{"id":3057,"date":"2018-02-11T20:21:45","date_gmt":"2018-02-11T20:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/?page_id=3057"},"modified":"2018-02-19T19:37:51","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T19:37:51","slug":"letter-from-marcel-proust-to-lionel-hauser-26-july-1914","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/letter-from-marcel-proust-to-lionel-hauser-26-july-1914\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from Marcel Proust to Lionel Hauser, 26 July [1914]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By <a href=\"http:\/\/www.frit.illinois.edu\/people\/fproulx\">Fran\u00e7ois Proulx<\/a>, Assistant Professor, Department of French and Italian<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-3057 gallery-columns-4 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2160\" height=\"2945\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3092\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1.jpg 2160w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1-768x1047.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_1-1-751x1024.jpg 751w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2160px) 100vw, 2160px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3092'>\n\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2171\" height=\"2947\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1.jpg 2171w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1-221x300.jpg 221w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1-768x1043.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_2-1-754x1024.jpg 754w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2171px) 100vw, 2171px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3094'>\n\t\t\t\t2\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2930\" height=\"2159\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1.jpg 2930w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_002_3-1-1024x755.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2930px) 100vw, 2930px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3095'>\n\t\t\t\t3\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2944\" height=\"2161\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-3093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1.jpg 2944w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1-768x564.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2018\/02\/proust_letters_000_hauser_42_001_4-1-1024x752.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2944px) 100vw, 2944px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-3093'>\n\t\t\t\t4\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Letter from Marcel Proust to Lionel Hauser, 26 July [1914]<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\">26 July<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\">102 boulevard Haussmann<\/p>\n<p>My dear Lionel<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after I had a telephone conversation with you, I started to divest my holdings. I sold my 200 Utahs\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[2]<\/a>, and my innumerable Lena Goldfields <a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[3]<\/a>. Unfortunately, everything is not yet done, since the weakness of the prices did not allow it, and the thunderbolt\u00a0of the Austro-Serbian incident\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[4]<\/a> will earn me (of course this is a consequence of little importance, in the middle of the immense tragedies that are perhaps about to unfold for Europe, but as I am writing you as my banker and friend, I ask your permission to place myself in my personal and self-centered point of view, although I assure you that I do not view the situation from\u00a0this angle) will earn me\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[5]<\/a> some terrible losses. I cannot estimate it exactly, but I do not want to risk, at the last moment, not having on hand the funds necessary to face my various obligations. You would be most kind to look at the list of securities I have with M. Warburg\u00a0<a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[6]<\/a>, and to sell enough for twenty-some thousand francs, from those that, to your eyes, seem the least depreciated. If you thought it would be more advantageous for me to ask M. M. Warburg for a securities-based loan, it seems likely (I don\u2019t actually know, but I suppose) that they do this kind of operation. You can figure out what you think is best and most practical. I remember how, on the phone, you told me \u201cBut in the possible event of a European conflagration\u2026\u201d I can still hear your voice, and I find it has prophetic undertones. You saw further than diplomats and politicians, though I confess I would be glad if you had been wrong, and I did not have to award you this certificate of cleverness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\">Your devoted and grateful friend<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\">Marcel Proust<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a>\u00a0Letter catalogued as Proust-Series 3 \/ 2A (Proust to Hauser) \/ Hauser 042, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn1\">[2]<\/a>\u00a0Proust had inquired to Lionel Hauser about buying stock in a copper-mining venture in Utah in October 1912 (<em>Corr<\/em>, vol. XI, p. 219).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn1\">[3]<\/a> (Note by P. Kolb) Lena Goldfields was a gold-mining company, of which Proust owned a large amount of stock.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn1\">[4]<\/a>\u00a0Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn1\">[5]<\/a> Here Proust repeats three words from before the parenthesis.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn1\">[6]<\/a> M. M. Warburg &amp; Co., a private bank based in Hamburg (Germany), founded in 1798.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>In this letter, Marcel Proust anticipates the \u201cimmense tragedies that are perhaps about to unfold for Europe.\u201d He references \u201cthe Austro-Serbian incident\u201d \u2013 the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, a month earlier on 28 June \u2013 that would indeed lead to the \u201cconflagration\u201d of the First World War. The month of July 1914 saw an alarming march toward disaster, which Proust followed in the French press: Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia on the 23<sup>rd<\/sup>, Serbia announced general mobilization on the 25<sup>th<\/sup>, and on the 28<sup>th<\/sup>, two days after this letter, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. By August 4<sup>th<\/sup>, Germany, Russia, France and Britain had been drawn into the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The letter addresses the immediate financial consequences of the rush to war, as stock markets plummeted across Europe. Proust, who had inherited a fair amount of wealth after the deaths of his parents in 1903 and 1905, was never a wise investor. In a somewhat long parenthetical aside, he asks his \u201cbanker and friend\u201d Lionel Hauser for \u201cpermission to place myself in my personal and self-centered point of view,\u201d \u2013 that is, to focus on the monetary losses he is about to incur \u2013 \u201calthough,\u201d he goes on to assure his correspondent, \u201cI do not view the situation from this angle.\u201d Proust places himself simultaneously in two points of view, both of which, remarkably, are expressed through the first person (\u201c<em>my<\/em> personal \u2026 point of view, although \u2026 <em>I<\/em> do not view\u201d). This seeming grammatical contradiction \u2013 one might have expected him to write, \u201c<em>a<\/em> personal and self-centered point of view\u201d \u2013 is in line with the complex use of the first person in Proust\u2019s novel.<\/p>\n<p>From the opening section of <em>Du c\u00f4t\u00e9 de chez Swann<\/em> (published a few months earlier, in November 1913), the first person is used by an adult narrative voice and a younger protagonist, who are the same character although they have different points of view due to the passage of time, and who are not the author Marcel Proust although they share many similarities with him. In this letter, as it does in <em>\u00c0 la recherche du temps perdu<\/em>, the first person allows Proust to imagine hypothetical scenarios (\u201cI would be glad if you had been wrong\u201d), explore multiple perspectives, and write from points of view that are simultaneously deeply personal and keenly aware of the larger patters of history and the human experience.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Works cited<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Proust, Marcel. <em>Correspondance<\/em>. Ed. Philip Kolb. Paris: Plon (21 vols), 1970-1993.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>(<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/2018\/02\/19\/proust-and-the-great-war-part-2\/\">Back to list of letters<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Fran\u00e7ois Proulx, Assistant Professor, Department of French and Italian Letter from Marcel Proust to Lionel Hauser, 26 July [1914]\u00a0[1] 26 July 102 boulevard Haussmann My dear Lionel Shortly after I had a telephone conversation with you, I started to divest my holdings. I sold my 200 Utahs\u00a0[2], and my innumerable Lena Goldfields [3]. Unfortunately, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":320,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3057","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3057"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3497,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3057\/revisions\/3497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/rbx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}