Verlaine, Paul (1844-1896)


Autograph card signed "P. Verlaine" to Edmond Lepelletier

Aix-les-Bains 2 September evening [1889], 1 p. in-12 oblong

Autograph address and postmarks, old trace of assembly


In an amusing missive mixing French and English, Verlaine asks his friend Lepelletier if he has received his copy of Parallel


“Aix les Bains, 27th evening. In a hurry for a hurry. Dear friend, What is happening to my new Extreme Unctions, which you must have received some months ago? Would be glad she had appeared, chiefly for money sake. Tell me about it. Did you receive Parallt [Parallel]? Did you talk about it? I live wild. You should help me, would my novel appear in the Echo [L'Echo de Paris], and would I get any recuperation of it, would it be per advance. Excusez moi. Give my love to the comrades and believe me to be your old P. Verlaine »


Verlaine arrived in Aix-les-Bains at the end of August 1889, on the advice of his doctor Dr. Chauffard from the Broussais hospital in Paris, to treat osteoarthritis of the knee.

Parallel is the title of the seventh poetry collection in verse by Paul Verlaine.
Like previous collections, this work brings together many pieces composed previously and of various inspirations (erotic poetry from Les Amies, remnant of Cellulairement)