Anne Louise Germaine de Stael-Holstein (1766–1817), known as Madame de Stael, was a Swiss author who lived in Paris among various other locations abroad, and played an integral part in directing the literary tastes of Europeans at the turn of the 19th century. Napoleon described her as a person who “teaches people to think who never thought before, or who had forgotten how to think.” ALS in French, one page both sides, 4 x 6, docketed July 5, 1809. In a letter to Simonde Sismondi, the son of a Swiss economist, translated in full: “I have found your letter here my dear Simonde for which I thank you. I am thinking again about our entire conversation—Sunday evening. I will be in Coppet. This is very boring and you would have enough with two days. Adriend de Montmorency traveled with us, it is someone you would have to meet—Matthieu stayed behind. Tell Mr. de [illegible name] that he should come to dinner at my house Monday. If this is agreeable to you come with him because on that same Monday morning I must go to the city to see Mr. deBarante and my cousin—I am very worried about her son—Adieu my dear Simonde. I would like not to live anymore as it is too hard to carry on or ever not to carry on—Adieu.” Intersecting folds, scattered foxing, paper loss to the second integral panel, along with mounting remnants on the inside of the page, none of which affect the signature scrawled beneath the mailing address, otherwise very good condition. Integral second page bears an address panel in another hand. RRAuction COA.
