GENET JEAN: (1910-1986) French Novelist, Playwright, and political Activist. A.L.S., `Jean Genet´, one page, folio, n.p., 5<sup>th</sup> June 1983, to Edmonde Charles-Roux, in French. Genet explains the reasons of his long silence stating in part `Il s´est passé en effet beaucoup de temps. Depuis 76 j´ai été trop souvent hospitalisé a Villejuif pour un cancer - pres des cordes vocales ce qui m´a laisse a peu pres muet pendant pres d´un an. J´aurais, il y a deux ou trois ans, aimé vous revoir, mais vous étiez “aux marches des Palais” officiels… Si vous me revoyez, j´aurai change: je parle a peine, mon élocution est aussi claire que celle d´un escargot, je boite, etc… et vous, vous êtes aussi belle…´ (Translation: “A long time has indeed passed. Since 1976, I have been hospitalized too often in Villejuif for cancer - near the vocal cords, which left me almost mute for almost a year. I would have liked, two or three years ago, to see you again, but you were “on the steps of the official Palaces”… If you see me again, I will have changed: I barely speak, my speech is as clear as that of ´a snail, I limp, etc… and you, you are also beautiful…´) Accompanied by a copy of a T.L.S. sent by Edmonde Charles-Roux responding to Genet´s letter, dated 31^st August 1983, stating in part `Même avec une voix d´escargot, vous demeurerez l´ami Jean don't la seduction est intacte…´ (Translation: “Even with a snail speech, you will remain being the friend Jean whose seduction remains intact…”) Both letters attached by a staple. VG