Octave Mirbeau autograph letter signed, The Book of Life, 1890

  

Octave MIRBEAU - autograph signed letter - The Book of Life - 1890. Octave MIRBEAU - autograph signed letter - The Book of Life - 1890

Octave Mirbeau was a French writer and journalist, born on February 16, 1848 in Trévières and died on February 16, 1917 in Paris. He is best known for his novel The Diary of a Chambermaid and for his sharp social criticism.

Mirbeau was also a supporter of Impressionist artists and a passionate Dreyfusard, using his pen to denounce the injustices of his time. Close to literary figures such as Émile Zola and Joris-Karl Huysmans, de Fleury influenced Zola’s work with his scientific knowledge.

He published works on depressive states and neurasthenia and was elected a free associate of the Academy of Medicine in 1909.

This letter was written in a context of mutual respect and admiration between two men of letters and science.

Maurice de Fleury had probably just published a new book, which prompted Mirbeau to write to congratulate and encourage him. The friendly and professional relationship between Mirbeau and de Fleury is reflected in the tone of the letter, which expresses great admiration for de Fleury’s literary and scientific abilities.

“Pont de l’Arche, Eure

My dear colleague and friend,

Thank you for the book and for the overly flattering dedication you wrote in it.

Your book is very good, and as you say in your preface (which I like less), every sentence reveals a masculine love of life, a narration of matter that I, for my part, find excellent, strong, and healthy.

What I like best is the ‘Wedding Song,’ despite your reservations, which I do not understand. It is simply very beautiful, very noble, and very grand. What a beautiful book you could make, the Book of Life! For you have that unique good fortune of being both of the two men who are usually opposed to each other: a scholar and a man of letters. That is to say, what none of us possesses. You can save the novel from the rough stupidity in which it wallows with everyone, and from the sticky confectionery in which it turns sugary with us.

How I have dreamed of writing this book! And how it haunts me and tempts me! But I am completely incapable of it. And yet it is still the only book to write today.

It is expected from you.

With warm regards,
Octave Mirbeau”

Carefully written
Accepted return

Octave Mirbeau, Mirbeau, letter, manuscript, French writer, social criticism, Impressionism, Dreyfusard, Trévières, Paris
Octave Mirbeau, Mirbeau, letter, manuscript, French writer, social criticism, Impressionism, Dreyfusard, Trévières, Paris.

Octave MIRBEAU - autograph signed letter - The Book of Life - 1890 Octave Mirbeau was a French writer and journalist, born on February 16, 1848 in Trévières and died on February 16, 1917 in Paris. With warm regards, Octave Mirbeau” Careful writing Accepted return Octave Mirbeau, Mirbeau, letter, manuscript, French writer, social criticism, Impressionism, Dreyfusard, Trévières, Paris Octave Mirbeau, Mirbeau, letter, manuscript, French writer, social criticism, Impressionism, Dreyfusard, Trévières, Paris.