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Celebrated French novelist (1821–1880) best known for his classics Madame Bovary, Salammbo, and A Sentimental Education. ALS in French, signed “G.,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.25 x 8, March 14, 1853. Handwritten letter to his lover, the poet Louise Colet, offering literary advice from himself and his mentor, Louis Bouilhet. Flaubert writes, in part (translated): "Finally here is the finished work…we have simplified the work considerably for you because I believe it is completely finished. B. [Bouilhet] is currently looking for the last verse. It was sublime.
The whole piece was completely redone by him, & he had an idea that I dare to describe as Dantesque & obeliscal. It is, about the Barbarians, to speak delicately of the Abbé Gaume. The gnawing worm finds there a maggot that bites its tail. B. thinks that this subject of the Acropolis could well have been given in hatred of attacks on classical ideas to ancient studies. These MM. will then be tickled in their sensitive spot.
Admire the last verse which is from a finished Casimir Delavigne: '& Midas today still judges Apollo.' (Midas had donkey ears for having preferred Pan to Apollo.)
Now to reward us for our pick which was not mediocre, have it all copied out immediately (for yourself & for us), as we have corrected or redone it, & send it to me immediately. I will take it to B. & we will see if there is still something to say—the whole will appear more clearly to us.—but I would be very surprised if this poem did not now have every chance. The excellent verses abounded in it, we have made them stand out. Those who had dirty faces have been cleaned, and the mob of the mediocre expelled without pity. To you, a thousand kisses & good hope."
Flaubert's friend, mentor, and collaborator, Louis Bouilhet, then pens a passage, signed "L. Bouilhet," in part (translated): "Dear Muse, you are quite right, the three of us form a bundle that no one will break; I am two letters late with you…but I have just written you more than forty bad verses…Farewell—I am falling asleep, and embrace you from the bottom of my heart…P.S.—Love does not torment me too much, and I am much more worried about my Fossils.—I cannot help but notice with what complacent intensity you speak of the Ephebes—It is not reassuring for us others, who are beginning to lose our down. Farewell—farewell—."
On the reverse, Flaubert continues: "Note: Vandals and Germans we are not sure if the V. and G. were really in Athens.—find out. in any case we need to be there because of the blonde women, the barbarians of the North, such as Huns (very harsh), Scythians, Goths, etc. Vandal moreover would perhaps not be raised (in the very hypothesis of a historical inaccuracy) because of its double meaning? Besides we must be sure." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed by Flaubert to "Madame Colet, rue de Sevres 21, Paris," with his monogrammed red wax seal ("G.F.") retained on the reverse.
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