Alain-FOURNIER and Jacques RIVIERE write to their friend Jean Tronche.

Alain FOURNIER (1886.1914) – Jacques RIVIERE (1886.1925)

Autograph letter signed to Jean Gustave Tronche.

Four pages in-12° written in both hands. (The Chapel of Angillon. August 1910)

“You know that I write a literary letter which earns me the consideration of all literature dealers. »

Very beautiful letter co-written by the two men (two oblong pages in the hand of Alain-Fournier, signed Henri, and two vertical pages in the hand of Rivière) informing their correspondent of their literary work in progress.

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Alain-Fournier:

My dear friend, Although I am quite happy to have to write this Bourdelle article, I regret for you that you did not find the time to complete it. I am very hesitant and repugnant towards Paris-Journal. They paid me 26 f. 50 this immense collection of interviews on Puvis de Chavannes! And I have crazy desires to kill the big Chichet to whom I am very friendly and who calls me my little one. You know that I write a literary letter which earns me two cents per line and earns me the consideration of all literature dealers and the hatred of the Intransigent . I don't know if I will have the courage to continue or if I will take refuge in England to do in peace what I think I have to do. Not only did we name Jacques in the Ouvreuse's letter but we cited several lines from his articles "intelligent and voluptuous, two qualities rarely combined." I gave Rouché Les Dames du village to replace the overly clerical Madeleine . At the Nouvelle Revue Française, curious notes on Roosevelt at the Sorbonne , but not yet officially accepted. Jacques gives a Gauguin , next to which Cézanne will appear gloomy. I am very disappointed not to have anything more to say to you this morning. You couldn't look for me, during your tours, far from all inhabited places, for a farmer who has a daughter to marry? Henry. »

Jacques Rivière :

My dear friend, I had saved an NRF for you and thought I would give it to you when you returned. This is the one I sent you yesterday. So you will have to use your stamps to write to us. I also sent you an Art and Decoration to distract you a little. We don't have the opportunity to laugh every day. I only have this one for you and for André. You will make arrangements with him. Besides, it's only interesting for someone who needs entertainment. I am in a state of abominable brain fatigue. I am unable to do anything. I spend whole days deploring my papers with a severe ache across my forehead. I have several things going on, and I can't write a single line. Some time ago I received a scathing letter from Bourdelle , where he speaks of my writings as being "well done work", and of me as a "bugger" to whom he would like to show what he does. He asks me to write about him about his exhibition next year. I accepted. It will probably be in Art and Decoration. Besnard also wrote to thank me. He was very enthusiastic and asked me to go see him. Finally Willy in the Ouvreuse's letter spoke of my Debussy . I leave you, my dear friend, begging you to remember Madame Tronche and your sister, and to believe in our good friendship.

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Jean-Gustave Tronche (1884-1974), administrator of the NRF from 1912 to 1922, then independent publisher, found himself at the center of literary life in the first half of the 20th century. He maintained professional and friendly relations with Aragon, Fournier, Gide, Martin-du-Gard, Paulhan, Rivière, among others.