Lot n° 204
Estimation :
4000 - 5000
EUR
Result with fees
Result
: 5 200EUR
PÉTAIN Philippe (1857-1951) - Lot 204
PÉTAIN Philippe (1857-1951)
20 L.A.S. "Ph. Pétain," "Ph. P.," "Phi" or "P." (6 unsigned), 1943-1944, to Mrs. Simone BUFFET; 45 pages in-8, one card on the letterhead Le Maréchal Pétain Chef de l'État, envelopes; in a red demimaroquin slipcase.
Tender correspondence to his last love, where he evokes the difficulties of the political situation during the last year of the Vichy government. [Simone Quérenet, Mrs. André BUFFET (1888-1984), woman of letters, was the last love of Marshal Pétain. The first letter is addressed to her in Malemort (Corrèze), the others in Vichy (where she was staying at the Astoria hotel) or at her home in Versailles. According to a note from Mme Buffet, "these twenty letters from Marshal Pétain to me addressed in 1943-44 and which I had offered to the Versailles Municipal Library on June 1, 1944, to be opened only in 30 years, were returned to me as 'dangerous to keep' in Nov. 44 by the curator" (sale April 19, 2013, no. 305). Here, Pétain alludes to the difficulties of his office, as he faces increased scrutiny of his actions as head of the French state, secret acts of succession (Sept. 27 and Nov. 12, 1943) denied by the Germans, and disagreements with his head of government, Pierre Laval]. 1943. June 24. "I have retained such a pleasant memory of our last meeting that I cannot resist telling you. And didn't you ask me to write to you? Which I am doing today with the hope that you will tell me that I am not alone in having had a beautiful dream"... July 26. "Events are too delicate to allow me a long absence, and I do not foresee them allowing me to be absent again for a long time. Keep your affection for me, it is infinitely precious to me. You have mine as complete as you can desire. I embrace you with all my heart"... He recommends writing to her in two envelopes, or through his private secretary, Dr. Ménétrel. 23 August. He never stops thinking about the emotion of their reunion in the autumn, "after an absence that will have seemed interminable to me. Not a day goes by that my thoughts do not call you with ever greater insistence. [...] We live now in anxiety. Every day we question the future which hesitates to reveal its secret. Let us hope that it will not be too hard for us"... September 1st. He intervened with André Chaumeix to have his study on the Villa Medici published by the Revue des Deux Mondes in 1849. "You are therefore an author! And you are addressing me who is so afraid of women authors! Rest assured, I have no prejudice about your character as a writer, when it comes to you whom I admire"... The letter of his friend having been opened by his office, he recommends her to go through his office in Paris, 8 boulevard des Invalides, and Colonel de Fériet: "Since the end of the previous war I have always lived in Paris, my office being separate from my apartment. [...] I would be so happy if our correspondence could be facilitated! When will I see you? The wait weighs heavily on me. I can't wait to kiss you." October 14. She could bring him her article for Chaumeix herself: "Your long silence makes me sad. All the hope I had founded on the gain of your affection is fading away. [...] I am leading a very busy life here. Our situation is getting worse almost every day. I have just acquired proof of this. - Also, although it costs me, I change my mind and ask you to delay the step I have just proposed. I will let you know when I believe the way is clear again. I am therefore leaving you for an indefinite time. [I kiss you with all my heart, dear Simone. October 25. He will make arrangements to receive her in November. "I think of you very often and cannot imagine that I have not known you all my life and that I even loved you as a young girl. Times are difficult; the future is very confused. How to recognize oneself in this disorder of the spirits. To help me to recognize myself in it I need to have with me some devoted hearts and it is towards you that I turn"... 18 November. Delighted and moved by the knowledge of her arrival in Vichy, he waited for her in the evening at 6 o'clock. "I hesitate to come to your hotel. I fear that my visit will attract attention"... November 20. "It would be good for you to carry a card in the afternoon to the marshal's house. You would be accompanied by your daughter; the marshal lives at the Majestic Hotel. [...] on leaving the marshal's you will stop at the Hotel du Parc at my place: your daughter will go home and meet you at 8 o'clock in the hotel lounge with her husband, for dinner. As a topic of conversation, you can recall your old memories"... November 21. "I have made up my mind not to appear at the colors this morning. I will explain to you the
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