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live November 17 | 02:00 PM
Wattebled & Portay

216 - Henri Beyle, known as STENDHAL (1783–1842). Autograph letter signed with his pseudonym “Le Prést de Brosses,” addressed to his sister, Pauline PERIER, on Rue du Sault in Grenoble. April 13 [1810, according to a note]. 2 pp. 1/4 in-4. Address on the reverse of the second leaf. Two names have been cut out of the text.

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Estimation

€1,500 - 2,000

Sale fees

22%

Henri Beyle, known as STENDHAL (1783–1842). Autograph letter signed with his pseudonym “Le Prést de Brosses,” addressed to his sister, Pauline PERIER, on Rue du Sault in Grenoble. April 13 [1810, according to a note]. 2 pp. 1/4 in-4. Address on the reverse of the second leaf. Two names have been cut out of the text. A RARE LETTER ON THE ROMANCE BETWEEN STENDHAL AND JENNY Stendhal sends his sister a copy of CHAMFORT: “Since you’re not coming, send me some money so I can buy books. I’m convinced that the chatterbox CABANIS has annoyed you. Have you been struck by the characteristics of the four seasons? Try to observe this in nature. Chamfort, lacking Helvetius’s principles, sees everything in a negative light. He believes that man loves evil for evil’s sake. He had a chafed temperament that always put him in a bad mood. The best parts are the excerpts from Duclos and Richelieu. I am happy. I don’t think I’ll be going to Burgundy for another month. They are performing *Il matrimonio segreto* [Domenico Cimarosa’s opera *Il matrimonio segreto*] and some charming concerts. The only thing missing from my happiness is having you here.” Stendhal advises his sister to invite two people [whose names have been cut off] to dinner and adds: “If these two were a bit more sanguine, they’d be very pleasant people. But two bottles of Hermitage make everyone sanguine for a few hours.” He is delighted that his sister has moved out of her apartment and then speaks of his love for Jenny Leschenault: “I, too, have left my jealousy behind, but LITTLE JENNY AVOIDS ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS AND IS AFRAID OF ME. THIS WILL NEVER END. IT IS A PASSION CULTIVATED TO PRODUCE AS MANY SENSATIONS AS POSSIBLE. If I had had her, there would have been far fewer [ ] Many warm regards to your husband. "Push the father for the little one [to get money]." Bibliography: letter published [with transcription errors] in Stendhal, Correspondence 1800–1821, Gallimard, p. 563.

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Auction details

Major Catalog Sale - Hôtel Couvent des Minimes, Lille
Tuesday, November 17
02:00 PM
Hôtel Alliance, couvent des Minimes, 17, quai de Wault
59800 Lille, France

Auction house

Wattebled & Portay +33 3 20 06 25 81 xwattebled@wattebled-portay.fr
On Drouot for 7 years avec More than 10,000 lots published

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