FLAUBERT Gustave. - Lot 181

FLAUBERT Gustave. AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO Ernest FEYDEAU, 1858. 8 pages in-4 in ink. Severe criticism addressed to Ernest Feydeau for his second novel Daniel, published in 1859. The following year, Feydeau published Fanny, a work that caused quite a stir, critics likening it to Madame Bovary. In spite of this, he was a close friend of Flaubert's, and here he gives a veritable lesson in the art of the novel. ... I'm not saying to cut out ideas, but to soften the tone of those that are secondary. To do that, you have to move them back, i.e. make them shorter, write them in indirect style. So, when it comes to the question of form (which is also a question of effect and amusement), this is the most serious thing, and the only serious thing! You'll take the monotony out of it. Tighten up the dialogue. There's too much talking, and the characters all talk a bit alike, their speech lacking character... ... you're keen to establish your ideas and you often preach at last - try to learn the Art of Sacrifice. You'll tell me it's all on purpose - you're wrong, that's all. You talk about harmony in your book. You're getting into the way of almost all French writers, you're failing in your principles, you've lost sight of the Beautiful and the eternally True ... and believe me, dear Sir, that to send a human being eight pages like these, you have to love and esteem him and his work. EXCEPTIONAL.