Marcel PROUST prepares his literary pastiches. 1909.

 Marcel Proust (1871.1922)

Autograph letter signed to Georges de Lauris.

Four pages in-12°. Slnd [early October 1909]

Kolb, volume IX, pages 192-193

“I am going to have the 1st paragraph of the 1st chapter of Ste Beuve copied into my informal drafts ^[ … ^] and as soon as it is copied, will you give me an evening and come and read it near me?”

Beautiful friendly letter relating to Lauris' novel.

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“My little Georges, A word because I am in the crisis of returning home. Your letter came back to me in Paris, the hotel not having wanted to keep me and me not having had the desire after the time I spent there last year to return to Versailles.

I'm glad that as soon as you finished your book you were thinking of something new. “Not very happy sentimental adventure” was more in your letter to me. Are there any happy ones? Yes, there are lucky people who ensure it and for whom these adventures are very happy. But I wonder if they are really sentimental.

I am happy with what you tell me about Bertrand's possible return.  I think of him often and would be happy to see him again, if he does not harm our friendship. Because now the order of the factors is reversed. You are the main friendship in my life and he is secondary. And if he had as bad an influence on your friendship for me as you had on his friendship for me, it is against him that I would have the same kind of resentment that I have kept against you for so long but which is entirely dissipated!

Georges I will perhaps not try to see you before the beginning of November. But while I'm going to recover a little from the return, I'm going to have the 1st paragraph of the 1st chapter of Ste Beuve copied onto my informal drafts ⁽ it ^'s almost a volume, this first paragraph!) and as soon as it's copied, will you give me an evening and come read it near me? even though I can hardly speak, what I have written will speak to you. At least I would like to. Kind regards, Marcel.

I am delighted with what you tell me about Fasquelle. As your book [the novel by Lauris finally published by Grasset in 1910, Ginette Chatenay ] is “suitable” and you are linked with Calmann, Calmann seemed ideal to me, but I believe Fasquelle even better. Therefore it would be perfect. »