Archive of 130 Letters Written to George Duhamel by Post War Literary Leaders; ALS, TLS, ANS
Internationally published: Hachette, Rocher, Verlag, Mercure de France, et. al. April 1945 to April 1961. A once personally owned archive of one hundred and thirty [130] letters written to George Duhamel post WWII. These 130 letters are a mix of ALS, TLS and ANS, leaning mostly toward typed, signed originals. There is a total of 81 different senders, 18 communicants having more than one included .
Duhamel was not just a writer; he was the Secrétaire perpétuel of the Académie Française (until his resignation in 1946) and a moral lodestar for the French publishing industry during the Purge (L'Épuration). A prolific and powerful writer, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature 26 times. Duhamel was the "Intercessor" of the Purge. In the immediate post-war period (1944–1947), the French publishing world was paralyzed by the Comité National des Écrivains (CNE) and the official purges. Duhamel sought to preserve the continuity of French letters. While the Purge removed some high-profile "collaborators," the technical class—the people who actually knew how to print dictionaries, manage paper quotas, and run schools—largely remained. Legitimacy Correspondence used Duhamel’s "moral authority" to bless the transition from Vichy-era activity to post-war leadership in the French Bibliosphere.
As such, these letters cover a wide variety of services by and for Duhamel: Writing the introduction for a new book... Speaking at an upcoming conference... Deadlines for articles or books... Permission to publish in foreign languages... Royalty payment accounting... Salutations often including his charming wife and hostess... each letter with its own particular need or announcement. The correspondants were the leading owners, editors, publishers, authors and publishing leadership of Francophone countries: Paul Péladeau, Les Editions Varietes; Leonce Peillard, Livres de France; Paul Hartmann, Mercure de France; Charles Orengo, Editions Du Rocher. Some of them had gone underground during the war, publishing partisan materials or even spending years in concentration camp. A complete list of letters, author, date and subject summary is available on request. All letters are in fine condition, in protective sleeve in a 3-ring binder. Each letter is 1 - 4 pages, most all on letterhead, either publisher's corporate branded letterhead or the individual's personalized stationary. There are sporadic notes, highlights, underlines on some letters in Duhamel's hand. Each letter was previously cataloged with sender's last name, lightly in pencil at one of the top corners, with the actual corresponding signature at the end of the letter. Item #3399
"As the publisher of the works of Emmanuel Stickelberger - the Basel poet - our firm is preparing a small volume to mark his 75th birhtday…if you would kindly contribute to this publication by offering a few lines of appreciation or sympathy..." - Hans Vettar Verlag Huber & Co
"We hope you will do us the honor of serving as President of the Jury….the Hachette Larousse French Literature Prize will be awarded this year to Greece." - Leonce Peillard, Livres de France
"It was with genuine joy that I learned you have just been elevated to the dignity of Grand Cross in the National Order of the Legion of Honour." - Maurice Bourdel, Cercle De La Librairie
"Please find enclosed a check for 400 NF..." Editions J. Robin.
Price: $3,750.00