Search Results: Authors starting with H from Le Manuscrit Français

[EINSTEIN] BERGSON, Henri (1859-1941)
Autograph letter signed " Henri Bergson " to Jean BecquerelParis, 24 Sept[ember] 1922, 16 pages in-8° with envelopeSome typographic pencil notes
A highly significant letter on the issues and interpretation of the theory of relativityThis intervention of the philosopher continues up to this day to create multiple controversies
We transcribe here only a few fragments of this letter which, although known in its substance, has remained unpublished to this day
" Monsieur et cher collègue,J'ai bien tardé à répondre à la lettre, si intéressante et si importante, que vous avez bien voulu m'adresser. C'est qu'elle est allée me chercher de divers côtés, et m'a atteint en Suisse, à un moment où j'étais pris, à Genève, par le travail de " Coopération intellectuelle " qui nous avait été confié par la Société des nations. Me voici de retour à Paris ; je profite de mes premiers instants de liberté pour vous écrire. Le passage essentiel de votre lettre est… Read More

LAWRENCE, David Herbert (1885-1930)
Autograph letter signed "DH Lawrence" to George ConwayHôtel Beau Rivage, Bandol, 29th December 1928, 2 p. in-8°, with envelopeSome tiny ink stains, old paperclip mark on top left margin
Great letter from DH Lawrence about his scandalous book Lady Chatterley's Lover
"Dear Conway,I am most distressed to learn that your copies of Lady Chatterley's Lover have not turned up. They were sent by registered book post long ago – and surely the Mexican govt. would not confiscate them, as the U.S.A. customs do! I will ask Orioli to send you the registration counterfoil, to see if you can trace them. If not you must have others, if any remain. Orioli has very few, I know – they may be all ordered. But one at least I'll rescue for you. But we must find out what became of the others. The book is selling at $50. in USA- and anything over £5. here in Europe – so you see it is quite a loss.Your Christmas card came this morning too – and how pretty it is! – and I had a… Read More

[HUGO] QUINET, Alexandre (1836-1900)
Original photography of Victor Hugo by Alexandre Quinet[Veules-les-Roses, c. 1882], 11,8 x 16,4 cmPeriod albumen print mounted on yellow cartonSome light stains, low contrasts
From the Paul Meurice archives
Victor Hugo's only period print portrait at Veules-les-Roses, at his friend's Paul Meurice
This portrait can be dated to the year 1882, when the poet was 80 years old. Despite the great age, the pose is both full of energy and derision. Hugo, with his white beard and crossed arms, appears more than ever as an unshakable patriarch.
Paul Meurice's house was located on the coast of Veules-les-Roses, in Normandy. During his stays at his friend's house, Victor Hugo stayed below the house in a small pavilion, directly adjacent to the beach. This photo is taken on the promenade along the staircase of that same pavilion.
French novelist and playwright Paul Meurice (1818-1905) was one of Victor Hugo's loyal friends. When the latter died, Meurice and the other great… Read More

HUGO, Victor (1802-1855)
Autograph letter to Alphonsine Masson[Marine Terrace, Jersey], 5th August [1855], 4 pp. small in-12°With autograph envelope[Postmark:] ANGL –5 Augt [departure] / CHEVREUSE 99th Août [arrival]Fine condition throughout
A long, unpublished letter with mystical overtones addressed to his psychic friend Alphonsine Masson, through which Victor Hugo addresses a message to his former love, Léonie Biard – The exiled poet expresses, in the manner of a prose poem and like a waking dream, the power of loving memory for the woman he was forced to leave behind during the coup d'Etat of December 2, 1851

We transcribe here only a few fragments
" Comme toutes les femmes de cœur et d'esprit, vous avez, Madame, outre toutes vos grâces personnelles, des hasards profonds et éloquents. Avec ce mot : elle partie, c'est ma lumière disparue, vous avez remué en moi tout un monde sombre et charmant, vous m'avez fait revivre et mourir, vous avez fait monter jusqu'au bord de ma paupière tout… Read More

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)
Autograph draft of a poem fragmentN.p.n.d, [Guernesey, c. 1854], 1 p. in-12° on thin blue paperIrregular left margin (see scan)
Precious first drat manuscript containing three stanzas of the poem Tout le passé et tout l'avenir, published in La Légende des siècles
[We transcribe the fragment of the poem as published in 1877]
" Ils bravent l'océan plein de magnificenceOù flottent le mystère et la toute-puissance ;Ils souillent le gouffre irrité ;Sans prendre garde au vent qui s'épuise en huées,Ils lèvent leur bannière au milieu des nuées,Ces drapeaux de l'immensité !
Ils ont pour dieux la force et la ruse aux yeux louches ;Ils font chanter des chants aux trompettes farouchesDont nous, esprits, nous frissonnons,Et rouler, balafrant la nature sacrée,Sur les champs, sur les blés, sur les fleurs que Dieu créeLa roue horrible des canons.
Les générations meurent pour leur caprice.Ils disent au tombeau : Prends l'homme et qu'il périsse !Ô nains, pires que les… Read More

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)
Draft of an autograph poem
N.p.n.d [Guernsey, 1859], 1 p. in-8° (140 x 145 cm
Tiny ink corrosion, spots
Precious draft of a satiric poem openly against Napoleon III, published in Les Nouveaux Châtiments


" Tu n'échapperas point. Fais ce que tu voudras.
Fais-toi, dans le prétoire et dans la sacristie.
Chanter un Te Deum en guise d'amnistie
Par Troplong courtisane et Sibour courtisan
Chache-toi sous les Oui du pauvre paysan
Qui ne sait que le soc, la bêche et la faucille.
Qu'importe O traître ! à bout portant mon livre te fusille !
La vérité sinistre ouvre son feu roulant ;
L'histoire montre ton nom noir, plus croulant, plus sanglant.
Plus hideux, plus criblé que le mur de Grenelle ;
Nous mettons devant toi le siège, va, crénélé
Ton empire caverne, ô l'empereur bandit !
Ferme ta forteresse et reprends toi, c'est dit,
Nous l'allons écraser de nos vers projectiles.
Fais en d'abord sortir les bouches inutiles,
Veuillot, Jacquot, Nisard, tous ces bavard… Read More

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)
"Mini" autograph letter signed " V. " to Émile AllixH[auteville] H[house], 25th July [1862], 2 p. small in-24° (4,3 x 6,8 cm), on blue laid paperWith autograph envelope (tear, see scan)Slight trace of unimportant oblique fold on the second page[Dry stamp:] S. Barset / June / 25 / High Street / Guernsey[Post mark:] 28 Jul[y] [18]62 / Ang[leterre] – Calais
An unpublished "thumbnail" letter to his personal doctor, announcing his departure for Belgium after the exhausting work of writing Les Misérables

" Merci, cher Monsieur Émile. Vous avez le dévouement le plus charmant du monde et vous entrez en fonctions avec tout l'esprit possible et une grâce parfaite. Votre lettre est une page toute étincelante. – Voici, imprimées, deux lettres qui vous intéresseront, si vous connaissez quelque journal qui trouve bon de les reproduire, faites. Je vais voir mon Charles dans quelques jours. Ce sera une joie profonde, et je la mérite un peu après ce lourd labeur. Quel dommage… Read More

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)
Autograph letter signed "Victor H" to Joséphine Trébuchet
Brussels, 19th December [1851], 1 page in-8 on double sheet
Fold marks
Vibrant and precious letter from Victor Hugo, written in the early hours of his exile from Brussels, just 17 days after Napoleon III's coup d'état


"Brussels – 19 Xbre
My wife tells me all your lovely gratitude, dear cousin, how to thank you. Alas! I no longer have a long arm, otherwise I would kiss you from Brussels to Paris.
Tell my dear and good cousin that my heart is full of him. I have fought for the right, for the truth, for the righteous, for the people, for France, against crime in all its forms, from treason to atrocity. We have succumbed, but valiantly and proudly, and the future is ours. Praise God always!
I kiss your hands, my cousin.
Victor H.
Kiss my dear daughter for me."


On December 2nd, 1851, the day of Napoleon III's coup d'état, Victor Hugo was put a price on his own head for his opposition to the emperor and for trying,… Read More