PROUST, Marcel. Two unpublished autograph letters signed to Lucien Daudet ('Mon cher petit'), both n.p., the first n.d. [October 1919], full of sympathetic concern on learning that Madame Chauvelot [née Edmée Daudet] has had an operation, 'ta ravissante soeur inspire ma plus vive et respectueuse sympathie'; adding that Lucien has not understood what he said about his first editions, and continuing that he is mad to say of himself that he has not succeeded and doesn't care, 'Que dirai-je alors de moi dont le Swann a été refusé par cinq editeurs malgré les recommendations les plus chaudes', 4 pages, 8vo, on pale grey paper (annotated in pencil 'Oct 19' on 1st page); the second n.d. [after mid-July 1920], declaring that he is desolate to hear that Lucien says he has completely abandoned him, 'Mon cher petit quand quelqu'un sort tous les jours et que l'autre vit couché, s'il y a abandon (et certes je ne songes pas à t'en faire grief) est-ce de celui qui est couché ou de celui qui sort?', and further defending himself, saying that he was about to write to Lucien on the Empress's death; continuing that he has a first edition of Jeunes filles en fleurs for him and wants to inscribe it, 'Mais justement parce que c'est une dédicace pour toi, elle est presque infaisable, il faudrait cent pages'; praising Madame Daudet's book, the best about the war, and adding in a postscript that the first volume of his own book [Le Côté de Guermantes] will be dedicated to Léon Daudet and he has not included Lucien because he annoyed him by doing this before, 8 pages, 8vo (annotated in pencil '20' on 1st page; together 12 pages, 8vo). The Empress Eugénie died in Madrid on 11 July. Madame Daudet's book was Journal de Guerre et de Famille, published in 1920 and the dedication to Léon Daudet of Le Côté de Guermantes was in recognition of his part in securing the Prix Goncourt for Proust. (2)