Irène Némirovsky - Suite Française

14 August 1942

Michel Epstein to Mme Cabour

Sadly Irène has gone-where? I do not know. You can imagine how worried I am! She was taken away on 13 July and I have had no word of her since. I am alone here with the two little girls who are being looked after by Julie. Perhaps you remember having met her at avenue Président-Wilson. If I ever receive any news of Irène, I will let you know immediately. You wish to help us, dear Madame. I will take advantage of this offer without even knowing if what I ask is in the realm of possibility. Could you get us some thread and cotton wool as well as some typewriter paper? We would be extremely grateful to you.

Irène Némirovsky died at Auschwitz on 17 August 1942, a fact which makes the correspondence that follows this date even more poignant. (Translator)

20 August 1942.

Michel Epstein to Mme Cabour

Irène was taken away on 13 July by the French police, acting on orders from the German police, and taken to Pithiviers-because she was a stateless person of Jewish descent, without taking into account the fact that she is Catholic, her children are French and that she took refuge in France to escape the Bolsheviks, who also stole her parents' entire fortune. She arrived at Pithiviers on 15 July and, according to the only letter I received from her, she was due to leave again on the 17th for an unknown destination. Since then, nothing. Not a word, I don't know where she is or even if she is alive. Since I do not have the right to leave this place, I have asked various people to intervene, without success as yet. If there is anything at all you can do, I beg you to do it, for this suffering is unbearable. Imagine that I can't even send her any food, that she has no clothes or money… Up until now, I've been left here for I am over forty-five…

15 September 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier

Still no sign of life from Irène. As Mme Paul[28] advised, I have taken no new initiatives. I am counting on her alone. I don't think I can bear this uncertainty for long. You said you were waiting for some news from Dr. Bazy. I assume you haven't had any? I hope the Red Cross can at least make sure that Irène gets some clothing, money and food before winter sets in.

If you see Mme Paul, would you please be so kind as to tell her I have received a card from His Grace Ghika[29] who, six months ago, was still in good health in Bucharest.

[28] Wife of Paul Morand, but to be safe, it was necessary to use ambiguous names. (Editor)

[29] A Romanian bishop prince who often came to see Irène. (Editor)

17 September 1942

André Sabatier to Michel Epstein

I telephoned Mme Paul as soon as I got back. I expressed your gratitude to her and told her you had taken her advice. All the steps she has taken, even those with the person to whom you have written a letter, still have not yielded any results. She told me: "It's like banging your head against a wall." Mme Paul thinks that the wise thing to do is to wait until these great movements of populations are somehow contained and stabilised.

19 September 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier

Our letters have crossed. I thank you for giving me some news, no matter how depressing it may be. Could you please find out if it would be possible for me to be exchanged for my wife-I would perhaps be more useful in her place and she would be better off here. If this is impossible, maybe I could be taken to her-we would be better off together. Obviously, it would be necessary to speak to you about all this in person.

23 September 1942

André Sabatier to Michel Epstein

Ever since the 14 July I told myself that if a trip to Issy were necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to go. I do not think that, even now, this could lead to any definite viable decision. Here is why.

To exchange places is currently impossible. It would only mean one more inmate, even though the reason you give for it is obviously well-founded. Once we know exactly where Irène is, that is to say once all this is "organised," then and then alone, it might be possible to make this proposal.

Together, in the same camp! Another impossibility, as separation between men and women is strict and absolute.

The Red Cross has just sent me a telegram this morning asking for a detail that I do not know and that I am in turn asking you for in a telegram. I will send it immediately. Let us hope we are on the way to having some news.

29 September 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier

I promised I would be asking for your help and I am keeping my promise. This is what I need. My Alien Identity Card, valid until next November, has to be renewed. This depends on the Préfet of the Saône-et-Loire, Mâcon, and I must send him a renewal request soon. I do not wish this request to cause us any new problems. I am therefore asking if you could approach the Préfet of Mâcon. Everything is perfectly in order, but the scarcely propitious circumstances for people in my category lead me to fear problems from the Ministry of Justice etc. May I count on you? I will do nothing until I hear from you but the matter is pressing.

5 October 1942

André Sabatier to Michel Epstein

I have just received your letter of the 29th. I read it and had someone else read it. There is no doubt, my response is clear: stay where you are, doing anything at all seems to me extremely foolhardy. I am expecting Dimnet to come and see me and will be happy to discuss it with him.

12 October 1942

André Sabatier to Michel Epstein

This morning, I received your letter of the 8th as well as a copy of the letter you sent to Dijon. I am writing to tell you the following:

Our friend also had everything perfectly in order but you must realise that didn't prevent anything from happening.

As for the children, they are French and, to use your own expression, I do not get the impression that a change of scene is essential, but that is only my opinion. It seems to me that the Red Cross would be best placed to give you more detailed and concrete information.

19 October 1942

Michel Epstein to André Sabatier (Creusot Prison)

[letter written in pencil]

I am still at Creusot, being treated very well and in perfect health. I do not know when we will continue our journey or where we are going. I am counting on your friendship towards my family. They will need it. I am certain you will look after them. Apart from that, there is nothing I can tell you except that I am keeping faith and I bid you farewell.

Michel was first imprisoned at Creusot, then taken to Drancy. On 6 November 1942 he was deported to Auschwitz and sent immediately to the gas chamber. There is then a two-year gap in the correspondence. (Translator)

1 October 1944

Julie Dumot to Robert Esménard

I am writing to ask you to continue sending the monthly payments. You know that I have had many worries. For seven months I have had to keep hiding them in different places. I hope this nightmare is now over. I have gone to get the children to put them into boarding school. My eldest girl is in the third year of secondary school,[30] they are happy finally to be free for Denise will be able to do her schoolwork more calmly as her future is also at stake.

[30] Age thirteen to fourteen.

10 October 1944

Julie Dumot to André Sabatier

I have received the 15,000 francs. I have been worried about my children since last February. I had to hide them again. That is certainly the reason why Sister Saint-Gabriel did not reply to you. They couldn't go to school for seven months. I hope we will be more settled now and that they will work hard. I have put them back in boarding school. Denise is in the third year of secondary school and Babet in the fourth year of primary school.[31] They are very happy to see their friends again and the good Sisters who helped me so much in our time of need. I hope that now nothing else will happen to torture us while we wait for the return of our family in exile. Is it possible to sell any author's work now or are sales still being regulated?