ZOLA, Emile (1840-1902)

Autograph letter signed « E » to Georges Charpentier
[Queen’s Hotel, Norwood, London] Sunday 30th Oct.[ober] 1898, 4 pages in-8

“Victory is coming”

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ZOLA, Emile (1840-1902)

Autograph letter signed « E » to Georges Charpentier
[Grosvenor Hotel, London] Sunday 30th Oct.[ober] 1898, 4 pages in-8
Black ink, laid paper

Historic letter in which Zola welcomes the announcement of the re-opening of the Dreyfus trial


Mon vieil ami, merci des quelques commissions que vous avez bien voulu faire pour moi, et merci de votre nouvelle lettre.
Je vous écris dans la joie que je viens d’éprouver en apprenant que la cour de cassation a décidé de faire l’enquête totale. Quoi qu’il arrive, c’est toute la lumière, et nous ne pouvons qu’y gagner. Enfin, la victoire est prochaine. Mais me voici certainement ici pour deux grands mois encore. Je vais m’organiser pour y rester jusqu’en janvier, le moins mal possible. Je me suis d’ailleurs remis au travail, tout va bien. L’important, c’est que le triomphe soit dès maintenant assuré.
Je vous avoue que la composition du prochain ministère ne m’inquiète même pas. Tous se valent. Puis, quel est le ministère qui oserait maintenant se mettre en travers de la cour de cassation ? Quand l’opinion sera avec nous, le gouvernement sera avec nous. Après le rapport de [Alphonse] Bard et le réquisitoire de [Jean-Pierre] Manau, je défie qu’il n’y ait pas une majorité dreyfusiste dans les chambres.
Vous voyez que je suis dans un moment d’optimisme, bien que les choses ne m’apparaissent pas en rose d’ordinaire. Mon ardent désir est d’en finir avec l’exil, de rentrer chez moi, et de reprendre mes habitudes, après avoir pansé et guéri toutes les plaies qui nous ont été faites pendant ces abominables mois.
Embrassez pour moi votre femme et Jane, comme je vous embrasse vous-même, mon vieil ami.
E”


The Dreyfus case took its first important turn on August 30th when Commander Henry – known for producing false documents in to have Captain Dreyfus accused – confessed his guilt in the presence of [War] Minister Cavaignac. A second major turning point will take place on 29th October when the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation declares the application for a review of the trial admissible.

Following the publication of his open letter “J’accuse” published in l’Aurore on 13th January 1898, Emile Zola was first sentenced to the maximum sentence for defamation. After his appeal in cassation, he was again sentenced to the Assises on 18 July and decided, on the advice of his relatives, to go into exile in London to escape prison.

This letter, written during his exile in London [19 July 1898 – 5 June 1899], testifies to Zola’s reaction the day after the announcement of a re-opening of the trial which would take place in the summer of 1899.

Because he felt spied on and under surveillance, Zola ensured that his anonymity was as preserved as possible. It should be noted that only the writer’s letters of exile were signed with an “E” and later a “Z” which were for him a way of encrypting his mailings, although his writing was recognizable among a thousand. Struck by homesickness, he is deeply affected by the state of political affairs in France (“Never has the situation been, in my opinion, more disastrous”). Alexandrine, his wife, gives him unwavering support and encourages him to continue his struggle.

George Charpentier (1846-1905) was a famous French publisher of the second half of the 19th century. He defined himself as “the publisher of naturalists.” He published Zola [of whom he was a close friend who was one of a handful friends to visit him during his exile in London], Gustave Flaubert and Maupassant. He was also an avid art collector who promoted Impressionist painters.

 

Note: This letter is published in the IXth volume of the Zola’s General Correspondence (CNRS, t. IX, 1993)