Maupassant, Guy de.

to Hadji, about the controversy surrounding his poem "Au bord de l'Eau", explaining that he had already published it in the review La République des lettres when it was taken up without his authorisation by a small review in Etamps, and describing how he was immediately accused of an outrage to public morality, brought before a judge, but that Flaubert had come to his defence, writing to all the papers and that finally the whole affair had afforded him excellent free publicity just at the moment that his collection of poems, Des vers, was due to appear ("...merci messieurs les Magistrats....")



...Le Parquet s'est ému, m'a poursuivi. Je n'ai été averti de la situation que par un Article de Scholl très aimable pour moi dans l'Evènement. Alors j'ai comparu devant le juge d'instruction comme prévenu d'outrages aux moeurs et à la morale publique!--Mais alors j'ai dechaîné Flaubert. Et ce fut dans tous les journaux une bordée d'injures contre la Magistrature...



3 pages, 8vo (c. 205 x 130mm.), on printed stationery of the "Ministère de l'instruction publique et des beaux-arts", Paris, 27 February 1880, together with letters by Alexandrine Zola, the Empress Marie-Louise, and Courteline

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This letter marks the starting point of the literary career of Maupassant (1850-1893). Whilst employed at the Ministry of Education, he published poems in various literary reviews and, when his "Au bord de l'Eau" led to his prosecution for indecency, the ensuing succès du scandale helped launch his career. His collection Des vers and Boule de Suif both appeared in April 1880 to great acclaim. Maupassant was a pupil of Gustave Flaubert.