Louis-Ferdinand Céline satirizes money and criticizes "Piggy Bank Ravioli"

Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894.1961)

Autographed letter signed to Albert Paraz.

Two folio pages. Creases at the top.

Unpublished letter to the Pléiade correspondence.

Undated [1951]

" If I wanted, I'd have a room in Fresnes! Ah, I'm often disgusted! Don't talk to me about money, I'm overflowing with it! "

Back on French soil after his years in exile, Céline makes ironic comments about his financial situation and the greed of others, especially that of his wife Lucette's parents.

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"Oh dear JJJJ. I haven't told you everything. I possessed the Philosopher's Stone. Thanks to it, for the past seven years, without ever earning a penny, I've been living like a prince . [...] And it's not over yet.  [...] What's more, they give me  so much ! And if I wanted, I could have a room in Fresnes prison! Ah, I'm so disgusted! Don't talk to me about money, I'm overflowing!"

[his mother-in-law's] contortions are hilarious!  They barricade themselves in at the thought of being asked to do something! The priest is running away, a bit of a coward. He must have gone a little over budget. Haven't heard anything about him since we got back (don't even mention it!).  Ah, the golden calf, if it's still standing! A toye. LF.

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Upon their return from Denmark, Céline and Lucette first went to Lucette's parents' house in Menton, but they did not get along. The writer nicknamed Ercole Pirazzoli "Couscous" or "Ravioli," and his mother-in-law Gaby "Piggy Bank," sometimes referring to them as Thénardiers. He hastened to leave them as soon as he could, being taken in by Paul Marteau and his wife in Neuilly on July 23, before settling permanently in Meudon.

Novelist and journalist Albert Paraz maintained a correspondence with Céline from 1947 until his death in 1957. An ardent defender of the novelist, he defended him when the latter was imprisoned in Denmark.

Five years older than Paraz, Céline, from May 1950 onwards, took to addressing his friend by various names such as "JJ", "J3" or even "JJJ" (an abbreviation of "young young" as opposed to his usual "My old man" or "dear old man"), inspired by the categories of ration tickets, varying according to the age of the beneficiaries.

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We are attaching the typed version of a letter from Céline to the same Paraz dated December 21, 1952.

Provenance: Sotheby's sale, June 2022, lot 113.