A HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO MARCEL JOUHANDEAU FROM MICHEL LEIRIS. 1933.

A handwritten, dated and signed “thank you” letter from Leiris to his former gay lover Jouhandeau sent for allowing the writer (and his wife) to stay at the latter’s home while Jouhandeau was not there.

Leiris had been an early surrealist (introduced to the group by Masson) but by the late 1920s he had moved away from Breton and along with Bataille,Blanchot, Klossowski and  Caillois founded the College de Sociologie and turned to his fascination to anthopology and travel; the date here (20 juin 1933) is a little before the completion his important L’Afrique Fanntome.

This letter (written on thin transparent paper) is a tatty with minor paper loss at the very end and top right and has been repaired at some point with tape – but offers a clear  insight into the two writer’s post-sexual relationship.