HUGUES LE ROUX (1860–1925). - Lot 162

Lot 162
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HUGUES LE ROUX (1860–1925). - Lot 162
HUGUES LE ROUX (1860–1925). Autograph letter signed to Henry Walbaum. Paris, December 20, 1889. Autograph letter signed, 3 pages, in-8 format, on letterhead from the newspaper *Le Temps* (5 boulevard des Italiens, Paris), dated December 20, 1889. A lovely letter addressed to Henry Walbaum, in which Hugues Le Roux apologizes for the delay in his reply due to his child’s illness: “I had a very sick child, and letters piled up on my desk during those anxious days.” The writer eagerly accepts an invitation to give a lecture in Reims: “I would be very pleased to go to Reims to meet my unknown friends.” He then discusses topics likely to interest the Reims audience and proposes a lecture devoted to contemporary Russia: “The Russian nihilists in St. Petersburg and Paris.” Le Roux clarifies that he does not wish to present a philosophical study, but rather a vivid account: “It would be less a philosophical or political assessment of the doctrines than a colorful study of this curious world.” The letter then takes a more personal turn as he recalls the long-standing ties between his family and that of his correspondent. He notes that his father, Charles Le Roux, and his mother were connected to a family of shipowners in Le Havre related to the Walbaums: “My father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Le Roux, were close friends…” and expresses his delight at having rediscovered, through the Walbaums of Reims, the memory of these long-standing ties: “I am fortunate to have often heard the names Walbaum and Reims spoken in this hospitable home during my childhood.” A very beautiful letter combining literary pursuits, the organization of lectures, and family memories. 3 pages, in-8 format. Very good condition. This letter is one of the most interesting in the correspondence sent by Hugues Le Roux to Henry Walbaum. It documents both the writer’s work as a lecturer in the late 1880s and the social networks that surrounded the literary world at that time. The document attests to the fame Le Roux had already attained, as he was in demand for lectures in the provinces at a time when his reports and travelogues were enjoying widespread success. The mention of a project devoted to Russian nihilists is particularly noteworthy: this theme aligns precisely with the areas of interest that would soon establish the author’s reputation as a keen observer of foreign societies and revolutionary movements. Beyond its literary interest, the letter has a touching human dimension. The lines devoted to his child’s illness explain the delay in his reply and give the document a personal tone rarely found in public correspondence. Finally, the reference to the long-standing ties between the Le Roux family and the Walbaums provides valuable biographical insight into the writer’s family background. A rich letter, blending private life, intellectual projects, and social networks of the Belle Époque.
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