ALS in French, signed “I. Turgenev,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.28 x 8.25, personal monogrammed letterhead, December 12, 1871. Letter to Mrs. Benzen. In full (translated): "Every time you are thinking of me (if indeed this should even happen) you have to say to yourself: that is exactly what the French call a 'gros ingrat.' I am definitely no 'gros ingrat,' I can assure you. My memory of you, the great times we had in the old house, is among my most treasured feelings there are for me. As to the present, I had been sick nearly the entire time, from the first of September until the beginning of December. I was suffering from terrible attacks of gout. In addition to that came the move to Paris, involving completely closing down the Badener 'etablissements'—and so forth, and so forth.
Furthermore, much to my frustration, there was very boring literary work that had to be completed. Not quite yet, but gradually, everything will be back to the old, familiar ways. I heard that supposedly you had been here in Paris, but I am assuming that meanwhile you are back in your London house. I am taking the liberty to offer you a larger photograph of myself. It is not the one I had initially promised you, which is no longer available, but at any rate it still is among the better ones. The finish is somewhat enhanced and shows a considerably younger version of myself than I am now. I beg your forgiveness for this little flirtatiousness, but I simply could not bear it if you had one of the new, more recent shots in which I consider myself old and ugly. The impression of me I want to leave with you should be a most favorable one!
Please be so kind and let me know if you are now in London and how you are feeling. Do me the favor and give my best regards to your husband, of whom I have grown extremely fond. I am currently living at the house of the Viadot’s, and the entire family is doing very well, except the household is still in a somewhat disorderly state following the move.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a choice carte-de-visite portrait of the author by Nadar. A year prior to this letter, Turgenev published his novella King Lear of the Steppes; and the following year he would publish Torrents of Spring. Taking on additional “boring literary work” in between, and completing his masterful final novel Virgin Soil in 1877, this was a highly productive period for the legendary author. Anything written by Turgenev is quite scarce and highly sought-after, especially of this impressive length. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA.
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