4104. Édouard Riou to EBB

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 24, 227–228.

5 rue Gabrielle,

Paris, Montmarte.

11th Decber 57.

Madam,

I [1] have just read your most interesting narrative “Aurora Leigh” and was so much affected by the merit of the work, that j [sic] should most willingly let my countrymen have a share of the interest I felt, by translating it into French. [2]

I therefore take the liberty to inquire if you are willing to grant me the authorisation of doing so, and most earnestly desire you to be persuaded that I will do my utmost for faithfully interpreting the original.

I beg to be excused for my broken English

and remain,

Madam,

Your most devoted servant and admirer.

Riou.

Address, on integral page: Mrs Elizabeth Barnett [sic] Browning. / [continued in unidentified hand] Casa Guidi 1902 via Maggio / Florence. [3]

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.

1. Édouard Riou (1833–1900), painter and illustrator, best known for his illustrations in the early novels of Jules Verne, including Cinq semaines en ballon (1863), Voyage au centre de la terre (1864), and Vingt mille lieues sous les mers (1870).

2. As RB indicates in a letter to Joseph Milsand, dated 31 January 1858 (ms at ABL/JMA), Riou’s proposal was accepted, provided that Milsand supervise the translation. The project was evidently abandoned, however. There is no record of such a translation of Aurora Leigh.

3. A London postmark suggests that this letter was sent to London, probably to Chapman and Hall, where it was addressed for Florence.

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