Louis-Ferdinand CÉLINE about to move to Meudon. 1951.

Louis-Ferdinand DESTOUCHES known as Louis-Ferdinand CÉLINE (1894.1961)

Autograph letter signed to Paul Marteau.

Three folio pages. Stamped autograph envelope.

Unpublished letter to the Pléiade correspondence.

Chin. 14 [July 1951]

“As for Féerie who has to bail me out, I'm paying for my thousandth migraine... 10,000 ^e ! »

Back in France after her amnesty, Céline, entangled in the editorial staff of Féerie for another time, plans to move to the outskirts of Paris to find some peace of mind. It was in the famous Meudon pavilion – the Villa Maïtou – that the Destouches couple would settle down a few weeks later.

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“My dear friend, Destiny is very funny – I am leaving Mikkelsen, an old experienced crook; I come across the in-laws in Menton who are juxtaposable like in geometry. They, even more enraged, kidnap their maid and starve her to death. Delusional greed ! No surprise, life takes the trouble to always play pretty much the same comedy on you. Only the actors change their skin, their stammering... that's all.

All thought, since you are willing to take an interest in my condition and my projects, this is what Lucette and I decided: to find a small pavilion for sale free in St Germain en Laye to settle there. As soon as possible. Life with its evil madmen is impossible . I choose St Germain first of all for the place, airy, not far from Paris – Lucette wants a garden for her animals. I have accommodation on rue Claude Debussy in St Germain and a house in St Leu la Forêt. I am going to try to sell these two properties to buy a free home in St Germain. These are my plans. Brittany, I am too well known – and then I am afraid of the province; countryside ? too isolated! But the most serious is Lucette's condition. We will be in Paris on September 6, we have an appointment with Tailhefer on Saturday September 8 at 3:30 p.m. […]

As for Féerie [his novel Féerie for another time ] which should bail me out, I'm paying for my thousandth migraine... 10,000 ^e ! It’s day and night work that I’m fortunately accustomed to! Yours sincerely, kindly and gratefully from both of you. LF. Celine. I don't write to anyone . »

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In October 1951, Céline and Lucette moved into a dilapidated pavilion, at 25 ter route des Gardes in Meudon, called Villa Maïtou . Registered with the Order of Physicians, Doctor LF Destouches, doctor of medicine from the Faculty of Paris hangs a professional plaque on the fence which encloses the property, as well as a plaque for Lucette Almanzor which announces classical dance lessons. It was within these walls that Céline died on July 1 ^, 1961.

Rich industrialist and great admirer of Céline, Paul Marteau (1885.1966) was one of Céline's most loyal supporters during her trial and during her return to France. Returning from Menton on July 24, 1951, Céline and Lucette settled in with the Marteaus in Neuilly sur Seine until the beginning of October.