COLETTE and the publication of her essay The Pure and the Impure.

Sidonie Gabrielle Colette , known as COLETTE (1873-1954)

Autographed letter signed to Hélène Berthelot.

Two octavo pages on embroidered patterned paper. No place or date [January 1932]

Charming collage of a small butterfly at the top.

« The headmaster of Gringoire has just interrupted my soap opera… »

Colette comments with detachment on the arbitrary interruption of the publication of her work The Pure and the Impure .

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"Dear Hélène, Happy New Year to you both. How lovely this paper is! You know, you can't even find it at the Santon Fair anymore? The cat has a new word: 'meringue,' which she pronounces 'me-raing!' Pour this precious document into Philippe's ear and ask him what he thinks of it."

The editor of Gringoire just interrupted my serial mid-sentence because, he said, his "general public is disappointed." He still had five episodes left before the end. Since I know you appreciate humor, I'll tell you about it, and send you both my warmest regards. Yours, Colette.

__________________________

The Pure and the Impure was initially published, in serial form, in the weekly magazine Gringoire from December 4, 1931 to January 1, 1932, at which time publication was suspended (the subject of this letter) under pressure from readers scandalized by the immoral nature of the work.

With this essay, Colette aimed to offer a free-flowing reflection on the pleasures of love, jealousy, homosexuality, enjoyment, and the nuances of desire between men and women. Iconoclastic and avant-garde, the writer certainly didn't fail to disconcert Gringoire's readers.

The work was subsequently published in book form under the title Ces Plaisirs , by Éditions Ferenczi in 1932. The definitively chosen title Le pur et l'impur is that of an expanded version, published by Armes de France in 1941.

Colette, who was regularly critical of her own work, held this book in deep esteem: "Perhaps one day it will be realized that this is my best book."