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be tolerated long, because tough competition with better organized
units would soon produce a profit and loss statement that could
spell disaster… […] If this little comparison with corporate practices
appeals to you as helpful in appreciating the crying need for Defense
modernization, I hope that you, and others, will find it useful in
awakening the public to the grave seriousness of this matter. I am
sending this letter, or one nearly identical, to a number of my good
friends in the business world.”
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FAULKNER WILLIAM
(1897-1962).
L.S « Faulkner », 20 avril [1952 ?], à Monique LANGE ; demi-
page in-4 dactylographiée (petite fente au pli) ; en français
et en anglais.
1 000 / 1 200 €
Projet de séjour à Paris avec sa maîtresse Else Jonsson.
[Else JONSSON était la maîtresse de Faulkner depuis leur rencontre
en 1950 à Stockholm, à l’occasion de la remise son Prix Nobel de
Littérature.]
« J’ai recu une lettre de Else. Elle puit venir a Paris. Depuis que Faulkner
sera un petite peu officiel, le discrétion se command. Est-que c’est
possible trouver une domicile a deux pour une samaine […] un petite
hotel de discrection, inconnu, pour les deux, ou peut-etre une chambre
pour Else, et une pour moi, la meme maison, ou une chambre pour
F. officiel dans quelque autre maison. If you and Jean-Jacques will
do this kindness for votre beau-papa, il vous benisse. J’ai acrit a Else
envoyer a vous le connaissance de son arrivee a Paris »…
FAULKNER WILLIAM
(1897-1962).
Signed letter, signed « Faulkner », 20 April [1952?],
to Monique LANGE; half-page, in-4 format, typed (small
split along fold); in French and English.
1 000 / 1 200 €
Planned sojourn in Paris with his mistress Else Jonsson.
Else JONSSON was the mistress of Faulkner since their encounter
in 1950 in Stockholm, when Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize
for Lieterature. He writes in French and English, to Monique Lange,
a Parisian editor, asking her to arrange a clandestine rendez-vous
with Else Jonsson.
Despite a 33-year marriage to Estelle Oldham, Faulkner is known to
have had several extramarital affairs, among them Jonsson, widow of
a Swedish reporter who had once interviewed the author. Faulkner had
met Else Jonsson in Stockholm in 1950 when he received his Nobel
Prize and conducted an affair with her until 1953. The clandestine rendez-
vous put into action here likely dates to 1952, as Faulkner is known to
have journeyed to France in May and was joined by Jonsson, who was
there to participate in an international writers’ congress. The need for
“a small discrete hotel” (“un petite hotel de discretion”) turned out to be
less important than he imagined, as pain from an existing back injury
led to his hospitalization. Undaunted and still in intense pain Faulkner,
soon made plans to travel to Oslo where he and Else were reunited.