Max JACOB. L.A.S., Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire May 16 [1927], to Georges Hugnet; 4pages small in-4, stamped envelope. Beautiful, long letter of friendship and advice to the young poet. [The following year, Max Jacob would illustrate G. Hugnet's 40 Poésies de Stanislas Boutemer]. "Dear Georges I understand you: all my life I've cried at night alone and laughed the next day, sought the company of fools and suffered their madness. I have let myself be led by influences that took me where I did not want to go: like you, I have been faithful and I have had no reward, I did not expect any. Like you, I resolved to live in solitude. They wouldn't let me, because we're nice people who you care about and then let down, break up, etc. Don't ever get discouraged, we're elastic and when we're screwed up that's when it starts to feel good, life is so long!" He urges her to get on with her life, to "associate with wise people, [...] listen patiently to thinkers, educate yourself. [...] if you shine on the surface, you only last on the bottom; it's with the bottom that you renew yourself: you need earth to plow for new blooms. Enlarge yourself! [...] Read books that have nothing to do with poetry: that's where you'll grow. An author must know the whole earth, not for the sake of dripping reports that leave man like a squeezed sponge, but because it is the broad roots that make the mystery of the truly great man. Look how Cocteau knows everything, understands everything, is at home with everyone. Your little friends, on the other hand, know nothing: they won't be great, but you have what it takes to become great. Have ambition beyond a beautiful poem, and your beautiful poem will have a halo of wit"... He is delighted that Georges has been able to acquire a Saint Matorel: "it's the best and most advanced thing I've ever done"; and he gives details of the history of this copy. He continues with his advice: "Work! work above all on yourself, dwell on your sensations, enjoy and suffer from nothing, analyze, watch yourself live, try to point out things, people, be serious, epic, stoic even, and work your head/your heart. The rest is nothing"... Etc. And he concludes: "To be a great poet, you'd have to turn your back on poetry. Try to understand this sentence".