Exciting New Additions: Ludavic Halévy's Author's-Copy with Letter from Anaïs Ségalas!

Le Livre des Vingt et un (The Book of Hundred and One), ed. Philibert Audebrand. 1st Ed. (1889) Calmann Lévy: Paris. Clothbound 16-mo. 434 pp. Authors Copy: Bookplate of Ludavic Halévy. Includes Letter from Anaïs Ségalas to Halévy (see "Personal Artifacts").

This collection of realist, bohemian, and romanticist texts describing various aspects of Parisian everyday life was compiled by Philibert Audebrand, a leftist historian, novelist and satirist. Both its title and mandate (though oddly, not its introduction) point directly to its inspiration from the massive romanticist anthology series of the same name from 1831 (a first-edition set of which also resides in the Revenant Archive) and its subsequent expansions. Two of its oldest contributors had appeared in the original anthology series in their youth, two had fathers who had appeared in it, and another, Jules Claretie, was one of the first historians of the avant-garde.

This copy belonged to the playwright and librettist Ludavic Halévy, a frequent collaborator with Offenbach, Bizet, and other composers, best-known today for the libretti for Carmen and La Vie Parisien, and who had contributed a piece to the collection. He came from a family deeply immersed in the avant-garde: his father Léon Halévy (see "Personal Artifacts" for one of his letters in the archive) had been one of the leaders of the Saint-Simonian socialist movement and the personal secretary of its founder; after leaving the movement over the religious direction it was taking, he had become involved in the emerging avant-garde of Romanticism, befriending the Jeune-France group and publishing in the original Vingt et une anthology. Meanwhile Ludavic's uncle Fromenthal was a prominent composer, having started his career as the Saint-Simonians in-house composer, and is still remembered today for his play The Jew (the family was Jewish, though Léon had converted to Christianity when he married, and Ludavic followed him).

Kept in the book is a letter, apparently to Halévy, from the socialist romanticist writer Anaïs Ségalas, who also has a poem included in the collection:
 
 
Anaïs Ségalas, Romanticist poet, Socialist & Feminist Activist, Social Worker. Letter to Ludavic Halévy, Playwright & Librettist. 29 Jan., 1890.

The Romanticist poet Anaïs Ségalas was an extremely active feminist, anti-Monarchist and anti-poverty activist, and social worker, and her name comes up in several histories of the activist organisations in the lead-up to the 1848 revolution. This is reflected in her work, much of which deals with poverty and class. She was also part creole, which might imply that she was a person of colour, though the usage of the term was ambiguous. This letter was written by her to the playwright and librettist Ludavic Halévy, who kept it in his author's copy of the 1889 Livre des Cent eet une anthology to which they had both contributed. Ségalas notes here that she does not yet know him personally, but she very likely had known his father Léon Halévy, who was also active in Romanticist, Feminist, and Saint-Simonian socialist circles at the same time as her. Here she is appealing to him in his capacity as public official on a city planning issue, but cannot help speaking as a fellow writer for half of it, gifting him with a copy of one of her books – albeit with a wry reminder of her purpose. 

The English translation appears first below, followed by a transcription of the original French. Uncertain interpretations are in brackets; I welcome corrections/suggestions:

English:

Sir,

       Would you care to let me ask you a favour, and come ask for your support in the Council of State without however having the advantage of knowing to you[?] The [Villeyonan] family and Mr. [Béthune], who already wanted very much [this past] year to write you a subject of our problem, has often spoken about us, sir, the public and the journals even more so; before I address the [Councillor] of State, allow me to express to the celebrated author all my admiration for his dramatic works.[1]
       I come today however, quite simply in the capacity of homeowner, to talk to you about something perfectly prosaic, the extension of the Rue de Crussol on the Boulevard du Temple, and a house which we’re dying to watch tumble to the ground like the walls of Jericho. Today in particular a more important issue but one to which ours finds itself bound to some extent, is the Council of State’s agenda: it’s the question of the project to construct service roads for the Boulevard [Beaumarchais]; a “yes” vote would be a good sign for us; would it not be too much to [???] us [than/but] to hope for your charitable cooperation? you won’t find me terribly indiscreet?
       Allow me to take this chance to give you a collection of poems, a volume of Child’s Play,[2] which would think something of itself if it had your vote.
       Hope to accept, Sir, the assurance of my most venerable consideration.
                             Anaïs Ségalas
                                      ”      , rue de Crussol.
Wednesday 29 January [1890?].[3]

Notes
[1] Halévy held a number of government positions throughout his life, and this suggests that he sat on the Council of State at this time, though I have been unable to confirm this. The Council assisted in an advisory role in preparing legislation, and adjudicated certain suits and claims against the government.
[2] Ségalas’s third book, Enfantines (1844)
[3] This date in 1890, within months after the publication of the book in which the letter was stored, fell on a Wednesday; there is a chance the letter could date from 1863, 1870, 1876, or 1883.

 

French:

Monsieur,

   Voulez vous me permettre de me faire [sollicitage], et de venir vous demander votre [appui] au conseil d’état sans avoir cependant l’avantage d’être [connut] de vous [?] La famille de la [Villejonan] et Mssr. [Béthune], qui deja a bien voulu l’année [passée] vous écrire un sujet de notre affaire, m’ont souvent parlée de [nous], Monsieur, le public et la journaux plus souvent encore; avant de m’adresser au conseiller d’état, laissez-moi exprimer à l’auteur célèbre toute mon admiration pour son dramatique ouvrages.
       Je viens aujourd’hui pourtant, tout simplement en qualité de propriétaire, vous parler d’une chose bien prosaïque, du prolonguement de la rue de [Crunol] sur le boulevard du temple, et d’une maison que nous voudrions voir tomber comme le murs de jéricho. Précisément aujourd’hui une affaire plus importante mais à laquelle la notre se trouve liée jusqu’à un certain point, est à l’ordre du jour au Conseil d’état: il s’agit du projet de construction des contre-allées du boulevard Baumarchais; une décision favorable serait un heureux antécédent pour nous; ne serait-ce pas trop nous [?lutter] que d’espérer votre bienveillant concours? n’aller-vous pas me trouves bien indiscrète?
       Permettez-moi de saisir cette occasion pour vous offrir un recueil de poésies, un volume d’Enfantines, qui se croirait quelque chose s’il avait votre suffrage.
       Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, l’assurance de ma considération la plus distinguée.
                             Anaïs Ségalas
                                        ”    , rue de Crussol.
Mercredi 29 janvier.