursday, December 11 1919 published on the front page an article by M. Gérault-Richard entitled Les Trois Petits Tours du Scrutin. We read: "The "Goncourts" met yesterday at Drouant's [...] Not present at the meeting were Messrs. Émile Bergerat and Lucien Descaves, who voted by mail. [...] Once the ballot was over and the vote declared, the academicians allowed themselves to share in each others’ confidences as they were putting on their overcoats. - Descaves and Bergerat voted in every round for Les Croix de bois, declared Jean Ajalbert. - "But," said Léon Hennique, "so did I."" [PK]
  3. ↑ In Le Roman d'une comédienne (Paris, Flammarion, 1919), Thérèse writes to Sir George: "I have several books in progress [...] a little-known book by Marcel Proust, Du côté de chez Swann; the title does not say much, but [...] Louis de Robert is very enthusiastic about it" (p. 184). [PK]
  4. ↑ Proust moved twice in 1919: around May 31, from 102 boulevard Haussmann to 8 bis rue Laurent-Pichat, to an apartment belonging to the actress Réjane, then from rue Laurent-Pichat to 44 rue Hamelin around October 1. He had already mentioned his housing problems to Louis de Robert in a letter dated [first days of September 1919]: "As the provisional lease granted to me by Réjane is expiring and it is very difficult to find lodgings, my address is not quite certain, so the best thing would be for you to write to me in care of the Nouvelle Revue Française, 37, rue Madame" (CP 03902; Kolb, XVIII, no. 221). [CSz]
  5. ↑ Translation notes:
  6. ↑ Contributors: Lverstraten
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