Description

Autograph letter signed and addressed to Max-Pol Fouchet.
 René Char talks about Max-Pol Fouchet's trip to America, the magazine Empedocles directed by Jean Vagne, whose first issue appeared in April 1949, and his play Claire.

"L'Isle-sur-sorgue
05 Oct 1949
Dear Max-Pol

As I do not have your address in America, I am directing my letter to Paris with a request that it be forwarded.
I hope the winter doesn't go by without you appearing near us.
This summer in Paris I had the pleasure of meeting Georges Schéadé, a very likeable man and a true poet. It was a pity you weren't there when we met! Are you satisfied with your work in America? If you have anything of your own to publish, don't forget that "Empedocle" will be happy to include it in its contents. In July I sent you Claire, a little delight published by Gallimard. You will have received it, won't you?
Yours affectionately
René Char

René Char joined the Resistance in 1942 under the name of "Capitaine Alexandre". Revolted by the censorship of Vichy and Berlin, he vowed not to publish his poems in occupied France. Nevertheless, from 1944 he contributed to the review Fountain led by Max-Pol Fouchet, based in Algiers and resolutely hostile to the Vichy regime. Char remained loyal to Fountain when, after the Liberation, the magazine moved to Paris, and contributed to 5 of its issues, not only as a poet but also as a columnist. Fountain published, among other things, the first extracts from Hypnos Leaves (1945) and The pulverised poem (1947).
Max-Pol Fouchet, with whom Char kept up an extensive correspondence, described him as "a great poet, a master of dignity, freedom and rectitude, a master whose morals married his poetry and whose poetry married his morals" (Jacques Chirac, "René Char"), La revue des deux mondesJuly 1989, p. 17)