HUYSMANS (Joris-Karl).

Autograph letter signed to [Albert Delpit], [after February 13, 1877], 2 pages and a half in-16 (122 x 100 mm), on a bifeuillet, in a modern black half-maroquin folder. Unpublished letter, on the similarities between Marthe and the novels of Zola and the Goncourts. Huysmans comments on an article published in L'événement on February 13, 1877, signed "Le Sphinx", pseudonym for three columnists, Victor Brunière, Adolphe Avernier or, more probably, Albert Delpit. About Marthe, published in September 1876, he declares: I thank you first of all for having spoken about the poor girl. I will only allow myself an observation: You say to me "if it is not a pastiche here is at least a curious meeting". My volume was published in Brussels last September, so it predates L'Assommoir. I will add that the subject being the same as that of the daughter Elisa de Goncourt, I have, at the end of Marthe, put dates in order to establish my priority. He underlines the similarities between his work and that of Goncourt (whom I admire with all my heart): there was a meeting and not a pastiche. As for Marthe herself, she is not as black as you may think. The censor did ban her, but does that prove anything? Besides, would you like to accept a copy of this very rare volume. I am sure [...] that you will find the girl more attractive than the newspapers present her, it is certainly not a virtue, but that is perhaps why she is attractive.