CELINE (Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, known as Louis-Ferdinand - Lot 63

CELINE (Louis-Ferdinand Destouches, known as Louis-Ferdinand). Born in Courbevoie. 1894–1961. Physician and writer. Autograph letter signed with his initials to “Mon cher Vieux” [Jean-Gabriel Daragnès]. No place, no date (December 1949 or January 1950). 2 folio pages. Shortly before the hearing of his trial, scheduled for February 21, 1950, presided over by Judge Drappier, Céline attempted to rally his supporters:...I think all my true friends need to write in my favor right away, directly to President Drappier at the Court of Justice. That is to say, you, Paulhan, Debuffet (sic, for Jean Dubuffet), Marcel (Marcel Aymé), and everyone else you can think of. Will you let them know? Naud (his lawyer Albert Naud) agrees. These letters will be read at the hearing with the heading “The Céline Case”…I’m so sick! I can barely write, and I have no help; as if I could get something mimeographed in Copenhagen! Mik (his Danish lawyer, Th. Mikkelsen) couldn’t care less and isn’t doing anything. Fortunately, Pastor Löchen is wonderful; without him, the documents would never be certified at the Consulate or even typed! He hired a typist for me over there... Mik keeps my letters for eight days without reading them... He’s not interested!... With much affection... During the hearing of Céline’s trial in mid-December 1949 before the Seine Court of Justice, his Danish lawyer Thorvald Mikkels had sent a telegram announcing, “Destouches is ill; unable to appear...” .” A trial in absentia was therefore ordered, and Céline was summoned to appear at the hearing set for February 21, 1950. Presiding Judge Drappier was to judge the “writer.” All of Céline’s friends then decided to rally in his support, including Arletty, Marie Bell, Jean Paulhan, Marcel Aymé, Jouhandeau, Maulnier, and even Henri Miller, who, through Maurice Nadeau, had written a letter in support of the author of *Voyage*, and finally many others, including the painter Jean Dubuffet...François Löchen was the head of the Reformed Church in Copenhagen. It was in the fall of 1947 that Pastor Löchen had met Céline in Denmark. Previously, he had served as a military chaplain in Sartrouville, then in Bezons in the Paris suburbs, where Dr. Destouches himself had practiced medicine.The friendship between the engraver Jean-Gabriel Daragnès (1886–1950) and Céline did not develop immediately. During the Occupation, Daragnès was wary of “Gen Paul’s gang,” but Céline cared for his mother “until the very last minute” (March 1941), and Daragnès would never forget his devotion. It was Daragnès who introduced Céline to Paul Marteau and Jean Dubuffet, two of the writer’s supporters during his trial. He welcomed Mikkelsen, Céline’s Danish lawyer, to Montmartre and traveled to Korsør himself in 1948, where Céline and his wife Lucette were in exile from Denmark. Daragnès was instrumental in the publication of *Foudres et flèches* and *À l’agité du bocal*, and considered illustrating *Scandale aux Abysses*, which he wanted to print himself. He gathered exculpatory testimony and appeared at the trial before the Court of Justice as a witness. He was not heard, however, due to the defendant’s absence. On July 25, 1950, Daragnès died following a routine operation. Céline lost a true friend, as well as an active source of financial support, given his role in funneling funds to Denmark, in collaboration with Pierre Monnier and François Löchen.