{"id":274,"date":"2012-06-02T05:04:51","date_gmt":"2012-06-02T04:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www2.amiscorbin.com\/rencontre-avec-andre-malraux-anglais\/"},"modified":"2012-06-02T05:04:51","modified_gmt":"2012-06-02T04:04:51","slug":"rencontre-avec-andre-malraux-anglais","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.amiscorbin.com\/en\/rencontre-avec-andre-malraux-anglais\/","title":{"rendered":"Rencontre avec Andr\u00e9 Malraux (anglais)"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEETINGS WITH ANDRE MALRAUX<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 Translated by Matthew Evans-Cockle<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

1928-29<\/span><\/p>\n

The first encounter took place around 1928-29 when Joseph Baruzi, a regular at the receptions held by Arthur Fontaine, brought Henry along to listen to Malraux speak of his voyage in Persia.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

1935<\/span><\/p>\n

At the publication release of Qu\u2019est-ce que la m\u00e9taphysique<\/em> ([French] translation of<\/span><\/p>\n

Heidegger), Henry meets Malraux at the Gallimard Publishing House. (cf. the Gallimard<\/span>dossier of 3 of Malraux\u2019s letters)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

1936<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon our return from Germany, one beautiful July evening while out for a stroll, just as we are passing before the terraces on Bd. St. Germain, Henry stops and says; \u201cwell well, there\u2019s Malraux\u201d.  I see a man in a pale trench coat, his face full of resolve, who rises to greet us.  He announces to Henry his imminent departure for Spain, and informs him of his resolution.  Clearly Malraux was waiting there for the person with whom he was to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

1953<\/span><\/p>\n

We receive in April \u201cLes Voix du Silence\u201d [The Voices of Silence] with a dedication.  The arrival of this book is followed shortly after by the Malraux\u2019s arrival in Teheran, where, on the 19th<\/sup> of May, Coulet offers a dinner at the Embassy to celebrate their arrival \u2013but as the plane didn\u2019t arrive until midnight we were all a bit tired, with the exception of Malraux and Henry whose cultural complicity in a certain manner pulverized the diplomatic conviviality.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the visit to the \u201cInstitut fran\u00e7ais\u201d, just as he was leaving the Iranian studies Department Library, Andr\u00e9 Malraux shakes the hands of Henry\u2019s collaborators and declares: \u201cFrance is proud of you\u201d.  Then to Henry, who accompanies him to the door, Malraux, with a malicious smile and a humorous edge to his voice, murmurs in Henry\u2019s ear: \u201cYou see Corbin\u2026 all I have to do\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Malraux\u2019s humour lies in the art with which he maintains a certain distance.  We never know if the satisfaction of the accomplished act is not abruptly attenuated by the skeptical judgment already emerging from his rational intellect.<\/span><\/p>\n

This feature strikes us anew when, upon his request, Malraux with Madeleine, comes to pay us a visit one afternoon to speak with Henry about Alamut, and the Ismailis about whom he wants to write a book, as he had dreamed many years ago that the action of one of his novels should take place in Ispahan: \u201cOne of the three most beautiful cities in the world\u201d (reported by Clara Malraux on the occasion of a dinner hosted by Iran Teymourtache).  I had offered Henry a numbered edition of the Struggle for the Angel<\/em> in Istanbul in 1944, partly due to the title.  I show Malraux his book printed inSwitzerland, during the war, asking him if he would be willing to pen in a dedication.  Without hesitation, with kindness and as though happy to feel the weight of this rare copy in his hands, he pens in several lines with for Henry \u201chis Ismaili complicity\u201d and then flickering quickly over his face a shadow of malice, of skepticism, as he notes ironically the value that his initials have added to the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

From 24 to the 27 November 1958.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short official trip made by the Malraux to explain the new train of events in France.  He does so in a brilliant lecture at the University.  A dinner at the embassy allows us to visit with them. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

1964.<\/span><\/p>\n

The weekend of the 12th<\/sup> of September 1964, at Philippe and Pauline de Rothschild\u2019s is our longest stay in the Malraux\u2019s company.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back from Ascona and preparing our next departure for Teheran when Pauline de Rothschild phones to invite us to spend the weekend along with the Malraux at Pouillac.  Surprise, agitation and there we are Saturday at 6pm., cruising over theAnjou all bathed in light.  The fatigue induced by the preparations abates and the unexpectedness of this encounter excites our imagination.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the caravel\u2019s landing our cars are waiting for us at the foot of the stairs.  A secretary takes our tickets and without waiting for the luggage directs the Malraux towards one car and us towards another.  We cross through the vines, and the pine-woods.  An enormous sunset fires the sky and plays at hide and seek with the tall somber pines.  Then it\u2019s a majestic alley bordered by a highly fragrant, flowering greensward.  The cars pull up at a gate.  Dogs approach, and Malraux, somewhat astonished, remarks: \u201cwelcomed by the dogs\u2026\u201d.  But no sooner said than valets and maids appear around us and we see a little well lit pavilion in the style of Napolean III, on the landing of which the Rothschilds together with Guy Dumer are waiting to welcome us.  The salon, with its decorative dahlias is entirely in the style of Napoleon III as is everything else in this pavilion.  It\u2019s very hot, the champagne flows; Malraux is already analyzing an engraving and then turning towards Henry, while speaking of the book by Jung \u201cAnswer to Job\u201d which he has just read, says: \u201cThe re-discovery of symbols, that is the great conquest of the first half of this century.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Around 8:30 pm., at Pauline\u2019s suggestion we leave the Napoleon III pavilion to settle in to our apartments.  In the twilight we cross a lawn and discern through a hedgerow of greenery a long building.  It\u2019s the old barn that has been enlarged.  An ample staircase leads up to the first floor.  On the left a vast library, beautiful room with visible vaulting where our dinner will be served to us.  Immediately opposite the stairs is the long salon in which numerous windows look out on the vineyards.  Extraordinary vision.  The vineyard like a downy sea extends to the level horizon above which there\u2019s just a village clock tower, several trees and then\u2026 some hills\u2026 off to the right we follow a corridor opening into the Rothschild\u2019s apartments before crossing over a set of steps.  It\u2019s another wing of the building reserved for guests. Everything is vast and airy, and of a luxury catering to one\u2019s every whim.  Our windows give on to that part of the garden that we had just crossed.  Lovely hot night, beneath shimmering stars.  At dinner it is above all to Malraux whom we listen tirelessly: El\u00e9anore d\u2019Aquitaine, one of the loves he shares with Henry, symbols, Chagall whose opera roof will be open for public viewing on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sunday morning around 11:30 we gathered for the visit to the wine stores.  Madeleine and Andr\u00e9 Malraux, Philippe and the \u201ctwo alchemical fathers,\u201d who have been responsible now for some several generations for the vineyards and the wines.  At the entrance to a huge chamber where the barrels are all lined up in uniform columns on either side of a central alley, we have almost the impression of entering into a church for at the back of the room is a high table over which is set the coat of arms.  On the threshold Malraux pronounces one of his sybilline phrases that leaves us all rather aghast: \u201cThe barrel seems to me, among the other solids, as the mushroom among the vegetables.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust what do you mean, exactly?\u201d Philippe daringly asks.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the visit to the cellars, where the spiders\u2019 webs seem as venerable as the 1870 vintage bottles, we reemerge into the dazzling light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lunch is served at one extremity of the large salon, but first Malraux and Henry engage in an aside to envisage the future of the Department of Iranian Studies in T\u00e9h\u00e9ran as well as the projects of the king of Morocco who would like to create a faculty of liberal theology and have Henry as one of the participants.  The conversation continues during lunch and Madeleine recalls a Morrocan writer telling her: \u201cfor me, the two greatest French authors are Malraux and Corbin\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately after lunch Philippe, utterly merciless, takes us on a visit of his museum.  Guy Dumer and Pauline who were able to rest during the morning, join our party.  In principle the visit to the museum should have lasted an hour.  Thanks to Malraux it continues a full five and a half.  He improvises a lecture on each tableau.  The museum caretaker takes hurried notes.  Fatigued, Henry and Philippe withdraw to sit down every now and then.  A dejected Madeleine takes off her sandals, an example immediately followed by Philippe and myself.  Pauline enraptured, doesn\u2019t leave Malraux\u2019s sides, provokes him, stimulates the curator\u2019s enthusiasm.  But our tea, which was to be served in Pauline\u2019s apartment, is cancelled for lack of time and we all gather again for champagne in the salon, before the Rothschilds and Malraux go to the library to receive the men of the village and the estate.  And altogether in character, Malraux\u2019s query to us afterwards: \u201cWhen I questioned him about his problems why did that man answer: \u201coh! For my part when I have concerns I confide them to God\u201d?  Was he dubious of my goodwill or of power in general?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Late in the evening dinner is served us once again in the Napoleon III pavilion.  With the help of an excellent 1870Bordeaux, conversation is of a general nature, one moment burlesque - Malraux and Henry vie to find a phrase that would serve to suggest to a troublesome guest, while preserving all the appearance of great politeness, that his departure would be most appreciated - the next moment more personal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Malraux: \u201cOne day Corbin will be tired of writing about others.  He will write about himself.  It will be the book of the century.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pauline: \u201cOh! How I wish that book were written here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Corbin: \u201cDo we not always write of ourselves?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And when Pauline asks Malraux if he ever takes a moment\u2019s rest, he answers, turning to Madeleine, \u201cOnly when I can hear her at her piano\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The evening finishes very late in an atmosphere of intimate and euphoric camaraderie, leading Malraux to exclaim, as we are all making our way back to our apartments: \u201cYou\u2019ll see, Corbin, the next time we meet each other it will be on the top of the Eiffel Tower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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