ACADÉMIE GONCOURT. - Lot 96

ACADÉMIE GONCOURT. Collection of correspondence from Académie Goncourt members to Roland Dorgelès. Roland Dorgelès was elected to the Académie Goncourt in 1929, serving as assistant secretary (1931-1936), vice-president (1952-1953) and president (1954-1972). These letters bring to life meetings and assemblies of the Société Goncourt; news of the academicians; elections of new members; notices and discussions for the prize; congratulations to Dorgelès for his books, etc. Jean AJALBERT (8, 1919-1944, plus attached docs). Praise for Croix de bois; problems at the Académie at the end of the Occupation... Alexandre ARNOUX (22, 1952-1971). About the new edition of the Journal des Goncourt; amusing quatrain signed by Nostradamus about the 1954 prize to Simone de Beauvoir; performance of La Vie est un songe; interview at G. Geffroy's grave. Geffroy; readings of À bas l'argent and Marquis de la Dèche; Gérard Bauër's estate, etc. Gérard BAUËR (14, 1949-1964 and n.d.). Archives of the Académie deposited at the Arsenal; publication of the unpublished Journal des Goncourt; he would like to see Cocteau succeed Larguier; etc. Hervé BAZIN (18 l. or c., 1958-1971). His gratitude after his election to the Académie; his hostility to Michel Bataille's book, which contained "a serious scientific error"; release of Le Matrimoine; vote for Blondin against Paul Guth... André BILLY (58, 1941-1967). Long letter (Dec. 10, 1941) on the possibility of his admission to succeed Pierre Champion to the Académie, and Ajalbert's patronage; the vicissitudes of his failed election in 1942; his election in 1944; his work at Le Figaro; his biographies of Diderot and Balzac; his will, etc. René BENJAMIN (31, 1938-1948). Idea of a rapprochement between French writers and Germany (1938); attempts to reunite the Académie during the Occupation, and postal votes; elections of P. Champion, de La Varende, oppositions to that of Billy; arrest of Tristan Bernard, and his release after Guitry's intervention; lectures on the Maréchal; the purge, and his release; his expulsion and requisition of his apartment by Tristan Tzara, etc. Plus 7 copies or duplicates of letters from Dorgelès, including his testimony on behalf of R. Benjamin at his trial in 1945. Francis CARCO (5, 1935-1938). Congratulations on Vive la Liberté; working on his book on Verlaine; cure in Dax... Gaston CHÉRAU (2, 1931-1933). Preface for Courteline; vote for Le Roi dort; film projects. Léon DAUDET (2; 1936-1941). They cannot replace Rosny aîné without meeting "in Paris and, if possible, in Paris libre". Lucien DESCAVES (14; 1943-1945). On the Académie during the Occupation; his support for Billy's election; housekeeping in the Académie in 1945, to admit Billy, Arnoux, Colette and T. Bernard... Léon HENNIQUE (1), on Les Croix de bois (1919). Philippe HÉRIAT (22, 1949-1971). Colette's death and funeral Colette; Mme Simone and the memory of Alain-Fournier; he prefers Le Rivage des Syrtes to La Motocyclette; the Aragon affair... (plus a card to Mme Dorgelès). Léo LARGUIER (66, 1937-1944 and n.d.). Abundant friendly correspondence, particularly during the Occupation, when Larguier took refuge in the Midi, far from his daughter who remained in Paris; on one, he drew himself smoking a pipe. He talks about his work as a writer. Concerning the Académie, he deplores the traffic problems that prevent it from meeting; he hopes for the election of Jean Tharaud, then André Billy... Armand LANOUX (26, 1951-1972). Thanks for having defended Cet âge trop tendre (1951). Reading of Lettre ouverte à un milliardaire, by Marquis de la Dèche. Works on his Life of Maupassant and a collection of poems. Election of Aragon. Prize awarded to Paul Guth... Manuscript of an article on the death of Dorgelès (8 p.). Jean de LA VARENDE (4, 1942-1945). Thanks after his election (1942). His resignation (1944) and clarification after an interview. Plus a draft from Dorgelès and a duplicate letter concerning La Varende's resignation. Françoise MALLET-JORIS (4, 1971). Raymond QUENEAU (4, 1950-1972). 80th birthday party for Mac Orlan; La Série noire; friendship "beyond our Goncourtian differences". Robert SABATIER (11, 1957-1971 and n.d.). Thanks for Dorgelès's support for his books; his happiness at being a member of the Académie (1971). Armand SALACROU (4, n.d.). Concerns about Billy's health; his forthcoming plays... Plus a card to Mme Dorgelès. Michel TOURNIER (2, 1970-1973), on Le Roi des Aulnes; his Legion of Honor.