Henri BERGSON - Lettre Autographe sur la charge de travail à l’École Normale - 1900

Brief interesting autograph letter signed by Henri Bergson (1859–1941), addressed to his friend and colleague Henri Berr (1863–1954), philosopher and historian of ideas, founder of the Revue de Synthèse Historique.

Dated in Paris, May 25, 1900, this letter testifies to the esteem and intellectual camaraderie between two major figures of French thought at the turn of the century.


In this text, Bergson thanks Berr for his congratulations and apologizes for his delayed response regarding his new publication, mentioning the considerable burden imposed on him at that time by the École Normale Supérieure.

The philosopher concludes by sending his warmest regards to his correspondent and Madame Berr.



The full text of the letter:


Paris, May 25, 1900


Thank you, my dear colleague, for your very kind congratulations. I am quite late in replying to you, as I should have responded long ago to the letter you kindly sent me regarding your new publication. I intend to do so in person or in writing, but the École Normale imposes such considerable work on me and leaves me so little leisure that I kindly ask you to grant me some more time.

Our best compliments to Madame Berr and to you. Kind regards.

H. Bergson


This letter, written in 1900, takes on a particular resonance: it is the year when Bergson published his famous essay The Laugh, an important work that marks a turning point in his reflection on perception, consciousness, and society.


Dimensions: 8.5 x 11.5 cm