Part 27 (1/2)
1 July 1942. Find this for Captivity: Captivity: By unifying, always simplifying the book (in its entirety) must result in a struggle between individual destiny and collective destiny. Must not take sides.
My option: England's style of government by the middle cla.s.ses, unfortunately impossible, at least wishes to be revived, for in the end its essence is immutable; but it definitely will not happen until after I die: therefore left with two types of socialism. Neither of them appeals to me but there are the facts there are the facts!*26 One of them rejects me, therefore . . . the other . . . But that is out of the question. As a writer, I must state the problem correctly. One of them rejects me, therefore . . . the other . . . But that is out of the question. As a writer, I must state the problem correctly.
The struggle between the two destinies, this happens each time there is an upheaval, it's not logical; it's instinctive; I think a good part of oneself dies when this happens, but not all of oneself. Salvation, in general, is when the time allocated to us is longer than the time allocated to a crisis. Contrary to what is believed, what is general pa.s.ses, the whole remains, collective destiny is shorter than the destiny of the simple individual (that's not exactly right. It's a different timescale: we are only interested in the upheavals; the upheavals, either they kill us, or we last longer than them).
To get back to my subject: At first, J. Marie has a thoughtful and detached att.i.tude towards this great number of defeats. Naturally, he would like France to have its revenge but he realises that this is not a goal because whoever speaks of revenge speaks of hatred and vengeance, eternal war, and the Christian is upset by the idea of h.e.l.l and eternal punishment; he is upset at this idea that there will always be someone stronger and someone weaker; he therefore looks to unification . . . What he desires, what he yearns for, is harmony and peace. And collaborationism as it is currently practised disgusts him, and on the other hand he sees communism, which suits Benoit but not him. Therefore he tries to live as if the great, urgent, collective question isn't being asked, as if he only has to solve his own personal problems. But then he learns that Lucile has loved and perhaps still loves a German. He immediately takes sides, for the abstraction has suddenly been transformed into hatred. He hates a German and, because of him, through him, he hates or thinks he hates, which is the same thing, a way of thinking. In reality, what happens is that he forgets his own destiny and confuses it with someone else's destiny. For practical purposes, by the end of Captivity, Captivity, Lucile and J. Marie are in love with each other; this love is sad, unrequited, undeclared, completely conflicted! J. Marie runs away to fight the Germans-if that is still possible by the end of 1942! Lucile and J. Marie are in love with each other; this love is sad, unrequited, undeclared, completely conflicted! J. Marie runs away to fight the Germans-if that is still possible by the end of 1942!
The fourth part must be the return, if not the triumph of the chapter when J. Marie appears. Never forget that the public likes having the life of the ”wealthy” described to them.
To sum up: struggle between personal destiny and collective destiny. To finish, stress Lucile and Jean-Marie's love and stress eternal life. The German's musical masterpiece. There must also be a reminder of Philippe. Which all in all would correspond to my deepest conviction. What lives on:
1Our humble day-to-day lives 2Art 2Art 3G.o.d 3G.o.d
Maie woods: 11 July 1942. The pine trees all around me. I am sitting on my blue cardigan in the middle of an ocean of leaves, wet and rotting from last night's storm as if I were on a raft, my legs tucked under me! In my bag, I have put Volume II of Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, the diary of K. M. and an orange. My friends the b.u.mblebees, delightful insects, seem pleased with themselves and their buzzing is profound and grave. I like low, serious tones on voices and in nature. The shrill ”chirp, chirp” of the small birds in the trees grates on me . . . In a moment or so I will try to find the hidden lake. the diary of K. M. and an orange. My friends the b.u.mblebees, delightful insects, seem pleased with themselves and their buzzing is profound and grave. I like low, serious tones on voices and in nature. The shrill ”chirp, chirp” of the small birds in the trees grates on me . . . In a moment or so I will try to find the hidden lake.
Captivity:
1Corte's reaction. 2a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by Benoit's friends which horrifies Corte. 2a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by Benoit's friends which horrifies Corte. 3Corte learns something from the talkative Hubert . . . 3Corte learns something from the talkative Hubert . . . 4Through Arlette Corail etc. 4Through Arlette Corail etc. 5Her coquettish ways. 5Her coquettish ways. 6Denunciation. Hubert and J. Marie are locked up with many others. 6Denunciation. Hubert and J. Marie are locked up with many others. 7Hubert, thanks to the actions of his rich and right-thinking family, is released, J. Marie is condemned to death? 7Hubert, thanks to the actions of his rich and right-thinking family, is released, J. Marie is condemned to death? 8Here is where Lucile intervenes, the German. J. Marie is pardoned (compact description of the prison here or something of the sort). 8Here is where Lucile intervenes, the German. J. Marie is pardoned (compact description of the prison here or something of the sort). 9Benoit helps him escape. Sensational escape. 9Benoit helps him escape. Sensational escape. 10J. Marie's reaction to Germany and the Germans. 10J. Marie's reaction to Germany and the Germans. 11He and Hubert flee to England. 11He and Hubert flee to England. 12Benoit's death. Brutal and full of hope. 12Benoit's death. Brutal and full of hope.
Interspersed in all this must have Lucile's love for Jean-Marie.
The most important and most interesting thing here is the following: the historical, revolutionary facts etc. must be only lightly touched upon, while daily life, the emotional life and especially the comedy it provides must be described in detail.
APPENDIX II.
Correspondence 19361945
Irene Nemirovsky to Albin Michel7 October 1936 Thank you for the cheque for 4,000 francs. Regarding this, may I please remind you of my visit to you last spring when I asked if it would be possible for you to work out some arrangement for the future, for you will understand that the situation has become very difficult for me now. You told me then that you would do your very best to comply and that I should put my trust in you. Up until now, you haven't wanted to tell me how you proposed to arrange things, but you promised to make a decision within two months at the latest. You still haven't written anything to me about this since our meeting, which was nearly four months ago. I am therefore asking what you intend to do, for alas you understand the necessities of life for someone who, like me, possesses no great wealth and only lives by my earnings as a writer.
Editions Genio (Milan) to Albin Michel10 October 1938 We would be extremely grateful if you could tell us if Mme I. Nemirovsky is of Jewish descent. According to Italian law, anyone who has one parent, either mother or father, of Aryan race, is not considered to be Jewish.
Michel Epstein*1 to Albin Michel28 August 1939 to Albin Michel28 August 1939 My wife is currently in Hendaye (Villa Ene Exea, Hendaye-Plage) with the children. I am worried for her in these difficult times, for she has no one to come to her aid if she needs help. May I count on your friends.h.i.+p to send me, if you possibly can, a letter of recommendation she could eventually use for the authorities and the press in this area (Ba.s.ses-Pyrenees, Landes, Gironde)?
lbin Michel to Michel Epstein28 August 1939 The name Irene Nemirovsky should make it possible for her to open many doors! In spite of that, I would be more than pleased to give your wife a letter of introduction for the newspapers I know, but I will need certain details that you alone are in a position to provide. I would therefore ask you to please come and see me this evening.
Robert Esmenard*2 to Irene Nemirovsky28 September 1939 to Irene Nemirovsky28 September 1939 We are currently living in terrifying times which could become tragic overnight. Moreover, you are Russian and Jewish, and it could be that people who do not know you-though they must be few and far between given your fame as a writer-might cause problems for you, also, as we must try to antic.i.p.ate everything, I thought that my recommendation as an editor might be useful to you.
I am therefore prepared to confirm that you are a writer of great talent, which is also obvious, moreover, by the success of your works both in France and abroad where some of your works have been translated. I am also happy to confirm that since October 1933, the year you came to me after having published some books with my colleague Gra.s.set, including David Golder, David Golder, which was a resounding success and gave rise to a remarkable film, since then, I have always had the most cordial of relations with both you and your husband, apart from our professional relations.h.i.+p. which was a resounding success and gave rise to a remarkable film, since then, I have always had the most cordial of relations with both you and your husband, apart from our professional relations.h.i.+p.
21 December 1939
Temporary Travel Pa.s.s from 24 May to 23 August 1940 (for Irene Nemirovsky) Nationality: Russian Authorised to travel to Issy-l'eveque Authorised mode of transport: train Purpose: to see her children who have been evacuated
Irene Nemirovsky to Robert Esmenard12 July 1940 It's only been two days since the post is more or less back in service in the little village where I am. I am taking a chance and writing to your Paris address. I hope with all my heart that you have made it through these terrible times safe and sound and that you have no cause to worry about any of your family. As for me, even though military operations took place very close to here, we were spared. Currently my most serious concern is how to obtain some money.
Irene Nemirovsky to Mlle Le Fur*39 August 1940 I hope you have safely received my letter confirming receipt of the 9,000 francs. Here is why I am writing to you today. Just imagine that in a small local newspaper, I read the short announcement that I am sending you: Pursuant to a recent directive, no foreigners may contribute to the new newspaper.
I would very much like to have the details of this directive and I thought you might be able to provide them for me.