Charles BAUDELAIRE lists the six condemned poems from Les Fleurs du Mal.

Charles Baudelaire (1821.1867)

Autograph letter signed to Léon Reynard.

One page in-8°. Autograph address and postal marks.

Slnd [Paris. February 29, 1860]

Unpublished letter to the Pléiade correspondence.

Extraordinary and precious letter from the poet listing to his correspondent the six condemned poems of Les Fleurs du Mal.

__________________________________________________

Lethe.

The Jewelry.

to the one who is too cheerful.

Lesbos.

Damned Women (n°1, Delphine and Hippolyte)

The vampire's transformations.

All yours, dear Sir, and a thousand thanks for your kindness.

Baudelaire.

__________________________________________________

On September 7, 1859, wishing to publish literary studies, Léon Reynard – journalist at the Moniteur Universel – wrote to Baudelaire in these terms: “  My friend and yours Mr. Alfred Delvau was kind enough to give me a letter of recommendation for you. I would have liked to give it to you personally; but since, despite all my desires, this is not possible, I take the liberty of addressing it to you, however excessively flattering it may be. The work he is talking about consists of a series of prose studies, in which the influence of Les Fleurs du mal plays an important role. Your book, Sir, is one of those that has concerned me the most, and I believe that the mark it left in my mind will never be erased. It was therefore right that these studies were dedicated to you, and I put your name at the top of my work. I would be happy, Sir, if you would take a look at it, and if it pleases you to help me in the very difficult work of publication. It is to give them to you and above all to see you that I would like to meet you. So if you took a quarter of an hour out of your life to receive me, you would oblige, Sir, one of your brothers in moral suffering and your friendly L. Reynard. »

These literary studies seem never to have seen the light of day. Had Baudelaire deigned to meet Reynard at his request? Nothing is less certain. However, the poet therefore sends him the list of the six condemned pieces within what constitutes, to date, the only known letter from Baudelaire addressed to this correspondent.

***

Les Fleurs du mal appeared on June 21, 1857. A few days later, on July 7, the collection was referred to the public prosecutor's office by decision of the general directorate of Public Security. On August 20, Baudelaire was summoned to the 6th criminal chamber of the Seine court. The poet is being prosecuted for two counts: outrage against public morals and good morals and offense against religious morality.

Facing the prosecutor Ernest Pinard, Baudelaire's lawyer, Gustave Chaix d'Est-Ange, defends the idea that the author painted evil so that readers would distance themselves from it.

Despite this, the poet and his publisher were convicted of “offending public morals and good customs”, due to “obscene and immoral passages or expressions”, forced to pay a fine and withdraw six poems from the collection. . “A ridiculous surgical operation” in the words of Baudelaire, which bruised him to the depths of his soul.

It was only in 1949 that the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation, at the request of the president of the Society of Men of Letters, overturned the judgment and reinstated the six poems banned from publication.