HEREDIA delivers her autobiography from the mountains of Cuba to the Parisian circle.

José-Maria de HEREDIA (1842-1905)

Autograph letter signed to Philippe Berthelot.

Three pages in-8° in purple ink. Slnd [1894]

“I was born on November 22, 1842 on a coffee plantation called La Fortuna in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. »

The poet delivers his autobiography, in a few lines, from the mountains of Cuba to the Parisian circle.

“My dear Philippe,  I was born on November 22, 1842 on a Coffee plantation called La Fortuna (and not F. Cafeyère) in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra which dominate the beautiful harbor where the city of Santiago de Cuba is built. My mother's family was from Normandy; my maternal great-grandfather was president of the parliament of Normandy and his name was Girard d'Ouville. My father was born in Santo Domingo and descended from one of the first conquerors of America, Adelantado don Pedro de Her. who founded Cartagena de Indias in 1532.

I came to France at the age of 8. I did all my studies at the college (college of good priests, excellent humanists) of Saint-Vincent in Senlis (Oise). I received a bachelor of arts degree in Paris at the age of 16. I returned to Cuba and since I no longer knew a word of Spanish, I spent a year at the University of Havana. Returning to France in 1859, I completed my three years at the École des Chartes. My first verses appeared in the old Revue de Paris , then in the Revue Française, at the Renaissance, at the Revue des lettres et des arts, in the République des lettres, in the Parnasse dinners, at Le Temps, at the Nouvelle Revue , at the Revue des deux mondes. From 1877 to 1887, I published the 4 vols. of the True History of the Conquest of the New Spain trad. from the Spanish by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, with introduction and historical and scientific notes, work twice awarded by the French Academy (Langlois prize).

Finally in 1893, I published the Trophies – (12 editions in one year – the first removed in a few hours). I will publish La Nonne Alferez on the 29th of this month with drawings by Daniel Virginie. Legion of Honor officer – academy. This, my dear Philippe, is all I have to say to you. Besides, the Larousse supplement contains a large article about me. Article by Lemaître – from France in Le Temps and in the Anthology of Lemerre. Sincerely. JM de Heredia. »

Finally in 1893, I published the Trophies – (12 editions in one year – the first removed in a few hours). I will publish La Nonne Alferez with drawings by Daniel Virginie. Legion of Honor officer – academy. This, my dear Philippe, is all I have to say to you. Besides, the Larousse supplement contains a large article about me. Article by Lemaître – from France in Le Temps and in the Lemerre Anthology. Sincerely. JM de Heredia. »