Louis-Ferdinand CÉLINE. 5L.A.S., February-December... Lot 361

Louis-Ferdinand CÉLINE. 5L.A.S., [February-December 1937], to John H.P. Marks; 10pages and a half in-4. To his English translator, on the pamphlet Mea culpa, his ballets and Bagatelles pour un massacre. [February 28, letterhead CGT French Line S.S. Ile de France]. Return from America, where Mac Dougall and Little Brown refused Mea culpa: "Do you have anything in mind for England - where we can get it through? I have a possible translator in N. York, a man named Parker". He asks him to send him "the English translation of the ballet Naissance d'une fée. I've been asked to do so in N. York". He also asks him to "translate another short ballet I'm going to do for Exposition 37, Voyou Paul Brave Virginie. I am sending it to you"... 98 Rue Lepic [March]. He wonders about his contract with Chatto: "Does this mean that in case they refuse Mea Culpa, I am delivered from any obligation to them?" The contract with Little, Brown & Co is more confusing. It gives Marks carte blanche to deal with English publishers: "I don't care after all. I just want to piss Chatto off if he's being petty too"... Then he mentions Marks' approaches to galleries for Gen Paul's paintings. As for the Voyou Paul ballet: "When it's ready, send it to me. I'm sending it to America. People are asking me for it. But I don't have much chance with small jobs and side openings!... I'm in for a rough time!"... 15th [April or May]. He asks for money to be paid into his "Highgate account" for Gen Paul, who is "in trouble with his orders at the exhibition. Blum pays no one"; and to send him Virginie: "Of course you can publish all these ballets in a newspaper if you wish, and what's more, I absolutely insist on taking for you the dough they want to give you. This will compensate you for your work and give me great pleasure"... July 21. He will be absent from Paris in August and September, but would like to be "informed of the evolutions of my Ballet. Sadlers Well would be a very nice idea. I can have them do the music here if they wish, but I'd rather have an Englishman do it"... December 27. He sends her the Bagatelles. "See what can be done with them. I don't want to go through a literary agency. If Chatto takes it, it's the same price as Mort à crédit except that I don't want to pay Incom Tax. [...] I'm giving them an 8-day option - yes or shit".