Autograph letter signed to the writer Jacques Chardonne. Salzburg, December 15, 1932; 2 pages in-8° on personal paper with his initials. Text in French

Letter written in perfect French, in which the great Austrian writer gives an uncompromising opinion to his counterpart on his literary work. He is also surprised by the immense success of his biography on Queen Marie-Antoinette: “Dear Mr. Chardonne, I have read the German translation of your novel. She's not bad, she doesn't make mistakes, but she lacks a little musicality and finesse. She is honest, but like honest people and things often, a little dry, without balance, without that perfume which envelops your words. It is not a misfortune if the same translators do their job for "Claire", but if you have the choice I would advise you as translator Erwin Rieger (Vienna, I Schottenring 17) who is a poet himself and who has mastered the most difficult translations like Mallarmé etc. He would certainly be happy to be able to translate a book like yours, and he would do it a thousand times better. Another thing: I find that the exterior of your book leaves something to be desired in the German edition. The printing and binding are very poor and do not show much taste: your book could be edited with more care. Ask your publisher to do better for this: also the format is too large and poorly chosen. I received with great joy your Love of Neighbor: it is on my table and will be the Christmas gift that I will give to myself by reading it. I am very happy with your great success - besides, I have no reason to complain for my part. My Marie Antoinette becomes the big success of the season, we sold 40,000 in two months, which is enormous for a book at 8 Mark 50 (fifty francs) in a moment of extreme distress. 8 months ago I was in Strasbourg and Colmar, but I didn't have time to go to Paris. You have to do your work and I'm finishing a little opera for Richard Strauss. Yours faithfully… "