Marcel Proust and Reynaldo Hahn: One time lovers and best friends

Proust, Marcel, French writer (1871-1922). 2 autograph letters.

N. p. o. d.

8vo. Together 2½ pp. With a letter by Reynaldo Hahn.

 35,000.00

Two charming, unpublished letters to the composer Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947) characterized by the playful private language established between the former lovers and intimate friends. The longer letter on mourning paper starts with seemingly nonsensical phonetical transcriptions: "KKKKKWA? - HHHHOÈ.

NNNNNAN Bonjours Fasché? NNNNNAN" that can be translated to: "What? Yes.

No. Still mad? No." Proust then announces to send Hahn a "sublime thing under the condition" that he won't show it to anyone: "It's a synthetic drawing (purely imagined) of all of Turner's mythological drawings. And the commentary Ruskin wrote on this drawing. This commentary is of such accuracy (Reynaldo) of such convincing ease (Reynaldo) of such profuse science (Reynaldo) of such striking likeness (Reynaldo) of such charming elocution (Reynaldo) and of such transcendent philosophy, that I beg you to send it back to me or keep it, but correct my English mistakes as I wrote it from the dictionary." In closing, he mentions the pianist Paul Goldschmidt, putting his last name on a poorly drawn system of staves, in what seems to be an allusion to some sort of gossip: "Did you suspect… Paul Goldschmidt?".

Proust was deeply influenced by John Ruskin, translating several of his works to French, who was a great admirer and collector of the works of William Turner that also feature in the Recherche. Proust sometimes dined with Paul Golschmidt, who was an acclaimed pianist and well-known figure in the homosexual circles of Paris. A performance by Goldschmidt and Georges Enesco of César Frank’s Sonata for piano and violin (1886) on April 9, 1913 is often cited as an important moment of inspiration for the Recherche’s famous Vinteuil Sonata.

In the short second letter, Proust addresses Hahn with the nickname Buncht, which is one of many nicknames, including Bunchtnibuls, Guncht, Bininibuls, Bininuls, Binchnibuls and other. Proust would eventually use Buncht only to refer to himself, indicating that this letter is relatively early. In it, he seems to ask Hahn, if some calmative medicine had the desired effect, although the sense remains vague. The letter in full: "Mon petit Genstil. Mon petit genstil. Mon Buncht. Dites genstil si calmants ont réussi, s'ils ont produit un bon effet moral et consultation de même. Je caresse votre petite tête mon petit genstil".

The added letter by Hahn is no less charming as it was evidently addressed to a lover, maybe Marcel Proust himself. Hahn wrote upon his return from a concert organized by Édouard Colonne, giving some details about the evening and then apologizing for not spending the night with the recipient as he was too tired. On the final page, Hahn wrote "Hippomène et Atalante" and drew three hearts with arrows.

The longer letter on mourning paper with minor tears to a central fold (not affecting the text) and slightly toned.

Stock Code: BN#33812 Tag: