CP 04012/en: Difference between revisions

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Dear Sir,
Dear Sir,


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I'm very happy with the opportunity<ref name="n1" /> which was offered to me to say (very badly: I blame myself) a little of the good that I think of your beautiful book. I have rarely read anything that has excited me more. If I had had a little more space, I would have better explained why. But, after all, what is the point of explaining, or wanting to “explain why”? I would be very annoyed, in any case, if you did not take this objection that I make to your "composition" as I understand it myself.<ref name="n2" />. No doubt your book is wonderfully composed according to the laws of your own sensibility. But it seems to me that it is not according to those who presided over the composition of most of the works from “home”. If you don't find that distinction very clear, please don't blame me, because I boxed a lot before dinner and was dead tired.
je suis très content de l'occasion<ref name="n1" /> qui m'a été offerte de dire (très mal : je me le reproche) un peu du bien que je pense de votre beau livre. J'en ai rarement lu qui m'ait excité davantage. Si j'eusse disposé d'un peu plus de place, j'aurais mieux expliqué pourquoi. Mais, après tout, à quoi bon expliquer, ou vouloir « expliquer pourquoi » ? Je serais bien ennuyé, en tout cas, si vous ne preniez pas cette objection que je fais à votre « composition » comme je l'entends moi-même<ref name="n2" />. Sans doute, votre livre est composé à merveille selon les lois de votre propre sensibilité. Mais il me semble qu'il ne l'est pas selon celles qui ont présidé à la composition de la plupart des œuvres de « chez nous ». Si vous ne trouvez pas cette distinction très claire, ne m'en veuillez pas, je vous prie, car j'ai beaucoup boxé avant le dîner et je suis mort de fatigue.
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<references>


<ref name="n1"> In his letter of [December 20, 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), Proust expresses his gratitude to Boulenger for the "admirable" article, although "here and there unjust and false", published in L'Opinion the same day (12th year, n° 51, p. 610-612). This article was reprinted under the title "Marcel Proust — I" in the collection ...But Art is difficult! (Paris, Plon, 1st series, 1921-1922, p. 86-97). [PK, ChC, FP] </ref>
<ref name="n1"> In his letter of [20 December 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), Proust expresses his gratitude to Boulenger for the "admirable" article, although "here and there unjust and false", published in L'Opinion the same day (12th year, n° 51, p. 610-612). This article was reprinted under the title "Marcel Proust — I" in the collection ...But Art is difficult! (Paris, Plon, 1st series, 1921-1922, p. 86-97). [PK, ChC, FP] </ref>


<ref name="n2"> Also in his letter to Boulenger of [December 20, 1919] (see note 1 above), Proust responds to the criticisms of the critic by asserting that he composed his work with “an inflexible although veiled rigor”. [PK, ChC] </ref>
<ref name="n2"> Also in his letter to Boulenger of [20 December 1919] (see note 1 above), Proust responds to the criticisms of the critic by asserting that he composed his work with “an inflexible although veiled rigor”. [PK, ChC] </ref>


<ref name="n3"> The Goncourt Academy had awarded Proust its prize for In the Shadow of Young Girls in Bloom on December 10, 1919 by six votes out of ten, against the four received by Les Croix de bois by Roland Dorgelès (CP 03973; Kolb, XVIII, no. 293). [ChC] </ref>
<ref name="n3"> The Goncourt Academy had awarded Proust its prize for À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs on 10 December 1919 by six votes out of ten, against the four received by Les Croix de bois by Roland Dorgelès (CP 03973; Kolb, XVIII, no. 293). [ChC] </ref>


<ref name="n4"> The “maneuver” of which Boulenger speaks, and also mentioned by Proust in his letter of [December 20, 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), consists of the distribution of misleading advertisements in the press, reproducing the headline: “ Les Croix de bois: Prix Goncourt” in large print, followed by “4 votes out of 10” in small print (see for example Le Figaro of December 18, 1919, section “Bookstore”, p. 3). This commercial action by Albin Michel will cost the editor of Les Croix de Bois a fine of 2,000 francs in damages. [PK, ChC] </ref>
<ref name="n4"> The “maneuver” of which Boulenger speaks, and also mentioned by Proust in his letter of [20 December 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), consists of the distribution of misleading advertisements in the press, reproducing the headline: “ Les Croix de bois: Prix Goncourt” in large print, followed by “4 votes out of 10” in small print (see for example Le Figaro of 18 December 1919, section “Bookstore”, p. 3). This commercial action by Albin Michel will cost the editor of Les Croix de Bois a fine of 2,000 francs in damages. [PK, ChC] </ref>


<ref name="n5"> Pierrefeu's article, “Le Cas de M. Proust”, will appear in Le Journal desdébats of January 2 and 3, 1920, p. 3. [FP] </ref>
<ref name="n5"> Pierrefeu's article, “Le Cas de M. Proust”, will appear in Le Journal des débats on 2nd and 3rd January 1920, p. 3. [FP] </ref>


<ref name="n6"> Boulenger's response, "On M. Marcel Proust", will appear in L'Opinion of January 10, 1920, p. 43-45: it was reprinted under the title “Marcel Proust — II” in ...But Art is difficult!, p. 97-106. [FP] </ref>
<ref name="n6"> Boulenger's response, "On M. Marcel Proust", will appear in L'Opinion of 10 January 1920, p. 43-45: it was reprinted under the title “Marcel Proust — II” in ...But Art is difficult!, p. 97-106. [FP] </ref>


<ref name="n7"> Translation notes: Raw translation for placement </ref>  
<ref name="n7"> Translation notes: Raw translation for placement; need to clean up dates, etc. </ref>  


<ref name="n8"> Contributors: Marcelitaswann </ref>
<ref name="n8"> Contributors: Marcelitaswann </ref>


</references>
</references>

Revision as of 15:23, 2 November 2022


Other languages:

Jacques Boulenger à Marcel Proust, le 29 décembre 1919

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

15 December 1919

22 rue Oudinot

Dear Sir,

I'm very happy with the opportunity[1] which was offered to me to say (very badly: I blame myself) a little of the good that I think of your beautiful book. I have rarely read anything that has excited me more. If I had had a little more space, I would have better explained why. But, after all, what is the point of explaining, or wanting to “explain why”? I would be very annoyed, in any case, if you did not take this objection that I make to your "composition" as I understand it myself.[2]. No doubt your book is wonderfully composed according to the laws of your own sensibility. But it seems to me that it is not according to those who presided over the composition of most of the works from “home”. If you don't find that distinction very clear, please don't blame me, because I boxed a lot before dinner and was dead tired.

Je serais heureux d'apprendre que vous vous portez mieux et que votre prix[3], si justement mérité, vous a été officiellement notifié, tellement officiellement que vous ne doutez plus de l'avoir eu, malgré la manœuvre inouïe de l'éditeur de M. Dorgelès[4]. Tout le monde se rappelle si bien qu'il vous a été accordé que Jean de Pierrefeu m'annonçait, il y a quelques jours, qu'il a l'intention de discuter « le cas Marcel Proust » dans les Débats[5]. Je lui répondrai dans l'Opinion[6], s'il réalise son projet. Me voilà votre champion, malgré que vous en ayez. Je m'en félicite parce que À la recherche du temps perdu est certainement le livre le plus « original » qui ait paru, à mon goût, depuis X temps. Et je l'aime de tout mon cœur. C'est d'ailleurs un de ces livres qu'on ne saurait aimer sans éprouver une vive sympathie pour leurs auteurs.

Please find here the assurance, dear sir.

Jacques Boulenger

[7] [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ In his letter of [20 December 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), Proust expresses his gratitude to Boulenger for the "admirable" article, although "here and there unjust and false", published in L'Opinion the same day (12th year, n° 51, p. 610-612). This article was reprinted under the title "Marcel Proust — I" in the collection ...But Art is difficult! (Paris, Plon, 1st series, 1921-1922, p. 86-97). [PK, ChC, FP]
  2. ↑ Also in his letter to Boulenger of [20 December 1919] (see note 1 above), Proust responds to the criticisms of the critic by asserting that he composed his work with “an inflexible although veiled rigor”. [PK, ChC]
  3. ↑ The Goncourt Academy had awarded Proust its prize for À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs on 10 December 1919 by six votes out of ten, against the four received by Les Croix de bois by Roland Dorgelès (CP 03973; Kolb, XVIII, no. 293). [ChC]
  4. ↑ The “maneuver” of which Boulenger speaks, and also mentioned by Proust in his letter of [20 December 1919] (CP 03998; Kolb, XVIII, nº 318), consists of the distribution of misleading advertisements in the press, reproducing the headline: “ Les Croix de bois: Prix Goncourt” in large print, followed by “4 votes out of 10” in small print (see for example Le Figaro of 18 December 1919, section “Bookstore”, p. 3). This commercial action by Albin Michel will cost the editor of Les Croix de Bois a fine of 2,000 francs in damages. [PK, ChC]
  5. ↑ Pierrefeu's article, “Le Cas de M. Proust”, will appear in Le Journal des débats on 2nd and 3rd January 1920, p. 3. [FP]
  6. ↑ Boulenger's response, "On M. Marcel Proust", will appear in L'Opinion of 10 January 1920, p. 43-45: it was reprinted under the title “Marcel Proust — II” in ...But Art is difficult!, p. 97-106. [FP]
  7. ↑ Translation notes: Raw translation for placement; need to clean up dates, etc.
  8. ↑ Contributors: Marcelitaswann
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