Roumanille, Joseph, Provençal poet, editor, and founder of the Félibrige (1818-1891). Autograph letter signed.

€ 500.00

Charming and interesting letter to the journalist and music critic Charles Vincens, concerning various topics, including Vincens's reception at the Académie de Marseille. Roumanille announces a book that Vincens had ordered and lauds the 6th volume of Justin Cauvière's Caducée. Largely forgotten today, Cauvière (1810-87) was a historian and a colleague of Vincens at the Gazette du Midi. Roumanille complains that his native "Avignon is a poor and absurd city" because his customers complained about the price of the volume and its use of Provençal, quoting some alleged remarks: "Les uns m'ont répondu : '5F, c'est cher et ce n'est pas relié !' Les autres : 'Il y a trop de patois et je n'aime pas le patois'". He then alludes to Vincens's reception at the Académie, prophesizing that he, Roumanille, will be elected once he is worthy of it, which will be "when the Greek Calends are approaching", meaning never: "Et maintenant, cher académicien d'une académie qui m'académisionnera [!] quand je me serai rendu tout à fait digne, C. à dire aux approches des calendes grecques, laissez-moi vous dire combien le vieux père du félibrige, puisqu'il faut m'appeler par son nom, a été touché de votre bienveillance pour lui […]". In closing, he scolds his "children" in the Félibrige for not respecting "the divin commandment" and cites a kind of prayer with the final invocation: "Ainsi soit-il".

On stationery with lithogr. letterhead of Roumanille's publishing house.

Minimal browning.