62 - BERNANOS (Georges). Autograph letter signed “The gardener who limps and drinks: GBernanos” [to his friend, the historian Pierre Belperron, literary director at Plon]. No place, [1929]. 6 pp., square 8vo.

BERNANOS (Georges). Autograph letter signed “The gardener who limps and drinks: GBernanos” [to his friend, the historian Pierre Belperron, literary director at Plon]. No place, [1929]. 6 pp., square 8vo. A lovely letter discussing the typographical layout of his essay on Joan of Arc, *Jeanne, relaps et sainte*, which appeared in *La Revue hebdomadaire* on July 6, 1929, published by Plon, and was later released in bookstores in 1934. Georges Bernanos also mentions a novel in progress, likely *La Joie*, which was completed in its entirety in December 1928 and reworked for publication, scheduled for December 1929. “My old friend, I’m sending you my galleys. Because: you are undeniably the most intelligent of the Dowager Widow of Garancière’s collaborators (don’t let that go to your head!) [a reference to his publishing house, Plon, whose headquarters were located on Rue Garancière] and that, in this capacity, I believe you are capable of following my instructions—or of ignoring them should they strike you as amusing or simply idiotic. 1°) I’m considering a dedication. Can a page be set aside for it, and until when? 2°) You’ll notice that I’ve had the phrase that recurs so often in my speech set in italics at the end and in the closing remarks: “OUR CHURCH IS THE CHURCH OF THE SAINTS” (A TRUTH I HOLD VERY DEAR, FIRST BECAUSE IT IS TRUE, AND SECOND BECAUSE IT REALLY PISSES OFF THE CANONS). I thought of using italics, but it’s not that I’m absolutely set on that typeface. I simply tried to convey typographically the sort of vocal break, the change in tone, and the emphasis that should be felt when reading each instance of this sort of refrain. I’d also considered dashes, but I find they look messy and stretched out, if I may say so… But perhaps your experts will have an idea. In that case, I look forward to hearing their views and proposals. I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON MY MANUSCRIPT (NOVEL) TO THE GREAT SCANDAL OF THE FEW WITNESSES WHO, WITH TERROR AND TREMBLING, BEHOLD MY USUAL OUTBURST OF HATRED—ALAS, LUCID! TOWARD EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF MY INKWELL. I’ve organized the pages (I still have thirty pages left to copy this morning) and done my best to make the work of my dear, graceful little typists easier. That makes 291 pages of handwritten text. But there are wide margins (it’s true that I write in a very fine hand)—in short, it must, and will, amount to 225 or 235 typed pages. Not finished, of course... How is [the writer Henri] Massis doing? Indeed, the fire from heaven strikes the loftiest minds, the most prophetic foreheads—me, him—(and so on)...”