GONCOURT Edmond et Jules de (1822-1896, 1830-1870).

GONCOURT Edmond et Jules de (1822-1896, 1830-1870).
Autograph MANUSCRIT of NOTES for Madame Gervaisais, [1867-1868]| 182 small in-8 pages (18.2 x 11.5 cm) bound in an in-8 volume of white vellum overlay, red title page on spine (one leaf detached).
Important preparatory notes for their novel Madame Gervaisais.
The last novel written by the Goncourt brothers before Jules' death in 1870, Madame Gervaisais was published in February 1869 by the Librairie internationale d'A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Cie. The novel, which is admirable, takes place in Rome and was inspired by their aunt Nephtalie de Courmont, who died in Rome of a sort of mystical madness: "In Rome, the account of the life of Madame Gervaisais, of the life of my aunt, in our mystical novel, is pure and authentic history", wrote Edmond in an afterword to the novel in 1892.
On this manuscript, originally made up of small notebooks made of folded sheets, filled with small, tight handwriting in brown or black ink, the handwriting of Jules and Edmond alternates. At the top of the notebook is a list of works on
Rome and the "Religious Books". The notes testify to the extent of the documentation amassed by the Goncourts| another notebook was quoted by Marc Fumaroli in the appendix to his remarkable edition of the novel (Gallimard, "Folio", 1982). We give below a non-exhaustive overview of these notes, especially since notes on the same work appear several times.
After some "Information given by Renan", Jules takes notes on the "Gospel according to St. Mark", then on St. Luke's, The Life of Damsel Antoinette Bourignon (1683)| then Edmond on the Letters of
Mrs. Swetchine| Jules on Le Père de Ravignan de Poujoulat, then Lacordaire's Letters to Young People, The Morbid Psychology of Dr.
Moreau de Tours, Les Bohémiens et leur musique de Liszt, Meditations on the Soul of Mary (1866)... A notebook by Edmond is devoted to Stendhal's Promenades dans Rome, St Augustine's Confessions, Madame Swetchine, her life and works by Falloux, Lamennais's Essay on indifference in matters of religion, Olier's Lettres spirituelles, Rodriguez's Pratique de la perfection chrétienne, Lettres d'un pèlerin sur Rome, Thomas Reid's Works published by Jouffroy, the Life of St Michael of the Saints... Then notes by Jules on Les Trois Rome by Mgr Gaume (notably on the ceremonies of Holy Week), and on the Trinitarians| followed by bibliographical notes by both of them, notes by Jules on the Letters of Mme Swetchine, then by Jules on the Correspondence of Lacordaire with Mme Swetchine, Saint François de Sales| then follows Edmond on the Urbanist sister of Fougères, the princess
Louise de Condé, Lamennais, Lacordaire, the Conferences of Passaglia| then Jules on Swedenborg, M. Olier, Saint Jerome, La Chrétienne de nos jours by Abbé Bautain, medical works on heart disease (Bouillaud, Corvisart) and on madness (Trélat, Annales médico-psychologiques)| Edmond on Lamennais, Scaramelli, François de Sales... Etc.
Autograph letter signed by Edmond de Goncourt on a flyleaf to Alidor DELZANT (1848-1905), who was to be one of his executors: "to Alidor Delzant in a friendly manner Edmond de Goncourt". On another leaf, autograph note signed by Alidor Delzant: "Notes manuscrites par
Edmond et Jules de Goncourt qui ont servi à la composition de Madame
Gervais, 1869", which indicates that the manuscript of the novel, "entirely in the hand of Jules de Goncourt", had been given to Philippe Burty, and bought at the Burty sale by Paul Gallimard.
PROVENANCE Edmond and Jules de GONCOURT (bookplate engraved by Gavarni)| Alidor
DELZANT (bookplate engraved by E. Loviot).