Cocteau, Jean, French artist (1889-1963). Autograph letter signed.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, 17. IV. 1958.

4to. 1 p. With autograph envelope.

 1,500.00

To the literary scholar Michael Smithies, concerning Cocteau's autobiographic novel "La Difficulté d'être" and a possible translation. Apparently Smithies had criticized the preface for being "more mysterious than the book"; Cocteau agrees and suggests a translation with a preface by the translator "who would know better than I how to show the importance and gravity of the book": "Je suis heureux de trouver votre bonne lettre à mon retour de Rome. La Préface de la Difficulté d'être est en effet plus mysterieuse que le livre et vous avez raison. Peut être pourrait on le traduire et y joindre une préface du traducteur qui saurait mieux que moi montre l'importance et la gravité du livre [...]".

The first English translation of the novel was published in 1967, four years after Cocteau's death, with a preface by the composer Ned Rorem.

On stationery with letterhead of the villa "Santo Sospir" in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Well preserved.

Stock Code: BN#54688 Tags: , ,