Romain GARY – Signed letter to his friend and agent, Odette Arnaud.

Romain Gary (1914.1980)

Signed letter to her friend and agent, Odette Arnaud.

One page in-4° on letterhead of the French Delegation to the United Nations.

New York. July 19, 1954.

Slight defect in the upper left margin.

"Dear Odette, The enclosed letter is an official reply to your letter. This additional note is to inform you that you may show this letter to Gallimard if necessary. I am sure it will make a great impression. Best regards, Romain."

Gary is responding here to the letter Odette Arnaud sent him on July 16 (a carbon copy of which is attached): “Dear Romain, (…) I am extremely excited at the prospect of receiving your manuscript soon, which we are eagerly awaiting (…) There is, however, one question I would like to ask you immediately, as it will guide our entire work. The question is this: would you consider leaving Gallimard, despite it being the best intellectual environment for you and despite Gallimard’s very deep friendship with you (…) At Gallimard, we are confronted with an immense, routine organization (…) It goes without saying that the advantages of going elsewhere are obvious. This elsewhere could hardly be anything other than Julliard (…)”

On July 26, Odette Arnaud wrote again to Gary (we are also attaching a carbon copy of this letter): “Dear Romain, I have an appointment tomorrow with Michel Gallimard (…) I may show him your letter for the sake of public safety, as you are not the only one complaining (…)”

Finally, on July 28: “ Dear Romain, I saw Michel Gallimard – without showing him your letter – (…)”

The Roots of Heaven was finally published by Gallimard on October 5, 1956. The book was awarded the Prix Goncourt on December 3, 1956.

Novelist Odette Arnaud published several novels, including * Mer Caraïbe* in 1934 and *Pêcheurs de rêves* in 1936. She also wrote a biography of the painter Pierre Subleyras (1699-1749). She later became Romain Gary's press agent.