"Vous dessinez cette grande danse des morts de Paris qui s'en va à la fosse commune..."

Laudatory autograph letter signed by Jules de Goncourt, signed E&J de Goncourt, addressed to Jules Vallès who had just published his polemical work "Les réfractaires" in which he notably exalts the proletariat, 51 lines in black ink, two pages on a double sheet.
Fold marks inherent to postal handling.
Jules de Goncourt does not hide his enthusiasm and admiration for the work of the sulfurous and terrible Jules Vallès: "We have often had, recently, the urge to put our sympathies for you at the tip of our pen, to write to you how much pleasure we had in catching an article, a page, twenty lines signed with your name, your artist's mark; a foolish modesty, the embarrassment of throwing our handshake in your face, has held us back...[...] you will not doubt the profound and keen interest we have taken in this poignant, severe and warm study, merciless and vibrant..." which has marvelously depicted the turmoil of the common people: "There passes through all your pages, this generous and melancholic bitterness that the spectacle of social miseries gives to tender and noble souls. You show corners of martyrs in the grotesques of Bohemia... You have the breath and fever of this time..."
The Goncourt brothers would very much like to write something on this subject: "... unfortunately many things are lacking to us at this moment to write about Les Réfractaires, an article worthy of them, of you. time first, then the journal, then again the habit of reading a book to judge it... a book especially which takes us like this one by the entrails, which touches us deeply through all sorts of secret affinities..." and Jules extends an invitation to Jules Vallès for the premiere of their play Henriette (which would be created on December 5, 1865): "We will be happy to have you at the premiere of Henriette... you will kindly be free that evening..."
Manuscript letters by Jules de Goncourt, who died at 40, are rare.