J. [or A. ?] REAUJARD. La Pucelle. Poem in 12 songs. In Fren - Lot 248

Lot n° 248
Go to lot
Estimation :
400 - 450 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 1 390EUR
J. [or A. ?] REAUJARD. La Pucelle. Poem in 12 songs. In Fren - Lot 248
J. [or A. ?] REAUJARD. La Pucelle. Poem in 12 songs. In French verse. [New Caledonia, finalized around 1896?] Autograph manuscript in-4° of 195 pp. Bound in black muted chagrin, smooth spine, title label in ink in the form of a shield bordered in red pastedown to the upper cover. The work, probably composed after the defeat of 1870 and probably before the death of Henri Patin in 1876, to our knowledge unpublished, is "dedicated to the ladies and to the French army". The verses are in alexandrines, in a diligent, even scholastic writing. The historical notes (pp 172-195) show a certain erudition. The copy is accompanied by an autograph letter signed by the author addressed to Madame Sadi CARNOT, dated of Saint-Léonard, near Wagap [in New Caledonia], October 10 [18]96. With envelope. The author tells us that he is in exile and in captivity (perhaps a former communard), devoting his leisure time to versification. Originally from the Côte-d'Or "[his] country", he composed 3 poems: the Clovisiade, the Moïsiade, and finally the Pucelle which he lays at his feet. "I finally address the Pucelle [...] to Madame Carnot as holding the first rank among those ladies who want to popularize the cult of the Pucelle, and have addressed their wishes to the constituted powers of France so that the feast of Joan of Arc becomes a national feast. Yes, Madame, the misfortune that has befallen you has only made you greater in the eyes of the public, and the widow of President Carnot has the same authority as her husband. I was going to say an even greater one, if it is a question of sponsoring a work dedicated to the liberation of France." He submitted his verses to Monseigneur Dupanloup and Henri Patin [died in 1876] who assured him "that the verses on the Pucelle could face the public. But perhaps there is complacency in this double judgement" so she leaves it to judge whether to propose the work to a publisher. In this case, it hopes for its recommendation "because would subscribe to Your continuation the flower of the French society". Finally, of the twenty or so religious or national tragedies that he composed, "I draw one: Carnot, or the last days of the Terror, to address to your son, Erneste Carnot, deputy of the Côte-d'Or, my country. I attach to this tragedy the ode on the return of Carnot's ashes and I end my letter of dispatch by asking him to be interested in my rehabilitation. Please, Madam, prepare the Secretary of the Parliament to accept my request.
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue