Jean de TINAN (1874-1898). 14 L.A.S., 1895-1898, to Pierre Louÿs; 35 pages in-8 or in-4, envelopes. Enclosed are 3 envelopes in which Louÿs had filed (with the year marked in blue pencil) Tinan's letters. Very beautiful correspondence, friendly and literary, to Pierre Louÿs, also talking about their mistresses. 1895. - September 29. He has just read the 3rd issue of L'Esclavage by Louÿs, and expresses his admiration for the "pure poet"... He adds: "Why have cholera, what nonsense - why drink any water other than Evian water (according to Monsieur Mallarmé)!" He is "equipped with a little Berenice of love that I will adore for at least two moons. [...] The dedication I gave you is still missing the volume it would adorn. You're incapable, aren't you, of blaming me for this detail of negligence, moreover... I'm determined to work very seriously this winter (that - that's what I and Wagner call a letter-motive). In fact, I've written 250 pages of a novel [L'Insatisfait] but I want to redo it differently - it looked too much, as a composition, like a horrible cacography from Lemerre's - it looked like something already chewed, the proofs would have hurt my heart - I'd rather try to start again with the same details and the same spsychoses. So patience - dear and beloved dedicatee"... - Tuesday [December 3rd]. Argument with André Lebey (about a woman): "I'm convinced that he didn't realize his bad faith and unbearable conduct earlier any more than he realized the strangeness of his attitude last night - but as I love him far too much for these things not to cause me much pain, I prefer, by maintaining only casual relations with him, to avoid any further bitterness or offence tarnishing the memory I wish to cherish of one of the people I have certainly loved the most. I beg your pardon for bothering you with my sorrows, but I really have too much on my heart not to tell someone"... 1896. - February 10th. About the magazine Le Centaure. "We founded a closed-edition magazine for young people, and then, wishing to include two friends whose character and talent we particularly liked, we asked them to join us. Today we're thinking of asking a third [Viélé-Griffin]. I don't think we should. There are two things I think are bad for literary beginners: politeness and weakness. The example of our elders teaches us that it is only by very active intransigence that we can achieve a result. I am convinced that it is through compromises of no more apparent importance than the one proposed to us that they have failed to make the most of the admirable gifts we love in so many of them. I think all four of us - Albert Lebey, you and I - agree on this point: we don't like Francis Vielé-Griffin's talent. It doesn't matter whether it's a question of general aesthetics, execution or personal talent. It's a fact. [...] We're all friends (or almost) at the magazine, so much the better; but in collaboration, our friends' friends are not our friends"... - Montigny sur Loing February 26. He invites her to join him: "(Bring Chrysis to warm your bed.) Nota bene. [...] As my collage ends on Monday or Tuesday, you'd be very useful (if not to warm my bed) at least to keep me from getting bored during the day. - Lovely walks! Great landscapes! Moderate prices! Sailboats and fried food! Wines at your discretion! [...] I make d'Annunzio more d'Annunzio than Nature. Last night I finished a chapter entitled "Pourquoi m'as-tu aimée?" which is absolutely pure. I single-handedly founded NeoAnnunziorism. He plagiarized Péladan! I'll plagiarize Jules Bois! Joking aside, my novel [Penses-tu réussir!] is unquestionably one of the two or three truly human, intense and vibrant works to have been written in the last twenty-five centuries. A particularly rich, supple and sensuously nuanced language gives full relief to the noble and beautiful thoughts and brilliant images that flow blenhorragically from my pen. I can now consider myself the undisputed master of the contemporary novel, and we have every right to expect more from the genius of one who, so young, has grazed with his powerful wing the snowiest peaks of human sensitivity and thought"... - Saturday [February 29]. "Jeanne left me earlier than I thought without making the appeal to my generosity that I had expected. - I had to choose between my amour.r.r.r. telling me to "hold her back" and my purse hissing: "She told you: I'd like to stay, but you understand, I owe more than two hundred francs". I felt it was my duty not to hinder the l