François MAURIAC and his novel The Desert of Love.

François MAURIAC (1885.1970)

Autograph letter signed to Marcel Thiébaut, director of the Revue de Paris.

Two oblong quarto pages. Wednesday December 3, 1924.

“My novel is constructed in a baroque way. »

Mauriac and the publication of his novel The Desert of Love.

“ Dear Sir, I have made the corrections indicated – and many others. I dare not hope that you will be able to publish this whole package next time. However, it would have been very necessary for the break to have been made there: my novel is constructed in a baroque way and waking up the reader in the bar of the first pages would require some care... Dear sir, I think that your duties are not appropriate administrative. However, I am asking you to ask the Review to send me the first part of my emoluments. If this does not concern you, please tell me who I should contact (provided it is not Mr. Chaumeix, whose decision not to respond to letters is something I admire. This must make life much easier! ). I was to receive ten thousand francs. now and five thousand during January. If you have the courage, take another look at these tests. Last time we left some famous typos. But it no longer strikes me: people only read with one eye. Yours faithfully. Mauriac – “ Sulphur ” you must have seen this (….) pollen in the Landes in spring… This would only have been understandable for your Landes subscribers, obviously a minority! – Have you had any “subscriber complaints”? Does that please you?”

The Desert of Love was written by Mauriac between January and September 1924. Initially published as a serial in La Revue de Paris , at the end of 1924, it was published by Éditions Grasset the following year and was awarded the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie French in 1926.