Paul VERLAINE wishes to relaunch his readings in Belgium. 1893.

Paul Verlaine (1844.1896)

Autograph letter card signed to Henry Carton de Wiart.

An oblong octavo page. Autograph address.

Broussais Hospital. July 4, 1893

“I have been close to the grave and am not yet saved.”

Verlaine wishes to organize conferences in Belgium.

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“Dear Sir, I have the idea, thanks to Casier and the young people of Bruges, of giving a conference there in a few weeks , one in Mons, one in Louvain (which seems ideal to me), and finally one in Verviers where I was invited. What do you say? Could you send me a photo of the Brussels Palace where I am so happy to have had a reading? I am writing to you myself today. You see what a shock. I have been close to the grave and am not yet saved. My best regards to you. My best handshake. And Khan? P. Verlaine. »

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Verlaine had given a conference at the new Palais de Justice in Brussels on March 6, 1893, and spoke of his plan to repeat the experience.

Count Henry Carton de Wiart (1869.1951), Belgian writer, lawyer, and politician, was one of the instigators of the lecture tour given by Verlaine to Belgium. Author of several historical novels and autobiographical works, Wiart was one of the first members of the Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium in 1920, and remained so for 31 years until his death on May 6, 1951.