Paris (AFP)

Gallimard intends to play his role of "exclusive editor" of Celine's literary work, Antoine Gallimard told AFP on Friday, president of the historic publishing house of the author of "Voyage au bout de la nuit" , while several thousand unpublished sheets have resurfaced in spectacular conditions.

"Céline attached such importance to these manuscripts", recalls the editor about these texts stolen from the Liberation in the Parisian apartment of the writer, that "Gallimard must play the role which has always been his since 1951, in accordance with the wishes of the author: the exclusive publisher of his literary work. We will not miss the call, both out of enthusiasm and out of duty ".

Some 6,000 unpublished sheets were recovered at the end of July by the beneficiaries of Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894-1961) and his widow, Lucette Destouches, who died in 2019. The existence of these documents was made public last week by Le World.

They had been kept for 15 years by Jean-Pierre Thibaudat, drama critic and former journalist for Liberation, who claims to have been given them by one of his readers, whose identity he has not revealed.

"I am very reassured that such a treasure has finally been entrusted to the beneficiaries", greets Antoine Gallimard.

"It is a real guarantee, as much for the conservation as for the publication and the development of the manuscripts."

While the publishing world, researchers and specialists, wonder about the future of these texts, Antoine Gallimard recalls the "priority given to Gallimard for the publication of all unpublished writings to come" in a contract signed with the widow of the sulphurous author after his death.

While "a new moment in this editorial history opens", the president of Gallimard editions said he was "very impatient to see [his] house welcome new editions of these found pages".

"Editing is also a matter of patience. The work must be carried out very scrupulously", he underlined before specifying that "we will be able to take into account both the very legitimate interest of the readers and the recommendations. of the scientific community ".

The publishing work to which the Gallimard house stands ready will intervene, says the editor "to the extent of course that the author's beneficiaries, with whom we have the best relations, will have informed us of their agreement" .

Contacted by AFP, they mentioned a possible meeting at the beginning of September with the publisher.

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