François-René de CHATEAUBRIAND / Signed Autograph Letter / The Genius / Sorel

  

Signed autograph letter "C" to Louis de Fontanes? Rich and remarkable letter from a disillusioned Chateaubriand, mentioning among other things The Genius of Christianity. "I have been wandering my dear friend, and only wanted to answer your kind letter when I returned to my valley.] I am as old as Herod. I dream only of the past.

I am only in love with Agnès Sorel, whose hair is so young and blond that it puts mine to shame. It must end, my dear friend.

We must go away: here comes October with that cursed 4 [allusion to his birthday, Chateaubriand has just turned 44] which brought me another heavy year. I am hardly wiser, but I lament and look back. I work a lot, and I hurry to abandon the rest, for fear of being abandoned. We will spend two months in a row in the Valley. [Joseph] Joubert, who is not going to Villeneuve, is coming here next Monday.

He will stay for some time [. I have finished the business of The Genius of Ch [ristianity]. In 3 or 4 years it will be a good deal; today it bothers me and requires sacrifices. They are of the greatest as well as the most lively interest.

We are going to see extraordinary events [allusion to the defeat of the Napoleonic army]. Come back quickly among your friends. I'm not sure if this letter will find you where I address it. In this case, please present my respectful regards to your hosts. C This 9 7bre 1813 ".

Secluded in his Vallée-aux-Loups after his numerous travels and his journey to the East, Chateaubriand began writing his Memoirs there in 1809. The business of The Genius of Christianity (originally published in 1802), which is mentioned here, was revived late by the publication of The Martyrs, a prose epic he published in 1809. The writer wishes to show, in practice, the beauties of Christianity defended in the apology. The Martyrs caused a real stir to the point that a censorship committee, led by Fouché, immediately demanded modifications. The author's name itself was not mentioned during the Decennial Prizes of the Institute in 1811.

Napoleon, in parallel, demanded a reexamination regarding The Genius of Christianity.