GENET JEAN: (1910-1986)

GENET JEAN: (1910-1986) French Novelist, Playwright, and political Activist. A.L.S., ` Jean Genet´, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., to Edmonde Charles-Roux, in French. Genet asks his friend Edmonde about her Christmas holiday and reports on what he has been doing and what he can´t stand, making some funny comments and stating ` Chère amie, Etiez-vous réellement en Normandie? J´ai cherché plus d´une fois à vous téléphoner et, à mesure qu´il approchait mon départ m´empetrait sous les valises, les billets, les pourboires, les poignées de main... Bon. Et le vôtre? Votre noël? Le mien: vu la télévision "Monsieur Tout le Monde". Merveilleuse idée! J´étais ravi. Seigneur, Madame, que nos compatriotes sont cons! Surtout qu´on n´y touche pas, on me les gaterait. Je suis à Liege. Et qu´on ne me touche pas non plus aux Liegeois. Mais où voulez-vous que j´aille? Chez les Guatemalteques, les Asteques? Les Pastèques?´ (Translation: " Dear friend, Were you really in Normandy? I tried to telephone you more than once and, as my departure approached, I was weighed down by suitcases, tickets, tips, handshakes... Well. And yours? Your Christmas? Mine: watched “Monsieur Tout Monde” television. Wonderful idea! I was delighted. My God, Madam, how stupid our compatriots are! Above all, don't touch them, they would spoil them. I am in Liège. And don't let anyone touch the Liege inhabitants either. But where do you want me to go? Among the Guatemalans, the Aztecs? Watermelons?") Further, Genet explains what are his immediate future travelling plans, saying ` Jacky est en Italie. Il attend la révision de sa Lotus. Je vais peut-être aller le voir. Sinon, à Zurich pour l´Exposition de Giacometti...´ (Translation: " Jacky is in Italy. He is waiting for his Lotus to be serviced. Maybe I'll go see him. Otherwise, in Zurich for the Giacometti Exhibition...") VG Jacques Maglia, ''Jacky'', was the stepson of Genet's lover Lucien Senemand. Genet, in his way, loved Jacky Maglia. He was often attracted to delinquents or petty criminals, and Jacky stole cars. Genet actively encouraged Jacky to take up motor racing and later managed his fledging career. They grew very close, travelling widely together.