First publication 21 June 1919.
To Céleste Albaret:
"To the Queen of pastiche (pastiches of Nourritures Terrestres, of Madame Scheikevitch, of Monsieur Straus), to the Queen of pastiche, but a queen who one would prefer to be a little less imperious, a little more majestically and placidly queen. Her humble imitator and pasticheur, Marcel Proust."
To André Beaunier:
"To André Beaunier, your utterly devoted friend Marcel Proust. I wanted to write to you at greater length, but I am terribly ill. My provisional address (because on top of everything is added a change of home) is 8 bis rue Laurent Pichat. Please don't give it out. Not knowing whether you are still at the same rue Moncey, I am sending you this care of the Écho de Paris where you used to write when I still had my eyesight and could read the papers. And I think you still write for them. The Saint-Simon pastiche is new, the Balzac is totally changed. You already know the others."
To Walter Berry:
"To Monsieur Walter Berry, who is perhaps the single noble product of the War. His grateful and admiring friend, Marcel Proust."
To René Blum:
"Dear friend (and I am going to say the same thing to your brother because, alas, the same applies) if I have taken such a long time to send you these books it is because I didn't want to send you anything but a first edition. Well I don't know which unscrupulous bookseller has monopolized them all but I couldn't find one. I have sent people out - for you - here there and everywhere. I was unable to look into it myself because, as you no doubt know, I have moved, which has come close to killing me. How pleased I would be to see you. Marcel Proust.
To René Boylesve:
"As a token of admiration to Monsieur René Boylesve. Marcel Proust."
To Madame Catusse:
"Dear Madame Catusse, I have finally found you this first edition of Pastiches. And the Jeunes Filles en Fleurs will soon follow I hope. I assure you that with my way of life it is not at all easy, and please excuse my slowness, even more so when I tell you that I have still been unable - the fault of my books and my health - to send a single one to France, Barrès, Mme de Noailles etc. We said that we would see each other. Alas! Have you left Paris perhaps? If not, would you like to come and have dinner on the day of your choosing, 8 bis, rue Laurent Pichat, where I am still living. I could have Céleste's husband come and get you and bring you back. Or seeing as I will be getting up for you,would you prefer the Ritz? Your respectful friend, Marcel Proust."
To Louis Chadourne:
"To Monsieur Louis Chadourne. So that he might rediscover in this book two steeples that he was indulgent towards, and above all for this: "Such is how I see you, oh my friend, my brother, and my memory is like the heavy waters of summer; the deep sea of memories turns us over in the same folds; have me enter with you into your night". If I ever meet you "in the streets that flow like water" I will explain to you why I have neither "fine paper" nor "first editions" of Pastiches, which would have been for you. Marcel Proust."
To Jean Cocteau:
"To my dear Jean. With all my affection, Marcel."
To Léon Daudet:
"In homage of admiration and gratitude. Your friend Marcel Proust."
To Lucien Daudet:
"To Lucien, who shows in these pastiches an all too fleeting
profile and to whom one day I hope to express my tenderness and my
admiration. His grateful friend, Marcel Proust."
To Lucien Descaves:
"As a token of admiration to Monsieur Lucien Descaves. Marcel Proust."
To Jean Dorsenne:
"To Monsieur Jean Dorsenne. As a token of friendship from the author. Marcel Proust."
To Robert Dreyfus:
"To Robert Dreyfus. As a token of my old and affectionate
friendship, in gratitude for all the documentation that he furnished me on
the Lemoine Affair and who alone has made possible the reconstitution of
these pastiches that he would have been able to write just as well as me,
and who in enjoying them and understanding them so perfectly, has
encouraged me to continue.
His devoted Marcel Proust.
The Balzac is very changed and the Saint-Simon is entirely new."
To Ramon Fernandez:
"To Monsieur Ramon Fernandez, who I love and who I miss. When can we resume our long conversations and especially your wonderful readings? Marcel Proust."
To Albert Flament:
"To Albert Flament who is as delightfully practised in painting and writing with the pen and with the brush. Are we ever to renew the intimacy of the old days? I am remote from everybody, almost at the Porte du Bois, 8bis rue Laurent Pichat, in a house in which the neighbours' conversations and the cold prevent a moment's sleep. How I would love to find something in rue Castiglione, not too far from you. But will I see you again? Make a little effort so that we can start to see each other again because I have never ceased to admire you. Marcel Proust."
To Robert de Flers:
"To Robert de Flers. His friend who will always remember those first dinners at Madame de Rozière's. Affectionately Marcel Proust."
To Gaston Gallimard:
"To Gaston Gallimard. In tender and grateful affection, this book that I had so much difficulty finding. Will we not get to see each other again my dear Cabourg friend, as in those years when we could hardly foresee that we would be working so close to each other, on the same work. Even closer would please me even better. Your Marcel Proust."
To Henri Ghéon:
"To Monsieur Henri Ghéon. If there survives in him something of the perfect critic that he was and which he has renounced for a more real greatness. Most affectionately, Marcel Proust."
To André Gide:
"To André Gide
Dear friend, undoubtedly you know the whole story of removals, aggravated
illness, the monopolization of my books by libraries which has prevented
me from sending you a first edition until now. I would really like to know
your address so that I can see you one day. Your admirer and friend Marcel
Proust."
To Maurice Hermès[?] / Maurice Barrès[?]:
"To Monsieur [...] As a token of profound friendship. Marcel Proust." [Name of recipient erased]
À Jacques de Lacretelle:
"To Jacques de Lacretelle, this edition of Pastiches et mélanges - unworthy of him but provisional in lasting affection. His friend, Marcel Proust."
To Valery Larbaud:
"To Valery Larbaud. An admirer of Enfantines, who, after a year, is still a little ill from Couperet. Marcel Proust."
To Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld:
"To Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld. His grateful and devoted friend. Marcel Proust."
To Georges de Lauris:
"To my dear George de Lauris, with all my tenderest admiration. Marcel Proust."
To Paul Lombard:
"To Monsieur Paul Lombard, as an expression of all his affection. Marcel Proust."
To Robert de Montesquiou:
"To Comte Robert de Montesquiou. In homage of an admiring and respectful attachment. Marcel Proust. I have indicated (p.73) where the portrait of you starts. It is only an unfinished sketch, in which however I hope you will recognise my steadfast ardour."
On page 73 Proust wrote: "Dear Sir, it starts here."
To Gastone de Pawlowski:
"As a token of gratitude to Monsieur Gaston de Pawlowski. Marcel Proust."
To Henri de Régnier:
"To Monsieur Henri de Régnier. (I have been waiting to find a first edition for my first admiration). Marcel Proust."
To Jacques Rivière:
"To Jacques Rivière, until I can find a first edition. His friend who admires him, Marcel Proust."
To Sydney and Violet Schiff:
"Dear readers, take only a small part of me,
The part that has pleased you because it resembles you,
But for us to meet let us not make that vow,
The truth of friendship is to feel together,
The rest of it is fragile, let us spare ourselves goodbyes."
(Sully Prud'homme)
To Paul Souday:
"To Monsieur Paul Souday. As a token of admiration. Marcel Proust."
To Madame Straus:
"To Madame Straus, this second edition so that she will be
able to see her portrait (a first sketch which will be continued), while I
wait until I have a first edition.
In homage of my respectful admiration and tender and grateful affection.
M.P."
To Jacques Truelle:
"To Jacques Truelle, these transpositions of our conversations about the great writers and the world of society. With affectionate friendship, Marcel Proust."
Other known dedicatees: Armand de Guiche, Paul Morand.
Created 13.11.22
Updated 25.08.23