Ciboure (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Benoit, sent from his priority in Ciboure, 22 lines in blue ink.
The letter is on Académie française letterhead.
Central fold marks, perforations from filing in a binder causing no losses.
"30 January 1952
My dear friend,
Here I am back. The need for a little peace to put correspondence in order makes me delay by a few days the pleasure of seeing you. I retain that of writing to you, and of telling you - something a bit ridiculous on my part since the said issue contains an article by your servant - that I found the November-December issue of the Courrier de la Compagnie truly very successful. Deberly's successor has truly outdone himself. I feel as much pride as if I had something to do with it. [...] As I will certainly not be back for a week, could you honor me here with a few words in response, which would be more than welcome? Sincerely yours. Pierre Benoit. Ciboure - Basses-Pyrénées."

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Benoit, from his property in Ciboure, 21 lines in black ink.
Traces of central folds, perforations due to filing in a binder causing no loss, one scissors cut in left margin of the letter.
"26 septembre.
Mon cher ami,
à peine le facteur venait-il de tourner les talons, emportant la lettre que je venais d'achever pour vous, qu'un coup de téléphone de notre ami commun me mettait en demeure de vous en écrire une seconde !
Alors, c'est donc vrai ? c'est vous qui assurez la charge de collaborer avec mon éditeur et le directeur du cabinet de Giaccobi pour régler la petite fête du 4 Novembre ? Je vous en remercie d'autant plus que ne devant revenir à Paris que le 28 Octobre, je ne puis pas vous être d'un grand appui. Par le même courrier je préviens mon éditeur Robert Esmenard (owner of Albin Michel publishing house) ... [...] Esmenard est habitué de ce genre de manifestation, car il donne des réceptions de ce genre pour fêter d'illustres auteurs étrangers. Il a donc des listes et une formule d'invitation.Le tout sera de panacher ces listes avec la liste corse de Giaccobi. Et , de mon côté, je vous demande de veiller à ce que Messagenès, Fabre, Transat, sans oublier bien entendu le C.T.O. soit à l'honneur. Enfin, je suis assuré ainsi d'avoir une occasion pas trop éloignée de revoir Madame Louis Brun et son mari. Toute ma fidèle amitié,
Pierre Benoit." (September 26. My dear friend, hardly had the postman turned on his heels, carrying off the letter I had just finished for you, when a telephone call from our mutual friend put me under obligation to write you a second one! So, is it really true? Is it you who is taking charge of collaborating with my publisher and the director of Giaccobi's office to arrange the little celebration of November 4th? I thank you all the more since, not having to return to Paris until October 28th, I cannot be of great assistance to you. By the same post I am notifying my publisher Robert Esmenard... [...] Esmenard is accustomed to this kind of event, as he gives receptions of this sort to celebrate illustrious foreign authors. He therefore has lists and an invitation formula. The whole thing will be to blend these lists with Giaccobi's Corsican list. And, for my part, I ask you to see that Messagenès, Fabre, Transat, without forgetting of course the C.T.O., are honored. Finally, I am thus assured of having an opportunity not too distant to see Madame Louis Brun and her husband again. All my faithful friendship, Pierre Benoit.)

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Benoit, from his property in Ciboure, 15 lines in black ink.
Central fold marks, perforations due to filing in a binder having caused no loss.
Pierre Benoit will soon be in Paris and will have the pleasure of meeting his friend: "j'aurais une vraie joie à faire en tête avec vous, dans un déjeuner discret, un petit tour d'horizon..." (I would have true joy in having a private conversation with you, over a discreet lunch, a brief survey of things...) when the latter has determined, according to his schedule, a date for their meeting: "Consultez votre emploi du temps, et donnez-moi un coup de téléphone, de préférence le matin, vers 10 heures, moment qui convient aux travailleurs que nous sommes..." (Check your schedule, and give me a telephone call, preferably in the morning, around 10 o'clock, a time that suits workers like us...)

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Benoit, from his property in Ciboure, 19 lines in black ink.
Central fold marks, perforations due to filing in a binder having caused no loss.
Pierre Benoit then at his Basque property in Ciboure: "petit stage nécessaire avant le retour à Paris, triage et mise en ordre de la correspondance..." (brief stay necessary before returning to Paris, sorting and organizing correspondence...) discusses the reasons and interest of their upcoming meeting in Paris: "... le retour d'un tel voyage doit s'accompagner d'un certain nombre de ces conseils dans lesquels vous êtes passé maître..." (... the return from such a journey must be accompanied by a certain number of those pieces of advice at which you have become a master...) in order to share their latest travel memories: "des impressions que je suppose, toutes choses qui nécessitent quelques bons instants de tête en tête entre vous et moi." (impressions I suppose, all things that require some good moments of private conversation between you and me.)

Autograph letter signed by Pierre Benoit, on letterhead from his property in Ciboure, 14 lines in black ink.
Central fold marks, perforations due to filing in a binder having caused the absence of the first letter of Paris on the fourth line of the letter.
Pierre Benoit recalls the recent passing of his wife Marcelle (died on May 28, 1960): "Il y a neuf mois aujourd'hui que la pauvre Marcelle s'en est allée" ["It has been nine months today since poor Marcelle passed away"] and hopes to meet his friend during his next visit to Paris in March.