FEMINISM. GOEGG-POUCHOULIN (Marie). Letters from Marie Goegg - Lot 34

FEMINISM. GOEGG-POUCHOULIN (Marie). Letters from Marie Goegg to [André Léo]. Geneva and Thiergarten, June 17 & July 22, 1869. Set of Two autograph letters signed to [André Léo, Victoire Léodile Béra dite](1), Geneva and Thiergarten, June 17 and July 22, 1869. 6 pp. in-8, one with embossed letterhead of the "Association internationale des femmes" (slight traces of tabbing on both letters, two very slight tears at the bottom of the July 22 letter, without affecting the text). On June 17, she begins her letter with an apology: "I had hoped from day to day to be able to give you positive news about the arrival of the book you were kind enough to send me(2). Unfortunately my expectation has been in vain and I greatly fear that it will be prolonged indefinitely [...]" she continues "I am all the more eager to read it as your letter gives me proof. That you embrace all the questions advanced, and that I am happy to find in you a valuable support for your "International Women's Association."" She quotes passages from her correspondent's letter, emphasizing certain points: "It is very necessary that thinking women all rally around the common goal, and leave aside the petty spirit that hinders all noble efforts"; she goes on to suggest that to combat dissension, her association, whose vocation is "to unite and confuse particular interests, to rise above parties and personalities [...]", should be integrated. A little over a month elapsed between the letter mentioned below and that of July 22, by which time Marie Goegg had received the book. On her way to Germany, she wrote "[...] I had not taken any other reading material with me [...]", indicating that to read your work "[...] you need more than time, you need peace and quiet around you, because every sentence carries a sentence [...]", and after an arduous journey, Marie Goegg was finally able to read the work she had sent, and thanked her interlocutor "[...] for the moments of real pleasure I experienced [...], seeing how many ideas we had in common. I don't mean, however, that we agree on everything; on the contrary, there are very marked nuances in our mutual desire for progress, but apart from this diversity [...] which is probably due to the environment in which we both live, we agree on all the main points and on the substance of things, and I admire the lucidity of observation with which you approach and treat all subjects." She goes on to stress the interest shown by newspapers in her work "[...] when I opened n° 15 [of the magazine Le Droit des Femmes](3) (my husband sends me all my letters and newspapers), I was delighted to see that Mme Angélique Arnaud(4) had taken it as the subject of one of her articles. the manner in which the account is given did not satisfy me, and the sound judgment I admired [...]" she is astonished that Angélique Arnaud is noted for "the tribute paid to the Duchess of Orleans [...]" and continues "you highly proclaim that the truly happy solution lies in the universal republic! [...] Let us create a new society from which disdain and exclusivism are banished, and which is based instead on complete justice and benevolence towards all creatures. [...]" (1) André Léo (1824-1900) writer, feminist and socialist activist, member of the Communarde. She published numerous works, including La femme et les moeurs, Liberté ou Monarchie (1869). With Benoit Malon and the Reclus brothers, she founded the newspaper La République des Travailleurs (1871). (2) La femme et les moeurs, Liberté ou Monarchie (1869). (3) Droit des Femmes, a weekly published from 1869 to 1891, then under the name L'Avenir des femmes from 1871 to 1879. (4) Angélique Arnaud (1797-1884) French writer, journalist and feminist. She wrote for various newspapers on liberal and republican causes. She defended the causes of feminism, socialism and Saint-Simonism. Her progressive novels were very popular with women. She is an active member of the Société pour l'amélioration du sort des femmes and writes for the feminist press: Droit des femmes, L'Avenir des femmes, Opinion des femmes, Opinion nationale, La Femme and La Solidarité.