MAC AULIFFE (Léon). Born in Paris, 1876-1937. French physici - Lot 101

MAC AULIFFE (Léon). Born in Paris, 1876-1937. French physician and morphologist. L.A.S. "Mac Auliffe" to "Mon cher ami" [Pierre Abraham]. Paris, January 14, 1931. 2 pp. in-8 on headed paper from Dr. Léon Mac-Auliffe, former assistant director at the École des Hautes Études, 6 rue Octave-Feuillet, Paris XVIe. Interesting letter to Pierre Abraham about his work on Marcel Proust, published by Rieder in 1930. Mac Auliffe acknowledges receipt of the volume, but frankly states that he has not yet finished reading it: "Even to a friend like you, to write what I think of a book I don't yet know enough to my liking..." Nevertheless, he delivers a highly complimentary assessment of his correspondent's intellectual and stylistic evolution: "This new work confers on you, it seems to me, a personality very different from that which had hitherto been revealed, and your psychological acuity has been further refined and your style with greater boldness is rising day by day." The letter testifies to Mac Auliffe's esteem for Pierre Abraham, whom he now regards as a writer who has reached full literary and psychological maturity. He also mentions a number of mutual acquaintances, including "M. Baruch" and a "Madame Abraham", to whom he pays his respects. A fine collection revealing the intellectual links between literature, psychological criticism and medical-anthropological circles in Paris in the 1930s. Rare testimony to the immediate reception of Pierre Abraham's Proust.