MESRINE Jacques (1936-1979) nicknamed public enemy number on - Lot 79

MESRINE Jacques (1936-1979) nicknamed public enemy number one. 6 L.A.S. to Jeanne Schneider, Fleury-Merogis prison, December 26-31. 12 pp. folio. Some letters decorated with drawings. On the 26th, Mesrine can't wait for the year to end, he can't wait to be 40, but he doesn't forget anything and indicates this at length in his letter; on the 27th, he enjoins her not to look back and above all not to worry about the companions he may have had during his escapes. He concludes with instructions for his daughter; on the 28th, he returns to today's parlor, and to Jeanne's recommendations concerning his book: "If I have to change certain passages, I agree, because the real truth is not always publishable. As for the risk of this publication in terms of sentence, I'll take my chances []" he goes on to discuss various points, such as his altercation with Monteuil, Jeanne's meetings with Albin [publisher], or his birthday; on the 29th, he prepares to send his best wishes mainly to "Madame Pauco [] a 'woman of respect' coupled with a very human person []". He talks about his book, which is too harsh for France, but perhaps not for the United States. He describes his conditions of detention at the end of the year (no more walks) and, whether he's joking or not, writes "I'll have to ask for a 10-year leave (sic) I'll give it to myself one day []"; on the 30th, he returns to an earlier conversation and Jeanne's reaction, writing "but I've been risking my neck for 15 years [] you know very well that without being an academician I'm immortal (sic sic). []"; on the 31st, on the last day of the year 76, Jacques Mesrine wonders why his book has not been published and looks for a solution. "I don't know what she'll have in store for us, but nothing good if logic is the law []".