Henri de Regnier - Aréthuse [avec lettres autographe de Louis Gilet sur Henri de Regnier] - 1895

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Regnier (Henri de).

Arethusa.

Paris, Independent Art Library, 1895

In 8 square (20 cms x 15 cms). Jansenist half-morocco binding with large midnight blue corners. Smooth spine, title and author in golden letters, vintage in tail also in golden letters. Covers and spine preserved. Note, on the back of the back cover, the small engraving by Félicien Rops with the legend “non his piscis omnium”. 106 pages
First edition on publishing paper after 27 ex. number in large papers (7 Chine, 5 Arches vellum and 15 Vosges vergé).

The poems of Henri de Régnier (1864-1936) remain faithful to the classical ideal with ever more freedom in form, between Verlaine and Valéry, at the meeting between Parnassus and symbolism. His poetry reveals the influence of Jean Moréas, Gustave Kahn and Stéphane Mallarmé, and especially that of his father-in-law, José-Maria de Hérédia.?
"Aréthuse" is still considered a symbolist collection but we are at a creative turning point for Henri de Regnier who with this collection begins to turn to more classical forms.

Very good state. Exterior: very well-preserved binding, without any particular damage (head of the spine and joint very slightly rubbed), the leather is shiny Interior: very fresh, without foxing except for the flyleaves, the introductory pages added by the binder and the covers which present sometimes strong foxing, the rest perfect.

SEAL

Beautiful autograph letter signed by Louis Gillet who speaks of Henri de Regnier whom he knew well

Letter consisting of two sheets of 20.5 cms by 14.5 cms attached by two white carnations (a heresy..), written on the front and back of the first sheet, and the front of the second sheet. Dated May 28, 1936 (i.e. two days after Regnier's death). Address embossed on the front of each sheet: "17 rue Bonaparte + telephone"
70 lines in black ink. Slanted writing. Beautiful parma screened paper. Recipient: a friend

Very nice letter written two days after the death of Henri de Regnier. Gillet remembers his friend. The letter seems to be unpublished even if certain indications and additions suggest that it served as the basis for an article, a chapter of a book, an obituary (address embossed redacted in black on the first page, date redacted, the "dear friend "Introduction also, blue grease pencil which surrounds the text of the back of the first sheet with in commentary with the same pencil: to compose, autograph addition in black ink at the beginning and at the end of the letter of the name of the writer" Louis Gillet

"May 28, 36
Dear friend
The intimacy of Henri de Regnier, who lived there? I will not say "Not even him", as we said of another poet and yet, it is a little this effect there that he had on me. He was not one of those men from whom one would have thought of expecting confidences or who was capable of betraying himself.
I knew him thirty years after having admired him from afar all my youth without being able to say that I approached him and without ever having been familiar with him. I only experienced from him signs of a delicate courtesy and attention, the most exquisite kindness and which, on certain occasions, in mourning and family joys, far exceeded the politeness of the man. of the world; it would have been impossible for me to forget for a moment how much admiration and deference I owed him. I've always found abandonment in him, but no kind of letting go. Even in the most free conversation, he retained his grand air of distance and knew how to remain secret.
There was in him this je ne sais quoi of distance, this reserve, this dignity and this impalpable atmosphere of Noli me tangere. I don't think I've come across a purer being. It was he who wrote those implacable four syllables "to live debases" To live, that is to say all ambition, all vulgar lust, all that is the object of the thoughts of most men. He had set his existence apart from all these stains, it never happened to him to write a line of politics. He really lived only for the Muses and for the glory of the French language. He made his salute.
Undoubtedly, it would have been necessary to see him in Venice being from the circle of familiars of the Dario Palace with Jean-Louis Vaudoyer, Edmond Jaloux, Paul Alfassa: I only knew of that time the stories of my friends or what remained around of him, of his century of predilection in the trinkets with which he surrounded himself, and which served him to imagine the setting of his novels.
Did you want a final line?
Here is one which is linked to Le Figaro. The last time I saw the poet, at the beginning of winter, I asked him about his work (I had to thank him for a benevolent column that he had done me the grace to devote to one of my books ). Like all great workers, he found a certain pleasure in regularity, in the punctual task. He liked to correct proofs "they are brought to me from the newspaper" he said. I recognize the ringing bell. I like the smell of fresh ink, the smell of printing, I reread myself and it amuses me.
Small joy of the writer, of the conscientious workman who liked the work well done, the impeccable work even in his hasty production where he did not depart from his great writing as beautiful as an arabesque. It was the last joy he had. And now it's over...

Precious testimony on Henri de Regnier

Letter a little faded and crumpled 66682541 Read more