"This youthful revolt against injustice or fate returns to me because of you, because of this affection I have for you, so ancient that it seems to me the very essence of friendship and poetry."
2.500€
René Char (1907.1988)
Autographed letter signed to Paul Éluard.
Two oblong octavo pages. Envelope.
Paris. September 30, 1952.
"This revolt of my youth against injustice or fate is returning to me..."
A tragic epilogue to twenty years of friendship, collaborations and poetic creativity, René Char wrote a poignant letter to the ailing Paul Éluard a few weeks before the latter's death.
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"My dear Paul, I learn from Yvonne Zervos that your health is causing you distressing problems. I feel a deep sadness about it, and that revolt of my youth against injustice or fate returns to me because of you, because of that affection I have for you, so ancient that it seems to me the very feeling of friendship and poetry ; above all obstacles.
If I can be of any help to you in any way, please let me know: I will hasten to do so. I do not know Dominique, your wife, but I know from those who love you that no one better than she could care for you, help you, heal you. I am thinking of you, with that fervent strength of heart that no spike can penetrate. I embrace you, Brother Paul. At least let yourself be cared for . René Char .
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Suffering from angina for over two months, Éluard was struck down by a heart attack on the morning of November 18, 1952, at the side of his wife Dominique. He had just finished Poésie ininterrompue II , which would be published the following year, illustrated with a portrait of the poet by Picasso.