Typed letter signed with autograph postscript initialled.
4to. 1½ pp.
€ 450.00
Interesting letter written in his office as administrator of the Centre universitaire méditerranéen in Nice, probably to Maurice Delamain, the publisher of the journalist and astrologer Maurice Privat. Valéry expresses his bewilderment at a request on behalf of Privat to give lectures on astrology at the newly-founded institute for adult education, given that astrology is generally considered a pseudoscience. While he does not have any personal objections, Valéry doubts that the scientists serving with him on the "council would approve of these lectures on conjectural science", also suspecting that should they approve "alchemy would not fail to claim its turn, and with it, the various mancies, and magic, itself". Nevertheless, he expresses his willingness to "examine this matter more closely" and to talk to Maurice Privat personally about his plans.
In a short postscript, Valéry praises Jacques Chardonne's 1938 novel "Le Bonheur de Barbezieux" enthusiastically: "Je suis positivement ravi du 'Bonheur de Barbezieux'. Il y a longtemps qu'il ne m'était arrivé de relire - si ce n'est le lire - un livre avec tant de plaisir. J'allais dire de 'Comfort' mental je n'écris pas à Chardonne par le temps". As Maurice Delamain was both the publisher of Privat and Chardonne, he is the most likely recipient of the letter.
The Centre universitaire méditerranéen was founded in 1933 and inaugurated in 1935 with Paul Valéry serving as its administrator and Maurice Mignon as its director. In 1965, it was incorporated to the newly-founded Université Nice-Sophia-Antipolis.
On stationery of the "Centre universitaire méditerranéen". With several minor tears; toned and minimally stained.
