"... il y a dans les vôtres une si fine quintessence d'érudition et d'observation agréablement mêlées..."

Autograph letter dated and signed by Frédéric Mistral addressed to Anatole France, 44 lines in black ink, regarding the publication of his work "Les mannequins d'osier" which he has just sent him with a dedication.
Fold marks inherent to postal delivery, a vertical shadow on the first leaf.
Frédéric Mistral has just received "Les mannequins d'osier" and gives a glowing portrait of his correspondent's style: "... ce livre qui m'a donné tous les plaisirs de la lecture. Je suis de ceux que le roman n'intéresse guère, lorsqu'ils ne sont que prétentieux tableaux de la vie contemporaine... [...] mais il y a dans les vôtres une si fine quintessence d'érudition et d'observation agréablement mêlées et une si joyeuse fleur d'optimisme tolérant qu'on s'y retrouve sans rechercher dans la façon gauloise, omnisciente et libre de Maître Rabelais." (this book which has given me all the pleasures of reading. I am one of those whom novels hardly interest when they are merely pretentious tableaux of contemporary life... [...] but there is in yours such a fine quintessence of erudition and observation agreeably mixed and such a joyful flower of tolerant optimism that one finds oneself in it without seeking in the Gallic, omniscient and free manner of Master Rabelais.)
The félibrige loves equally the characters created by his illustrious and charming master "Tous vos personnages sont si naturels, si bien en situation, si logiques, que, ma foi, on les aime tous et quoique tout cela provienne d'un aimable et indulgent scepticisme, on y a là l'explication de ce phénomène étrange, que, si loin si injuste, si douloureux que soit le monde, chacun pourtant y pousse volontiers sa brouette avec la conviction en le réconfort d'avoir raison." (All your characters are so natural, so well placed in their situations, so logical, that, my faith, one loves them all and although all this comes from an amiable and indulgent skepticism, there one has the explanation of this strange phenomenon, that, however distant, unjust, painful the world may be, each person nevertheless willingly pushes his wheelbarrow with the conviction and comfort of being right.) as the spirit that breathes and animates his books: "... la sympathie du reste, vraiment universelle, qui accueille tous vos écrits, doit vous prouver combien vous êtes humain et sage dans l'antique sens de ces mots." (the truly universal sympathy that welcomes all your writings must prove to you how human and wise you are in the ancient sense of these words.)