CÉLINE (Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, known as L.-F.) - Lot 60

CÉLINE (Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, known as L.-F.) Born in Courbevoie. 1894-1961. Physician and writer. L.A.S. "Destouches" to his faithful friend Paul MARTEAU. S.l., [Issy-les-Moulineaux], December 15 [1954]. 3 pp. folio. Stamped envelope enclosed. A hilarious letter from Céline to his great friends, wishing them a merry Christmas: ...I can see the two of you with Lady Pascalyn [Paul Marteau's wife] breaking bread on your false temple to celebrate the little Jesus! and with the big red! and publicly... Céline laughs... For "Mandun" I'll ask your permission to go and watch it myself... I wasn't dreaming... When you're back on Avenue Barres, Perrot, we'll see what he brings, and if it's good, we'll thank you... It's the "Opera-Lulu" that's defending us... its youngest star is 4 years old [alluding to the dance lessons his wife Lucette Almanzor gave]... If Lady Pascalyn wants her 20 berges back, Lulu has all the secrets... Other things than creams and massages!... and Pascalyn's friends! not one grandmother resists! it's magic!... true esotericism! the practical return to youth!... (...). Ah, I wasn't telling you! On his return from forced exile in Denmark, L.-F. Céline and his wife Lucette found refuge in Neuilly at the home of Paul Marteau, a wealthy industrialist and admirer of the writer who had been introduced to Céline by Daragnès. After acquiring the house in Meudon, Céline went back to writing, resumed his work as a doctor, while his wife gave dance lessons. In 1952, Céline made his return to literature with the publication of Féerie pour une autre fois by Gallimard, who became his official publisher, followed in 1954 by Normance.