Paul VALÉRY (1871-1945). L.A.S., [November 2, 1925], to painter and illustrator Georges Barbier; 2 pages in-8, envelope. He is leaving for Brussels and would have liked to talk about their project. Then he talks about his academic candidacy: "I'm telling you (just between us, for tonight) that I'm changing places. I'm being pushed and almost forced. I had no chance on the other position"... [He is no longer running for the succession of the Comte d'Haussonville (chair 27), but for that of Anatole France (chair 38). His irritation is understandable: Valéry had never forgiven France for opposing the publication of Mallarmé's poems when he was employed by Lemerre. He took his revenge by never mentioning his predecessor's name in his academic address].