Jean Grenier & Jean Paulhan, 1925-1968

Jean Paulhan was, without their knowledge, the faithful depositary of the faithful of whom he himself was the treasure, despite the large number of small notes that he sowed for the pigeons of the post office, but thanks to the voluntary beauties of writing as clear as a beak, and ink poured by a gold founder.
It also happens that, among those around Paulhan, Jean Grenier was a companion for forty years. Age separated them without disuniting them. Furthermore, we were in the waters of Paulhan without being forgotten or submerged. Subordinates never felt subordinate.
I attribute this free play of the disciples to the taciturn courtesy of the master. [...] He was allowed to be sharp because he was not eloquent.
Jean Grenier resembled him in that respect. Speech, which, despite himself, he made a profession of, was not his strong suit. He had less ardor for expression than a taste for meditation on which the unfortunate delights of doubt were nourished.

[Here is the correspondence], not in its entirety, as if it cost nothing to print twelve hundred pages, and the greed of the common reader was proportionate to the zeal of the connoisseurs. I had to make my choice based on the wisdom of the two families who entrusted me with its care.

(excerpt from the preface by Roger Judrin)

Publisher : Calligrammes

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