Jean COCTEAU (1889-1963) - Lot 42

Jean COCTEAU (1889-1963) 4 L.A.S., January-February 1958; 1page in-4 each on Santo-Sospir letterhead (except the 2nd, written in pencil). [January 20]. "I arrive, an hour ago after a terrible Parisian journey - death of my sister and poisoning by gin". He explains Gérard Worms' "tiny choice" by the cost of the book, which would have been impossible "without Francine's kindness" [Weisweiller]... On the back of a typewritten text by Jean Hugo about Clergue. "Of course we chose the most beautiful of the short stories in the gypsy suite". Jean-Marie Magnan to send his texts to Paulhan and Robert Mallet. January 30. "Everything is a struggle, and the proof that your photographs are not photographs is that they provoke the same insults as paintings and poems. I'm very happy that they don't crown you "pretty" and "charming", the watchwords of fools"... February 3. "It's hard for me to grumble in person because poor Francine is bleeding to death to help Gérard [Worms] put back on its feet a business where Orengo has left nothing but debts. But I agree with you, and I myself had to have the chapel catalog redone for reasons very similar to yours. It's better not to do things than to do them badly or half-heartedly. Maybe you think it's time to call it quits - in which case I hope you won't feel any embarrassment at my address, because this era of misery disgusts me and drove me to ruin myself on purpose by offering the chapel to the sinners and the Town Hall to the Mayor. And these people still find the means to reproach me because taxes take a few pennies from them. Ah! misery! I've ended up shutting myself away with my poems, and even the smallest luxury edition is a ruin"... We enclose 4 letters from Lucien CLERGUE to Cocteau (double carbon), January-February 1958, and the autograph minute of a telegram. CCC p. 46-49. Lots 24 to 68 are sold by provisional auction with the option of reunion.