The Library of Roger Wagner - PBA Galleries

211. perlès, AlfreD. One-page typed letter signed with holograph postscript, to Henry Miller. 1 page TLs, with
holograph postscript at left margin, signed Fred. 9x7, in original mailed envelope. Accompanied by a
3½x5 black and white photograph of Perlès kissing a younger female lover, identified as Ceres (who
died of a drug overdose the following year).
Dorset: Dec. 4, 1978
Perlès addresses the subject of death, after having learned that their mutual friend Joseph Delteil
had died: “...The news of his death came as a shock to me, though I knew all along that people
do die eventually. And at our advanced age it shouldn’t be a surprise that old friends keep dying
right and left. I wonder who’s next in line, but I don’t think it will be you, Joey. You’re too tough
and too resilient to let a few physical infirmities gain the upper hand. And I remember your
fortune teller (in Colossus of Maroussi) reassuring you that you’ll never die. That’s nonsense, of
course, the man was either a clairvoyant idiot or simply illiterate. All living organisms are bound
to die, else there could be no life...At any rate, I’ve no fear of death, nor even of dying. Can’t be
too bad. And it’s useless to speculate on what comes after. Best attitude to take is to wait and
see. Some happy days are still in store for you, Joey....” Fine.
(200/300)
212. perlès, AlfreD. One-page typed letter signed to Henry Miller. 1 page TLs. 12½x6, on blue paper that
doubled as the mailing envelope.
Wells: 8/12/79
A friendly and funny letter from Miller’s longtime best friend, with whom he spent his early
years in Paris. Miller wrote much about his love of “Joey” (which they both called each other)
during his life. On having received from Miller a photograph of Miller and the young Brenda
Venus, Perlès writes: “...But Venus is a beauty! Has she perchance a sister called Aphrodite and
if so could she be shipped to me? Greek goddesses are in short supply here. My last one, Ceres
(in charge of agriculture, cornflakes, etc.) died a few weeks ago at the age of 29. Overdose of
some drug. Aphrodite would suit me fine. If she’s as lovely as your Venus I might turn myself
into a male Scheherezade and tell her a thousand and one stories which I’m afraid I could no
longer enact. (I always liked metaphors and don’t mind mixing them). Yes, the address sounds
good, but you know Wells. It’s a narrow-minded town (pop. 8,000) that only prides itself on a
cathedral less than a thousand years old and already in need of being propped up every now
and then. Like us, really....” Air letter is fragile, with top 1/3 nearly detached, lower 1/3 is still
attached to middle 1/3 at margin, else a good letter with interesting content.
(200/300)
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