Ignoring the general atmosphere, the BnF has just launched a new call for donations to acquire an original edition of
Du cote de chez Swann
, by Marcel Proust.
The object of his covetousness is of high quality, since the edition is accompanied by a long letter dedication to Marie Scheikévitch, figure of literary and social Paris of the Belle Époque, friend and support of the writer.
"To write this letter, he drew in particular on his preparatory notebooks
," explains Jean-Marc Châtelain, director of the Rare Books Reserve at the BnF.
We therefore have a testimony on the creation of Proust, and on the genesis of
Research
. "
Written in 1915, with some erasures, the text reveals for example and for the first time what will become of several of the characters - including Albertine.
Proust explains to his friend what
"is currently known to no one"
and expressly asks her
"not to
show
(it)
until the work has appeared"
.
Read also:
Exclusive: the discovered literary treasures of Marcel Proust
After having suffered the refusal of three publishers including
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