Nerval, Gérard de

Autograph letter signed, one page, 7 x 9 inch, 31.07.1852, in French, important letter to critic Paulin Limayrac (1817-1868) - Nerval answers* his correspondent in order to counter the critic's skepticism, written and signed in black ink "Gérard de Nerval", attractively mounted (removable) for display with a photograph, shows Gérard de Nerval seated in a chair (altogether 11,75 x 8,25 inch), with intersecting letter folds, browning and very mild creasing along the right edge - in fine condition.

In parts:
"Le titre précurseurs du socialisme est un faux titre très réel Je l'avais donné à l'éditeur dans la pensée d'un ouvrage plus considérable avec d'autres biographies [...] Dieu si je pouvais croire à une gloire si grande que celle où votre amitié m'élève mais hélas ! que j'ai à faire encore".

Translated:
"The title Forerunner of Socialism is a very real false title. I gave it to the editor with the thought of doing a bigger job with other biographies [...] God, if I could believe in a glory as great as that on which your friendship lifts me up, but alas! I still have to do that."

* After the publication of `Les Illuminés. Récits et Portraits` (1852), the critic Paulin Limayrac (1817-1868) published an article in `La Presse` on July 31, 1853. In it he wondered about the `Illuminés` - described by Nerval ("Pourquoi ceux-là, et non pas d'autres ?") - and especially about the relevance of the title of the cover, which was `The Illuminated or The Precursors of Socialism`.
In `Coups de plume sincères. Littérature et politique` (1853) Limayrac dedicates a very laudatory chapter to Gérard de Nerval.