Style stands out too much retains me too

In November 1951, the writer Julien Gracq was approached to receive the prix Goncourt. A year earlier, he had written "The literature in the stomach", book in which he denounced "the abuse and absurdities of the fair to the letters". At the announcement of the rumor, he declared: "I still think that there is more meaningless to lend far or close to any competition whatsoever and that a writer has nothing to gain by letting roll in this avalanche." Despite himself, he found himself under fire from the press. Because, a few days later, he obtained the prize for his now best-known book, "The Rivage des Syrtes", and he refused the award. Scandal... November 12, Nantes, Couton & Veyrac study will back the remains of his memories. All is considered very reasonable way to 200 000euros. This is not a significant group of memories. It must be said that all of its literary manuscripts, copied in a way perfect by the author himself, was bequeathed to the national library. Therefore a correspondence, books, photos and a few works of art minor. Among them, a letter to mark the history of the small world of French literature sent by the President of the Goncourt, Colette, which told its price. It begins in a very formal manner: "pursuant to testamentary wish of Edmond de Goncourt and the tradition of our company...". "but concluded, at hand:"who has been pleased to give you his voice"(estimate: 700 euros). In 1952, she wrote another letter which shows that it has not taken rigour of his gesture: "You'll always have reason to write me (...)." "No, I cannot judge wrong a work you" (EUR 400).

A classic of literature

Today, the work of Julien Gracq (1910-2007) is part of the classics of French literature. His real name Louis Poirier, one which had a large part of his life as Professor of geography at the lycée Henri-IV was translated into 26 languages and published in the library of the Pléiade. He was born in Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, between Nantes and Angers, and they had kept the family home, where he lived, retired to write, when he was not in Paris.

It is proven in its regard by contemporary writers admired. François Mauriac wrote in 1951: "There is in me, for your art, resistance." Style stands out too much, retains me too. It dazzles me. "It is also known as Erik Orsenna (itself Goncourt in 1988) will have the name of the old city of the"Rivage des Syrtes", Orsenna, as a pseudonym. He sent him clearly all new publications, also proposed as a batch to Nantes, with a release price of 50 euros. In 1962, his fellow student of the Ecole normale, who will become President of the Republic, Georges Pompidou, wrote: "You know my friendship for you, my esteem for your talent." Would you accept that I take my passage at Matignon to give you the Legion of honour I know what you think of honours. "But it would be, in this case, the mark of a friendship" (estimate 1,200 euros). The refusal of the writer is without appeal. Gaston Gallimard editor does not hide his desire to see it reach its "stable" and, in 1945, he says: "since I read your first book, I would like to become your editor" (700 euros for a set of letters). Julien Gracq will however remain his life at the Publisher José Corti.

If it was known as one of the great contemporary designers, focusing on the form with a meticulousness non-standard, it was not least associated with an avant-garde movement of the 20th century, which was very free in his mind, surrealism. In the sale, there are the words of Breton, as in 1939 when he talks about the book "The castle of Argol": "Since my first contact with him, I've stopped him discover shocking extensions in the sphere of my emotion." There is also his complicity with artists such as René Magritte, Roberto Matta, André Masson... reflected in letters and drawings also. André Breton called Julien Gracq: "light".