Paul GÉRALDY (1885-1983). 3 L.A.S., [1941-1948, to Valentine Tessier; 6pages in-4 (light stains) and 4pages and a half in-8. Beautiful correspondence from the poet to the actress. [Beauvallon] May 9 [1941]. "My dear great kind friend, your letter comes to me at this precise moment when I was thinking of you and jotting down memories of you, of our so intoxicating work together for Duo [...] I'm scrambling through memories of theater, a book of memories, which will not only be memories, you can imagine, but a lesson I want to give - the one I myself received from life [...].And I noted things about you, so magnificent in your work, things about your nature, so profound, so just (and so good-natured), which I contrasted with another nature", that of the more intellectual Marie-Thérèse Piérat, who starred in his play Aimer (1922). He saw the announcement of Jouvet's departure with his troupe for South America: "Why aren't we doing anything? Why don't you play comedy too? You have to find your homeland in your profession, that's what I keep repeating to my friends and myself". He believes that Valentine's place is at the Théâtre-Français, when he is back in "top form". Vaudoyer "could be a good administrator, if the troupe were amazing, and he just had to let them do their thing (as Claretie did, in the days of Mounet, Bartet, de Feraudy, etc.). You don't have to worry about whether your comrades will welcome you or not. Your talent will force you upon them. They're well aware that they're missing a star, that they need one, that a theater can't do without actors. What you need to worry about is whether you'll be surrounded, whether the wind is in your favor, whether the public will follow, and what kind of public, whether the level of art in the house is high... You don't even have to worry about that! When you're there, the art level will be high. And you'll play all the roles, because it'll be just you. Giraudoux should make every effort to get you in, because it's in his interest: you'll be setting up his great plays there with you. It's in my interest too, because I have a repertoire (4 great plays in the house repertoire) tailor-made for you"... As for himself, far from Paris, he has "let himself be sidelined too much", and doesn't believe he is loved by Vaudoyer, with whom he had clashed over Ludmila Pitoëff... Etc. Saturday April 15, 1944. Wouldn't want to leave Paris without seeing Valentine again. Alain Laubreaux is mentioned as an administrator at the Théâtre Français: "I suppose you'd go back immediately. And then what Andromache, what Hermione, what Phèdre, what Bérénice! We'd have great days ahead. And you'd play me Christine, readapted for you, a Christine with a second act redone for you (it's the weak act)". He saw Raimu in Le Bourgeois gentilhomme: "It's not intoxicating. You get the feeling that Raimu, out of delicacy and respect for the House, was determined not to make any big comic effects. He plays the role naturally, with a deliberate discretion that is infinitely respectable, but which leaves one a little disconcerted [...] The play is staged with a great luxury of costumes, but with a concern for elegance and refinements of tone that are as astonishing as Raimu's delicacy and discretion. Indeed, despite all this luxury and a masquerade that fills the stage with dancers, the play is not cheerful. It should be added that this was an odd choice for Raimu's debut. Le Bourgeois is not a good role, nor is it a good play. A series of sketches in which it's the professors of philosophy, weapons, etc., who carry everything off [...] a fast-paced entertainment by a hurried Molière"... [1948], after the premiere of Marcel Aymé's play Lucienne et le Boucher, in which Valentine played Lucienne: "You are always astonishing, but you are extraordinarily so in this vigorous, highly developed composition (without becoming excessive or caricatural), this accent of profound truth that has always been yours, this living strength that has always been yours, this powerful radiance that radiates from you. [...] You have put beauty into both goddesses and women. You are a Great One!