Description

Autograph letter signed 10 May 1918, on Mercure de France letterhead.

Rachilde, in search of a new publisher, talks about her particular approach to the profession.

"In all seriousness, my dear Mr Matei Roussou, what I'm looking for in a publisher is someone who, while not giving me the nice conditions of the "Mercure" (and you must think that they are out of all proportion to the others) will see to it that the print run is strong enough to be able to spread the book around. I prefer less money and more publicity. Here, we have aristocrats who don't want to sell... and who, although they sell well, are too literate!
I am not a scholar...n i a princess of letters, despite my title and my race... I would like to live to say something instead of turning ivory napkin rings... in the shape of a tower. 
And the evening comes!
It seems to me that I've wasted my time. Soon there will be a fever of truths in all circles. Just think how perfect French would be without its imagination and its perpetual play on words... You'd have to stop playing with everything. And then confine yourself to earning a living without any speculation. 
If I said that to an editor...either he wouldn't listen to me or he'd laugh at me...and it would end badly, I have no patience when it comes to business. 
Test the waters, but be careful, because I don't want to clutter up the market, and I produce a book every seven years! I'll send you my copy for "La Vie" around the 17th, unless you tell me otherwise. 
All the best.
Rachilde. "

Retained envelope.