[Alphonse Daudet, distinguished French author.] Affectionate Autograph Letter Signed (‘Alph Daudet’), in French, to ‘notre cher Mérédith’ [George Meredith], ‘grand romancier Anglais’, after visiting him at Box Hill.

An excellent letter, linking leading nineteenth-century writers of the French and English nations. See Daudet's entry in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Meredith’s in the Oxford DNB. Daudet’s association with Meredith during his ‘first and only visit to England’ is described on pp.122-124 of the 1911 edition of J. A. Hammerton’s ‘George Meredith, his Life and Art’, which also quotes extensively from Madame Daudet’s account of the Englishman, referred to in the letter. 2pp, 16mo. Twenty-one lines of closely- and neatly-written text. On the rectos of the leaves of a bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and slightly ruckled. Folded once for postage. There is no salutation, but the context leaves no doubt that Meredith is the recipient, as does the fact that the item is from the autograph album of his daughter Marie Eveleen (Mariette; 1871-1933), wife of Henry Parkman Sturgis (1847-1929), American-born banker and Liberal politician. Begins with reference to his son: ‘Léon va mieux et va commencer à manger un œuf à la coque... vous voyez notre joie. J’ai voulu vous la faire partager, tout de suite, en remercîment de la lettre si affectueuse qui nous et venue de Box hill. [the Merediths’ home]’ He announces that his wife (‘Madame Alphonse Daudet’) is going to publish ‘en librairie des notes sur Londres’, which have appeared in the ‘Revue de Paris, accompanied with illustrations: ‘il est parlé de notre cher Mérédith et du coin de verdure où il nous est pour la première fois apparu’. His wife would like to know whether Meredith would supply a photograph of his ‘cottage’ for publication. ‘Elle serait heureuse de faire connaître aux lettrés de notre pays le cabinet de travail où ont été écrits les livres du grand romancier Anglais qui aime, connaît, écrit et parle si bien la langue française’. He urges him to refuse his wife’s request if it irritates him, and concludes ‘A vous tendrement et dans la joie de mon cœur de père / Alph Daudet / 31 Rue de Bellechasse à Paris’.