"I am grateful that you came to my aid in one of the most difficult circumstances of my life" - Emil Zola - ...

"I am grateful that you came to my aid in one of the most difficult circumstances of my life" - Emil Zola - Handwritten letter from his hiding period in London during the Dreyfus affair - London, October 1898

Emil Zola, a handwritten letter and signature. Signed: "Z". The letter was written during Zola's stay in London, where he fled when he was sentenced to imprisonment following the publication of his article "I Blame" (J'accuse) in defense of Alfred Dreyfus. [London], October 1898. French.

In his letter sent to "Dear Fellows" without mentioning his name, Zola's predicament was reflected during his exile to London. He writes to a friend that if he passes 30 liber (The period coin) to other friend he will remain completely without money, so he prefers to give a check instead through a person named Violet. He also seeks to rent a bicycle for 30 shillings a month, and writes that four libers are supposed to be enough for his needs for three months, asking for additional financial help, and signing: "I will remain grateful that you have come to my aid in one of the most difficult circumstances of my life."

French writer and publicist Emil Zola (1840-1902), from the major supporter of Alfred Dreyfus who was accused of betrayal of the homeland and espionage in favor of Germany. In 1898, Zola joined in fighting the war of the Jewish officer. Zola has initiated actions to prove Dreyfus's innocence following the material he collected on the subject of Jewish writer Bernard Lazar. In a series of articles, Zola proved Dreyfus to be innocent. In January 1898, in the L'aurore newspaper, he published the article "I Accuse" (J'accuse) - an open letter to the President of France, accusing the army chiefs, the War Office and the military tribunal in distortion of law. About 300,000 copies of the paper were hijacked within hours, and the article shook the French public. Zola was prosecuted for libel, sentenced to a year in prison and forced to flee to England. He stayed in London for about a year. In London he lived a mysterious life, under pseudonyms (so he did not sign his full name on the letter before us), until he learned of a retrial for Dreyfus. In June, 1899, and was allowed to return to Paris.

Translation of the letter into Hebrew, and French transcription will be sent By request.

[3] Written pages, 18 cm. Very good condition.