Description:

Zola Emile



Emile Zola ALS: "ask him for those books of mine you need in order to complete the study of which you talked about"

 

1p ALS in French inscribed and signed by French writer Emile Zola (1840-1902) as "Emile Zola" at lower right. The letter, written on cream stationery paper, is displayed to the left of Zola's portrait, after an original photograph by Felix Nadar. Both letter and image are matted and framed behind glass in a gilt-finished frame. With expected light paper folds, and isolated foxing near the top edge, else near fine. Sight size of letter: 5.125" x 8". Actual size of frame: 16.625" x 13.5" x .75". Not examined out of frame.

 

In Médan, France on July 5, 1892, Zola wrote this sympathetic letter to an unknown friend. After the spring of 1878, Zola lived in an Italianate villa in the village located 25 km northwest of Paris. He ironically called his dream home "la cage à lapins," or "rabbit hutch," even though it had everything he desired: seclusion, gardens, and a farm. Some of Zola's frequent guests included Impressionist painters Edouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Camille Pissarro.

 

Translation:

 

"Médan 5 July 92

 

My dear my brother,

 

But I think that you only have to present yourself at Charpentier's and ask him for those books of mine you need in order to complete the study of which you talked about. In any case, if it is necessary, show this letter and say that I would be glad if they facilitated your study.

 

Warm regards.

 

Emile Zola."

 

Zola was one of the most well-known French writers of his day, so it is not surprising that his correspondent proposed to critique his works. In 1892, Zola had just published the latest installment of his epic 20-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart. It would take Zola 22 years to produce the novels, which followed five generations of a French family from the French Revolution to the Franco-Prussian War.

 

"Charpentier" referred to Zola's publisher, Georges Charpentier (1846-1905), who managed the Parisian publishing house Bibliothèque-Charpentier after 1872. In addition to Zola's works, Charpentier also published fellow naturalist writers Gustave Flaubert, Guy de Maupassant, Theophile Gautier, and Edmond de Goncourt. Zola's commercial success enabled him to negotiate generous terms; by his late career, Zola was better paid than acclaimed Romantic novelist Victor Hugo.

 

Emile Zola began his prolific writing career as a journalist. In many ways, Zola's work is inseparable from the historical context in which he lived. He explored taboo social topics, like alcoholism, prostitution, and illegitimacy, and also criticized political abuses and anti-Semitism in late-nineteenth-century France.

 


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS. ALSO, ALL PACKAGES SHIPPED FROM OUR OFFICES REQUIRE A DIRECT SIGNATURE UPON DELIVERY.*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000