Letter 4382a
Tchaikovsky Research
| Date | 16/28 May 1891 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Marie Reno |
| Where written | North Sea |
| Language | French |
| Autograph Location | unknown [1] |
| Publication | Not published |
Text and Translation
This incomplete text is based on the extract published in Sotheby's 1993 auction catalogue [2], which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
| French text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
| [...] Demain matin nous serons à Hambourg [...] La traversée a été très bonne, excepté deux bien mauvaise journées et surtout une nuit, celle de Samedi à Dimanche. Mais on oublie vite tout ce qu'une mer en furie vous fait endurer dès que le soleil se montre de nouveau [...] J'ai une cabine excessivement confortable, bien aerée, très claire et j'y reste presque tout le temps excepté les repas. Quant à la société des passagers, je ne sais rien vous en dire, car la seule personne avec qui j'ai noué connaissance est mon voisin de table [...] J'avais besoin d'isolement et c'est avec delice que je me retirais pendant tout le temps de la traversée dans mon petit coin. Une provision de bons livres me tenait lieu de société [...] | [...] Tomorrow morning we will be in Hamburg [...] The crossing has been very good, except for two bad days and in particular one night, that of Saturday to Sunday. But one quickly forgets everything that the raging sea makes one endure as soon as the sun shows itself anew [...] I have an extremely comfortable cabin, well aired, very clear and bright, and I remain there almost the whole time except for meals. As for the company of the passengers, I don't know what to tell you, because the sol person with whom I have become acquainted is my neighbour at the table [...] I have been in need of solitude, and it was with delight that I withdrew to my little corner for the whole crossing. A supply of good books was my substitute for company [...] |
