Paul FORT - [MANUSCRIT AUTOGRAPHE] Le Voyage au Pays de Racine - 1

FORT (Paul)
The Journey to Racine’s Country

AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT signed by Paul Fort (1872–1960), bringing together three poetic compositions devoted to La Ferté-Milon, the birthplace of Jean Racine.

Octavo (22 cm x 16.5 cm), [12 leaves].
Half brick-red morocco with corner pieces, raised bands on spine, author’s name and title gilt, gilt top edge.

Entirely and carefully calligraphed in Paul Fort’s hand, with titles and subtitles, underlining in red and blue pencil, and neat handwritten pagination.

It opens with a title page bearing Paul Fort’s signature and listing the following three compositions:
I. Morning Stroll in La Ferté-Milon [4 leaves]
II. The Seven Houses of Jean Racine [5 leaves]
III. Racine’s Shadow Watches Over France [3 leaves]

A fine poetic collection in which Paul Fort celebrates La Ferté-Milon, its streets, houses, and landscapes, while evoking the memory of Jean Racine.

Of particular interest is a variant at the end of Racine’s Shadow Watches Over France, where the poet offers an alternative version of the final stanza, introduced by the note: “Nota: The final stanza may be recited as follows.”

The Seven Houses of Jean Racine had previously appeared in the literary journal Vers et Prose in 1912, as part of a collection devoted to La Ferté-Milon.

Scuffing to the spine; otherwise in very good condition.