Forced into exile, Benjamin PÉRET sails towards Mexican lands. 1941.

Benjamin PERET (1889.1959)

Autograph letter signed to Pierre Mabille.

Half a page in-4° on blue paper.

December 3, 1941.

“We are sailing towards the Americas, we left Marseille 6 weeks ago. »

Benjamin Péret, forced into exile, sails towards the free lands of Mexico.

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“My dear Mabille, we are sailing towards the Americas , we left Marseille 6 weeks ago and we will spend Sunday at the earliest, at least next week in Puerto Trujillo. Can you come to the stopover? I would be really delighted to see you, so long ago... I also have to give you photos of your children and a letter from Gomes. I hesitate to send it to you from here for fear that it might get lost, but if you or Michette, whom I greet affectionately, do not appear in Puerto Trujillo I will send it there.

Naturally, I am going to Mexico & I will be very happy to receive news from you at Paalen's address: Los Cedros, villa Obregón. Mexico, DF For the moment I am on board a Portuguese boat, the “Serpa Pinto” of the colonial navegaçào company and I am passing, after Puerto Trujillo, to Havana and naturally to Vera Cruz ; but I would like to see you. All my affection to Michette & to you with all my heart. Benjamin Péret »

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Mobilized in February 1940, Benjamin Péret was arrested for wanting to reconstitute a Trotskyist organization. Imprisoned in Rennes, he was released on bail on June 22, 1940, in a France now occupied by the Nazis. Living in semi-clandestinity, he nevertheless participated in literary journals close to the surrealists before being forced into exile.

In October 1941, he managed, with his partner Remedios Varo, to embark from Marseille for Casablanca then towards Mexico where they landed at the end of December 1941. The couple remained on Mexican lands until 1948.