CAMUS ALBERT: (1913-1960)

CAMUS ALBERT: (1913-1960) French Author and Philosopher. Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 1957. A very good A.L.S., ` Albert Camus´, one page, 4to, Cabris, Alpes Maritimes, 30th January, n.y., [1951], to a Novelist, in French. An interesting letter by Camus, who is ill and recovering after his return from south-America, giving his opinion and advice to a novelist who asked for his opinion, stating in part ` J´ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à lire votre livre. Il y a là-dedans sous une forme volontairement modeste beaucoup d´intelligence et de sensibilité... Je ne vous chicanerai que sur quelques négligences de forme que j´ai d´ailleurs, avec une prétention qui ne s´excuse que par l´intérêt que je vous porte, soulignées dans votre manuscrit. Je crois aussi que vous auriez avantage à supprimer les grossièretés de langage, qui sont à la mode, mais qui jurent avec la pudeur profonde de votre livre. Ceci dit, je suis disposé à faire ce que vous demanderez. Désirez-vous que je vous aide à le publier? Je m´y emploirai malgré mon éloignement de Paris et il se peut que je réussisse.´ (Translation: " I really enjoyed reading your book. There is in this, in a deliberately modest way, a lot of intelligence and sensitivity... I will only quibble with you about a few formal negligences that I have, moreover, with a pretension that can only be excused by my interest in you, highlighted in your manuscript. I also believe that you would benefit from removing the crude language, which is fashionable, but which clashes with the profound modesty of your book. That said, I am willing to do whatever you ask me to do. Would you like me to help you to publish it? I will work on it despite my distance from Paris and I may succeed.") Camus further explains what is his own situation, saying ` ... à mon retour d´Amérique du Sus, j´ai dû garder le lit pendant deux mois et je suis ici, en traitement, pour de longues emaines encore...´ (Translation: " When I returned from South America, I had to stay in bed for two months and I am still here, undergoing treatment, for many more weeks...") Very small overall minor age tone due to a former framing, otherwise G to VG