November 04, 1888

Mark Twain Informs French Jewish Writer Marcel Schwob: "I do commit crimes, but they are not of this grade."

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Here Twain denounces a French translation of a story he did not write, pronouncing it a “singularly unpleasant production.” He assures Schwob that he has been deceived: “I do commit crimes,” he writes, “ but they are not of this grade.”

Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page, on his monogrammed letterhead, duodecimo, Hartford, November 4, 1888. To (Mayer Andre) Marcel Schwob in Paris. With autograph envelope bearing his printed names and address in upper left corner.

Accompanied by a Printed Manuscript, in French, entitled "Terrifiante Historie de mes Dents," purportedly by Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), and apparently translated by Marcel Schwob; 6 pages, folio, bearing an occasional printer's mark in ink.

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Transcript

Hartford, Nov. 4/ 88

My Dear Sir:

You seem to think me the author of the original of this singularly unpleasant production. But I assure you you have been deceived. I do commit crimes, but they are not of this grade.

Very truly yours,
S.L. CLEMENS


[Envelope] 

Monsieur Marcel Schwob
Chez M. Cahun
Palais de l'Institut
Paris France