"Je suis à Sion, que vous connaissez déjà sans doute un peu par Lettrines 2 ; il y fait beau et un peu frais, et hélas !, il y a beaucoup de monde"

Autograph signed postcard from Julien Gracq with 16 lines addressed to his friend and monographer Ariel Denis, written in black felt-tip pen, on the reverse of a photograph showing the beach of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez in Vendée, not far from his apartment in Sion-sur-l'Océan.
Julien Gracq thanks Ariel Denis for the news he sent him from Constantinople : "... je suis heureux que votre voyage se soit terminé sans hostilités..." ["... I am happy that your journey ended without hostilities..."] while lamenting the August crowds disturbing his peaceful retreat in Vendée: "... Je suis à Sion...et hélas !, il y a beaucoup de monde" ["... I am in Sion... and alas! there are many people"].
Then the author of "Le Rivage des Syrtes" celebrates the critics' benevolence toward him with his characteristic modesty : "... j'ai lu en effet l'article de France soir que vous me signalez : je n'ai pas eu à me plaindre de la critique , surtout à propos d'un ouvrage qui n'était pas très important et qui ne prétendait pas l'être." ["... I did indeed read the France Soir article you pointed out to me: I have not had cause to complain about the critics, especially regarding a work that was not very important and did not claim to be."]