COLETTE is preparing for her entry into the Royal Academy of Belgium.

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

Autographed letter signed to Hélène Berthelot.

Two quarto pages on blue paper addressed to the Marignan Building

[Paris. Spring 1936]

"In Brussels, my greatest ordeal takes place on March 14th."

Colette is preparing for her entry into the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature

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“My dearest Hélène, please excuse me: due to too much work, my personal service hasn't started yet. I'll begin tomorrow, starting with you. Thank you for your kind note. In Brussels, my great ordeal takes place on March 14th. Will I be happier knowing you're in the audience? Or even more intimidated? Let's not dwell on it, and follow your heart. Mine, dear Hélène, is yours, never doubt it. I'm 'working' at the ABC morning and evening every day until the 21st. I feel like a workhorse. I kiss you most tenderly, and my husband is at your feet. Your Colette.”

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Colette was elected, as a foreign member, to the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium, in Brussels, on March 9, 1936, to succeed Countess Anna de Noailles, who had died three years earlier.

On Saturday, April 4th, she came to Brussels to deliver her acceptance speech at the said Academy.

Grasset publishers will publish the contents on April 30, 1936, in a small 12mo volume of fifty-nine pages entitled " Colette – Discourse of Reception at the Royal Belgian Academy of French Language and Literature ".