Magnificent loving letter from François MITTERRAND, in 1938.

François Mitterrand (1916.1996)

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

Two pages in quarto. [Fort d'Ivry]. November 29, 1938.

"I wasn't used to letting my feelings flow, to allowing suffering to live within me."

A beautiful love letter from the young soldier Mitterrand.

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"My dearest Marie-Louise, what a joy to have seen you! And what a maze of letters that never reach their destination! I am displeased with events, not with you. I am so happy to have found you again this evening, my beloved little peach. But all of this—our momentary separation, our missed rendezvous—is nothing, nothing, nothing, since this evening you told me again that you love me, and since I love you. Let's just lump it all in with the troubles and say no more of it!"

What can I say in this hasty letter except that I love you, that I adore you, that I am only happy with you , my darling fiancée? I am furious, I am jealous, I am worried about everything because I love you. And that's rather unusual. I wasn't used to letting my feelings flow, to allowing suffering to live within me (since it seems to happen to her over nothing now). I'd rather take it out on others. Luckily, I have my whole life to get used to this new state of mind!

Darling, the next time you write to me, tell me you love me. More than anything in the world. I'm hardly worth it, but I so desperately need that certainty! You were exactly as I hoped, writing to me every day during our separation. Thank you so much. Tomorrow, I hope to receive the letter that should have arrived this morning. It will be so welcome, for it will tell me of your love.

"Quickly, my darling, the moment when I can hold you in my arms, taste my sweet peach, and talk to you at length. The moments we've shared lately have been so wonderful; we felt so completely united! My little girl, see you soon. Tomorrow evening, come by Denfert around 6:15 or 6:20 if you can, and certainly on Thursday I can take you for an hour to the land we will one day never leave… My beloved fiancée, good evening. I love you too much to express it properly. I kiss you, my love, and I no longer know that the rest of the world exists. François."

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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.