André gide (1869-1951). Lot n° 90

Signed autograph manuscript, La Tentative Amoureuse, 1893; 48 small in-4 pages written on the recto, on 25 bifeuillets mounted on tabs of laid paper in-fol. in one volume small in-fol. red relémaroquin with wide vertical band of ivory wove vellum on the flats with gilt numeral JM on the top plate, edged with a frieze of gilt interlacing on the morocco, smooth spine titled, gilt head, half morocco overlapping folder, slipcase (André Ballet, H. Berthauxdor). Complete manuscript of this novel. Composed in the summer of 1893, this "book about boredom and nothing" is also a "fable about his failure in love with Madeleine". (Frank Lestringant), but also a reflection on the writing: "I wanted to indicate, in this Tentative Amoureuse, the influence of the book on the writer, and during this very writing". (Diary, September 1893). Augmented with a subtitle, La Tentative amoureuse ou le Traité du vain désir, and dedicated to Francis Jammes, appeared in November 1893 at the Librairie de l'Art indépendant d'Edmond Bailly, in an edition of 162 copies.The present manuscript, in black ink on twin sheets of Joynson Superfine watermarked wove paper, presents numerous erasures and corrections, the most important concerning the beginning of the second part, which has been crossed out and deleted: "Dear, you know very well that if I have made sentences, it is for the others certainly and not for myself; but I always want to be heard more completely than that is possible and the thing that is only said doesn't seem to be sufficiently expressed to me. I had started this story with a rather beautiful breadth; then it shrank to ridiculous proportions; - Luc and Rachel bore me; and what does it matter to me what they did! - but I had resolved to show a relationship of seasons with the soul and I would like to win the Autumn". This manuscript, paginated I to WWIV then 25 to 46,