Romain Gary writes to Christel and returns to his vanished loves. 1946.

Romain GARY (1914.1980)

Autograph letter signed to Christel Söderlund.

Three quarto pages in English. Autograph envelope

January 7 [1946]

“I wish I could see you again, if only for a day.” 

A beautiful letter from the French writer, nostalgic for his vanished loves. Freshly demobilized, Romain Gary recounts his literary and diplomatic career to his former lover while praying that fate will favor a new encounter.

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“Very dear Christel, Here I am. Romain. I got your letter all right, and it really was something good and nice to have. I was looking the other day through some pictures, old ones, which I found in France, and you were there, at your fairest – and Sylvia, looking at me, decided with some sort of triumph (I don't know why): “aha, so you didn't forget Christel, after all!” Of course, I didn't.

I wonder how you liked “European Education”. I sent you a copy in French, some time ago. It is now being translated into Swedish. (It is being translated into all European languages.)

I have been demobilized three weeks ago and, in a few days, I am going to Sofia, in Bulgaria as a 1st secretary to the French Legation there. I'll probably stay over there a year or so, with my wife [Lesley Blanch, Gary's first wife] , who is joining me in April. She is a very good wife and a very good journalist… My new book [her novel Tulipe ] is being published in April.

I wish I could see you again, if only for a day. I hope – in fact, I know – that you are happy, and that Ullo is now a big and healthy boy. Keep contact with me, my dear Christel, if you can, from time to time. One day, we shall meet again. Love from Romain Gary.”

French transcription:

“Dearest Christel, Here I am. Romain. I received your letter, and it was really a good and pleasant thing to have. I was looking at some photos the other day, old photos, that I found in France, and there you were, in all your splendor – and Sylvia, looking at me, said with a kind of triumph (I don’t know why): “Aha, so you’ve never forgotten Christel!” Of course not, I haven’t forgotten her.

I wonder if you liked “European Education.” I sent you a copy in French some time ago. It is currently being translated into Swedish. (It is currently being translated into all European languages.)

I was demobilized three weeks ago, and in a few days I'm leaving for Sofia, Bulgaria, as First Secretary of the French Legation there. I'll probably be there for about a year, with my wife [Lesley Blanch, Gary's first wife], who's joining me in April. She's a very good wife and a very good journalist... My new book [her novel Tulip ] comes out in April.

I wish I could see you again, even if only for a day. I hope—in fact, I know—that you are happy and that Ullo has now grown into a healthy big boy. Keep in touch with me, my dear Christel, if you can, from time to time. One day, we will see each other again. Love from Romain Gary.

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Romain Gary met Christel Söderlund-Kryland, a young 21-year-old Swedish journalist, in Nice in July 1937. Their passion was all-consuming and brief. After a few months together, Christel (who would inspire Gary's character Brigitte in Promise at Dawn ), already married, returned to her native country in June 1939 to resume living with her husband. Gary never forgot this passion.