François MITTERRAND and his love for Catherine Langeais.

François Mitterrand (1916.1996)

Autograph letter signed to Marie-Louise Terrasse, known as Catherine Langeais.

One page in 8°. [Meuse, near Stenay]. January 11, 1940.

« I feel less patient in this subordinate role of mine, which irritates me

"My darling, tonight I'm feeling down. And I'm coming to you. I love you. You're so pretty, so lovely, so sweet, and everything is so barbaric . I'm unhappy without you. It's very, very cold here, and I'm outside all day. It's exhausting. And I'm finding it harder to cope with this subordinate role I'm stuck in, which irritates me. Help me."

My beloved, nothing pleases me but you. I am so sad tonight, with you so far from me. I try to find remedies, so I think of the day, which must soon come, when you will be mine, my darling wife. The caresses I have in store for you! I kiss you and I love you and I dream of our happiness. François.

Catherine Langeais (1923.1998), whose real name is Marie-Louise Terrasse, met François Mitterrand on January 28, 1938, during the École Normale Supérieure ball, with whom, although only 15 years old, she became engaged. Mitterrand wrote more than 300 letters to the woman he nicknamed Zou.