Harry MATHEWS
Bristol autographe signé adressé à son amie Claude Arthaud
S. n.|Lans-en-Vercors 17 Octobre 1976|14.70 x 11.70 cm|une feuille + une enveloppe
Autograph signed bristol card from Harry Mathews addressed to his close friend Claude Arthaud (24 lines in black ink) from his country retreat in Lans-en-Vercors, Isère, envelope included.
In this note filled with tender nostalgia, Harry Mathews shares with his correspondent the sadness he felt at not being able to reach her when she was in Paris and the difficulty of contacting her: "Je t'ai appelé trois fois à Paris aux dates que tu m'avais indiquées. La troisième fois une vois (sic) extraordinairement émilienne a prononcé la formule si familière : "c'est de la part de qui ? Madame, elle est n'est pas là, monsieur." ["I called you three times in Paris on the dates you had given me. The third time an extraordinarily Emilian voice pronounced the so familiar formula: 'who shall I say is calling? Sir, madam is not here.'"]
Before going to New York, Harry Mathews hopes to finally be able to speak with Claude Arthaud: "... je passerai quelques jours à Paris. Y seras-tu pour qu'on se parle (au moins) enfin?" ["... I will spend a few days in Paris. Will you be there so we can talk (at least) at last?"]
Despite a melancholy that surfaces in this letter, the American writer exudes joie de vivre: "Je suis heureux dans ma nouvelle vie, malgré mes idées sur les choses de ce monde. Tout ce qui m'arrive (lire : ce que j'ai voulu) me semble à la fois incroyable et incroyablement naturel." ["I am happy in my new life, despite my ideas about the things of this world. Everything that happens to me (read: what I wanted) seems to me both incredible and incredibly natural."]
The note ending with an affectionate: "Je t'embrasse - Harry." ["I embrace you - Harry."]
In this note filled with tender nostalgia, Harry Mathews shares with his correspondent the sadness he felt at not being able to reach her when she was in Paris and the difficulty of contacting her: "Je t'ai appelé trois fois à Paris aux dates que tu m'avais indiquées. La troisième fois une vois (sic) extraordinairement émilienne a prononcé la formule si familière : "c'est de la part de qui ? Madame, elle est n'est pas là, monsieur." ["I called you three times in Paris on the dates you had given me. The third time an extraordinarily Emilian voice pronounced the so familiar formula: 'who shall I say is calling? Sir, madam is not here.'"]
Before going to New York, Harry Mathews hopes to finally be able to speak with Claude Arthaud: "... je passerai quelques jours à Paris. Y seras-tu pour qu'on se parle (au moins) enfin?" ["... I will spend a few days in Paris. Will you be there so we can talk (at least) at last?"]
Despite a melancholy that surfaces in this letter, the American writer exudes joie de vivre: "Je suis heureux dans ma nouvelle vie, malgré mes idées sur les choses de ce monde. Tout ce qui m'arrive (lire : ce que j'ai voulu) me semble à la fois incroyable et incroyablement naturel." ["I am happy in my new life, despite my ideas about the things of this world. Everything that happens to me (read: what I wanted) seems to me both incredible and incredibly natural."]
The note ending with an affectionate: "Je t'embrasse - Harry." ["I embrace you - Harry."]
€300