PORCHÉ (François). Born in Cognac. 1877-1944. French poet an - Lot 241

Lot n° 241
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PORCHÉ (François). Born in Cognac. 1877-1944. French poet an - Lot 241
PORCHÉ (François). Born in Cognac. 1877-1944. French poet and playwright. 7 L.A.S. addressed to the actress Madame Simone (1), his companion. 13 pages in-8. One letter engraved at her address. Enclosed is a letter from Catherine Daïdoukov, François Porché's first wife, dated June 21, 1916, discussing the health of their son, Vladimir Porché. A VERY FINE SET OF SEVEN LETTERS. - The first letter, written to Cérisé on November 11, 1918 and signed "Ton morfesse", is a striking testimony to the end of the First World War... "At noon I heard a distant chime in the direction of Gisors. I opened my window and shouted to Vallousia (2): The war is over... (...) At one o'clock, vague bugle calls could be heard in the distance. At two o'clock, our belfry got in on the act. And all the surrounding bells responded. Artillery salvos joined the chimes (...) At dinner, Madame Bassinet, no longer knowing herself, simply declared: Ben, we'll have to water. Finding the word a little too familiar, albeit naive, I replied: No one here drinks wine. Such was the end of the war in Cerise. At least on the outside. For inside me it was, despite the joy, a sad commemoration of the dead... " François Porché then gives some news of their loved ones (...) He ends his letter with a beautiful poem about the cruelty of war. - In the second letter, written from Arcachon on December 11, 1923 and signed "Touvillon", François Porché confesses himself reassured to have received news of his companion. He goes on to talk about his work and daily life (...) He ends his letter by confessing: "The truth is, I'm very sad. I mean, my sadness increases every day. It's your warmth, it seems, that's withdrawing from me...". - In the third letter, written in Arcachon on December 12, 1923 and signed "Ton François", François Porché describes his days spent without Madame Simone (...) He then discusses Jean Rostand's book, Angoisse (6), and notes: "It's remarkable. This 'bugger' has a lot of talent...". - In the fourth letter, written from Arcachon on December 19, 1923 and signed "Ton François", François Porché rejoices in his companion's triumph (...) He ends his letter by exclaiming: "16 more days until the 4th! To think we're not even halfway through this awful time of exile! I love you, my beloved love. I pray to you every night and morning. Can you hear it?..." - In the fifth letter, without place or date, signed "Ton François", François Porché encloses an article on Madame Simone's success (...) He concludes: "Both of us embrace you with all our hearts, albeit differently. I love you..." - In the sixth letter, without place or date, signed "Ton François", François Porché laments: "I see in Le Temps that it's terribly hot in Paris. It's bad luck...". He ends by asking: "What would life be like without you?..." - In the seventh and last letter, undated, written in Paris and signed "Ton François", François Porché informs his companion (...) He ends his letter by declaring: "Je t'aime cher amour et fais des vœux pour Le désordre (7). Are you back at it?...". A lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeal, François Porché soon gave up the bar to devote himself to poetry. In 1902, his first texts appeared in Le Mercure de France and, in 1904, in Péguy's Les Cahiers de la Quinzaine. Later, he became friends with Jacques Copeau and Jacques Rivière, contributed to La Nouvelle Revue Française and, at the outbreak of the First World War, although discharged from the army, left for the trenches of Dunkirk and Dixmude.
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