Louise MICHEL and the agony of the old society.

“Yes, everything seems very horrible, but all agonies are like that. That of the old society is the agony of an ogress.”

1.800€

Louise MICHEL (1830.1905)

Autograph letter signed to comrade Alexandre Roy.

Four pages in-8°. Co-written with her friend Charlotte Vauvelle.

London. [June 18, 1900]. Handwritten envelope.

Herbarium borrowings (kept in a separate envelope) in the central pages.

« Yes, everything seems very horrible, but all agonies are like that. »

Louise Michel notes the agony of the old society and hopes for the new century.

“Our dear friend, A word in the meantime (…) We are doing well and will not be long without sending you this long, long-promised letter. Your carnations arrived so alive and seemed so eager to live that I put them in a glass where even the buds stood up. Yes, everything seems very horrible, but all agonies are like that. That of the old society is the agony of an ogress. May it die this time by giving birth to the new century. »

After a few lines written by Charlotte Vauvelle who hopes to finally meet their friend during an upcoming speaking tour, Louise Michel adds:

“ I forgot to reply to you about Tolstoy's Resurrection which I read in English, we only have it like that. I found it so beautiful that I keep coming back to it. Resurrection is the true word that will replace the punishment of the old world. A certain number of us have felt it for a long time. We translated it into French but without writing it. I would like to see the French translation which is said to be very good. ".