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PROUST, Marcel (1871-1922). Autograph letter signed to Princess Marthe Bibesco, 102 Bd. Haussmann, n.d. [second half of September 1917], expressing his confusion over the mis-timing of his letter to Antoine (Bibesco), dispatched in his grief at the death of Emmanuel (the latter's brother) before he had received one from the Princess, 'Je lui écrivais peut-être moins pour lui à qui je n'etais pas bien sur de faire du bien, que pour moi qui oppressé par cette pensée constante, ne trouvais que lui qui put me comprendre, trop bien hélas!', recalling a conversation in which Antoine reproached him for appearing to forget Marthe and mentioning her grandmother ('Mavrocordato je crois'), and explaining his failure to write to other members of her family except to the Princess of Chimay, 11 pages, 8vo.
'Par un de ces hazards qu'on regrette parce qu'ils peuvent ne pas paraître aux autres des hasards ... il aura pu sembler que je n'avais écrit qu'après avoir reçu votre lettre admirable'. Proust had in fact written to Antoine in immediate response to his telegram with the news of Emmanuel's death. Wishing to see the Princess on her return and to talk of the two brothers (her cousins) with her, he proposes that in view of his unpredictable health he will telephone her whenever he feels well enough to dine or, if she prefers, 'L'après dîner ne m'est que plus facile', adding that he has no telephone but can have her called from one nearby. This sad letter, in which Proust recalls other members of Marthe Bibesco's family, concludes with renewed gratitude for her letter, 'ces belles phrases inconsolées que je garderai precieusement pour alimenter et ennoblir mon chagrin'.
'Par un de ces hazards qu'on regrette parce qu'ils peuvent ne pas paraître aux autres des hasards ... il aura pu sembler que je n'avais écrit qu'après avoir reçu votre lettre admirable'. Proust had in fact written to Antoine in immediate response to his telegram with the news of Emmanuel's death. Wishing to see the Princess on her return and to talk of the two brothers (her cousins) with her, he proposes that in view of his unpredictable health he will telephone her whenever he feels well enough to dine or, if she prefers, 'L'après dîner ne m'est que plus facile', adding that he has no telephone but can have her called from one nearby. This sad letter, in which Proust recalls other members of Marthe Bibesco's family, concludes with renewed gratitude for her letter, 'ces belles phrases inconsolées que je garderai precieusement pour alimenter et ennoblir mon chagrin'.