Irène Némirovsky - Suite Française

10 October 1938

Editions Genio (Milan) to Albin Michel

We would be extremely grateful if you could tell us if Mme I. Némirovsky is of Jewish descent. According to Italian law, anyone who has one parent, either mother or father, of Aryan race, is not considered to be Jewish.

28 August 1939

Michel Epstein[1] to Albin Michel

My wife is currently in Hendaye (Villa Ene Exea, Hendaye-Plage) with the children. I am worried for her in these difficult times, for she has no one to come to her aid if she needs help. May I count on your friendship to send me, if you possibly can, a letter of recommendation she could eventually use for the authorities and the press in this area (Basses-Pyrénées, Landes, Gironde)?

[1] Irène Némirovsky's husband. Like her, a refugee who fled Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution to live in Paris, where he was a bank manager at the Banque des Pays du Nord. (Editor)

28 August 1939

Albin Michel to Michel Epstein

The name Irène Némirovsky should make it possible for her to open many doors! In spite of that, I would be more than pleased to give your wife a letter of introduction for the newspapers I know, but I will need certain details that you alone are in a position to provide. I would therefore ask you to please come and see me this evening.

28 September 1939

Robert Esménard[2] to Irène Némirovsky

We are currently living in terrifying times which could become tragic overnight. Moreover, you are Russian and Jewish, and it could be that people who do not know you-though they must be few and far between given your fame as a writer-might cause problems for you, also, as we must try to anticipate everything, I thought that my recommendation as an editor might be useful to you.

I am therefore prepared to confirm that you are a writer of great talent, which is also obvious, moreover, by the success of your works both in France and abroad where some of your works have been translated. I am also happy to confirm that since October 1933, the year you came to me after having published some books with my colleague Grasset, including David Golder, which was a resounding success and gave rise to a remarkable film, since then, I have always had the most cordial of relations with both you and your husband, apart from our professional relationship.

[2] Director of Albin Michel Publishers and son-in-law of Albin Michel who, at this time, no longer managed the publishing house alone for health reasons. (Editor)

21 December 1939

Temporary Travel Pass from 24 May to 23 August 1940

(for Irène Némirovsky)

Nationality: Russian

Authorised to travel to Issy-l'Évêque

Authorised mode of transport: train

Purpose: to see her children who have been evacuated

12 July 1940

Irène Némirovsky to Robert Esménard

It's only been two days since the post is more or less back in service in the little village where I am. I am taking a chance and writing to your Paris address. I hope with all my heart that you have made it through these terrible times safe and sound and that you have no cause to worry about any of your family. As for me, even though military operations took place very close to here, we were spared. Currently my most serious concern is how to obtain some money.

9 August 1940

Irène Némirovsky to Mlle Le Fur[3],

I hope you have safely received my letter confirming receipt of the 9,000 francs. Here is why I am writing to you today. Just imagine that in a small local newspaper, I read the short announcement that I am sending you:

Pursuant to a recent directive, no foreigners may contribute to the new newspaper.

I would very much like to have the details of this directive and I thought you might be able to provide them for me.

Do you think it applies to a foreigner who, like myself, has lived in France since 1920? Does it apply to political writers or to writers of fiction as well?

In general, you know that I am completely isolated from society and am unaware of all the recently adopted directives regarding the press.

If you think there is something that might be of interest to me, would you be so kind as to let me know. There's also something else. I am again going to ask your help, as I recall how very kind and obliging you are. I would like to know which writers are in Paris and who is being published in the current newspapers. Could you find out if Gringoire and Candide, [4] as well as the bigger magazines, intend to return to Paris? And what about the publishing houses? Which ones are open?

[3] Robert Esménard's secretary. (Editor)

[4] Both newspapers which published Irène Némirovsky's works.

8 September 1940

Irène Némirovsky to Mlle Le Fur

As far as I am concerned, there are persistent rumours here which lead me to believe that we might be part of the Free Zone one of these days and I wonder how I would then get my monthly payments.

4 October 1940 [5]

Law on Jewish Residents

From the date of the dissemination of this current law, foreign residents of Jewish descent may be interned in special camps by decision of the Préfet in the department where they reside.

All residents of Jewish descent may at any time be forced to live in a specified location by decision of the Préfet in the department where they reside.[6]

[5] The sections quoted here are Articles 1 and 3 of this law. It immediately followed the famous law of 3 October 1940 which "excluded Jews from elected bodies, from positions of responsibility in the civil service, judiciary, and military services, and from positions influencing cultural life (teaching in public schools, newspaper reporting or editing, direction of films or radio programmes)." It also defined "Jews racially as anyone with three Jewish grandparents, whatever the religion of the present generation." See Robert O. Paxton, Vichy France, pp. 174-5.

[6] France is divided into regions known as départements, similar to the British counties. These in turn are subdivided into cantons and communes. Each department has a central government representative called the Préfet, with several Sous-Préfets in the cantons. Note that a distinction is being made between foreign Jews and French Jews. French Jews believed they would remain exempt from such laws. Irène Némirovsky was never granted French citizenship.

Irène Némirovsky to Madeleine Cabour [7]

You now know all the problems I have had. What's more, we have been living with a considerable number of these gentlemen for a few days now. This is painful for all sorts of reasons. I am therefore looking forward with great pleasure to the little village you've told me about, but may I ask you for some information.

1 How big is Jailly in terms of inhabitants and local retailers?

2 Is there a doctor and a pharmacist?

3 Is it being occupied?

4 Can you get any food, on the whole? Do you have butter and meat?

This is particularly important to me now because of the children, as one of them has just had the operation you know about.

[7] Madeleine Cabour, born Avot, was a great friend of Irène Némirovsky, with whom she corresponded regularly as a young girl. After the war, her brother, René Avot, took care of Elisabeth Némirovsky when the legal guardian of the two girls went to the United States. Elisabeth lived with his family until she came of age. (Editor)

10 May 1941

Irène Némirovsky to Robert Esménard

Dear Monsieur, you will recall that, according to our agreement, I was meant to have 24,000 francs on 30 June. I do not need this money at the moment, but I admit that the recent laws regarding the Jews make me fear that difficulties might arise by the time this payment is made in six weeks' time, and that would be disastrous for me. I must therefore appeal to your kindness and ask you to bring forward this payment by immediately giving a cheque in that amount to my brother-in-law, Paul Epstein, made payable to him. I have also asked him to telephone you to come to an arrangement about this. Of course, he will sign a receipt to release you fully from your responsibility towards me. It distresses me to have to trouble you yet again but I am sure you will understand the reasons for my concern. I hope you still have excellent news regarding A. Michel.