COLETTE, Sidonie Gabrielle (1873-1954)

COLETTE, Sidonie Gabrielle (1873-1954)

Autograph postcard signed « Colette » to Claude [Farrère]
N.p.n.d. [Paris, 28 December 1950], 1 p. small in-8°
Date of receipt of the card probably written by Farrère

Tender greeting card from the writer to his long-time friend Claude Farrère

« Grand Claude, tes souhaits devancent les miens, mes vœux ne sont ni moins vifs ni moins tendres ! Mais je ne sors ni ne bouge. Mon parfait compagnon suppléé à tout. Je t’envoie une carte qui te rappellera un peu notre jeune temps, et je t’embrasse
Colette »

[On the front, a reproduction of her portrait by Henri Manuel. Colette circles the word “Writer” and ironically adds an exclamation point.]

One of Colette’s close friends, Claude Farrère (1876-1957) inspired her in 1910 to model Maxime Dufferein-Chautel’s novel La Vagabonde. Having fallen under Colette’s spell at the same time, Farrère experienced feelings for her that were not reciprocated. The officer-writer’s attachment remained long-term. Their friendship gradually transformed into a platonic epistolary love during their later years, until Colette’s death in 1954.
Her portrait by Henri Manuel (captured in 1910, the year of their failed affair) is thus a tender nod from Colette evoking their “young days”.