60 - BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Signed autograph letter [to Champfleury]. "Ascension Day" [May 25], 1854. 1 p., in-8.

BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Signed autograph letter [to Champfleury]. "Ascension Day" [May 25], 1854. 1 p., in-8. “I have received your letter and your book. Thank you. I regret that I cannot offer you *Une Vieille Maîtresse*. I no longer have any copies, and Mr. Cadot, my publisher, is rather reluctant. If I were to go ahead with a second edition, I would make arrangements to be able to give you what you have been kind enough to ask of me today. I’m also sorry to have to put off indefinitely a second edition of a short novel titled *L’AMOUR IMPOSSIBLE*, which will be reprinted… perhaps! You’re very kind to think that my books are too little known, but I’m not in the least bit bothered by it. IF I AM WORTHLESS, OBSCURITY SUITS ME. IF I AM WORTH SOMETHING, I CAN SAY TO PUBLICITY, IN THE WORDS OF THAT FOOLISH BERNIS, “MADAME, I WILL WAIT.” I sincerely thank you for taking an interest in me. I LOVE LITERARY CONSCIENCE, EVEN WHEN IT IS ARMED. I FORGIVE IT EASILY FOR BEING CRUEL WHEN IT BELIEVES ITSELF TO BE RIGHT, and I have the honor of saluting you... » Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly and Champfleury, writers with divergent aesthetic views, did not hold back in their literary critiques of one another.