VERLAINE (Paul) - Lot 220

VERLAINE (Paul) Born in Metz. 1844-1896. French poet. L.A.S. "P. Verlaine" to "Mon cher Savine" [publisher Albert Savine]. Paris, August 28 (no date, circa 1888). 1 p. 3/4 in-8. Beautiful letter. In 1888, Verlaine wanted to change publishers. Huysmans and Bloy recommended publisher Albert Savine (1859-1927) to succeed Léon Vanier. A contract was signed with Savine on September 15, 1888, for the publication of Bonheur and Histoires comme ça. In the end, Verlaine soon fell out with his new publisher, blaming Cazals' alleged collaboration on Histoires comme ça; Verlaine piteously returned to his faithful Vanier, with whom he was reconciled, thus closing the parenthesis of the "Savine episode". ...Mr. Cazals has given me an account of your reply. I didn't know it was as big a volume as you wanted, but in a few days I'll have four short stories and five or six prose poems ready for you. I was supposed to see you, but my leg won't let me and I think I'll have to go back to hospital for the 5th time. I can see no other way out of my situation, which is making it very difficult for me to work. Before leaving, however, I would like to have a serious meeting with you at my home at a time that you would like to arrange for Mr. Cazals. As soon as the prose volume is finished, I'll be busy finishing Bonheur, for which I'd be grateful if you could make me an advance. In any case, tomorrow you'll have the manuscript of L'abbé Anne and that of a short story entitled Le Pot au Lait. Do you have Les Deux mots d'une fille?...