Octave MIRBEAU Autographed Letter Signed Election Jules Renard Goncourt 1907

  
Octave MIRBEAU - Signed Autograph Letter - Election of Jules Renard to the Académie Goncourt - 1907. Letter to Lucien Descaves regarding the election of Jules Renard to the Académie Goncourt, who became a member in 1907 under the cover of Huysmans thanks to the support of Octave Mirbeau, who threatened to resign to ensure his success. Mirbeau wants to secure Descaves' vote in favor of Renard's election to the Académie. A fervent supporter of Renard against Céard, he asserts that excluding "a man like Renard would seem to him a monstrous thing. Despite its lively tone, your letter delights me. You are voting for Renard. Now let me tell you. 1° that Geffroy had only told me this very vaguely and as an impression of his.

2° that I was told again and again that it was you who had conceived the Céard candidacy. 3° that I have not been as categorical as the reporter from Gil Blas to whom I said: Perhaps I will be the only one, but I want to hope that I am not. Tozel has greatly asserted certain things, inflated many others; and I cannot put my signature at the bottom of his article. But the important thing is that you vote for Renard.

The academy is divided between Céard and Marguerite, devoid? A man like Renard, that seemed to me a monstrous thing. If you do not change your opinion on Renard any more than I do, I think we will eventually get him elected. And that is what is needed. A naturalist writer, he was a close friend of Émile Zola.

Do not hesitate to contact me for any questions.