PROUST MARCEL: (1871-1922) French Novelist and Essayist. Best known for his major novel A la Recherche du Temps ...

PROUST MARCEL: (1871-1922) French Novelist and Essayist. Best known for his major novel A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (`In search of Lost Time´). Rare and excellent A.L.S., `Marcel´, a large good signature example, four pages, 8vo, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [c.1915-1916], to Albert, in French. Proust writes vertically and horizontally, and numbers the pages as they are written in different order, first referring to his poor health, and stating `My little dear Albert, I have just been through few long weeks with overwhelming fever which did not even permit me to trace a line. I am better now but my eyes troubles have increased and for this reason I cannot write until I will meet an oculist and will have glasses. But to visit an oculist you have to be able to get up. Vicious circle.´ Further sending a reproach to his correspondent, saying `Your letter seems to say that you have been ill, I would like to read more about this. But, bad boy, you never write your address and therefore I need two days searching in the dumpers of papers I have to find an old letter of you where the address is shown.´ Before concluding Proust comments his financial situation and states `My ruin is slowly but surely being completed..´ and sends his best wishes to Albert´s sisters and parents. Paper with two worlds water mark ''Papier des Deux Mondes''. Folded, with small overall foxing stains, otherwise G £2500-3500 Albert Nahmias (1886-1979) was a broker who became friend and confident of Proust. They met for the first time in 1908 at Cabourg where Albert together with his sisters, Anita and Estie, and their parents used to spend holidays. He also worked as his secretary, helping with transcriptions, dealing with editors, etc… Albert and his sisters were models of Albertine Simonet in his most prominent work In Search of Lost Time.