CUMMINGS, E. E.

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Three works in French, translated by David Jonathan Grossman. First French editions, En Traduction inscribed by the author and his wife to Marie-Madeline Tschann on the front free endpaper, "Inscribed with best wishes for Fifi by Marion and E. E. Cummings, Paris 9 November '60". Cinquante-huit poèmes and l'énorme chambrée are also inscribed to "Fifi" in the year of publication by the translator.David Jonathan Grossman's (1922-1990) sister-in-law, Marie-Madeline Tschann, likely met Cummings circa 1947. Grossman had moved to Paris to help Tschann with the family's bookstore in Montparnasse and would often send Cummings and Marion Morehouse books from the store. The nickname Fifi was coined from the character Fifi Brindacier and was only used by close friends and family.Grossman first met Cummings whilst attending Peter Monro Jack's course at Columbia night school in 1941-42. After serving in the Second World War, Grossman enrolled at Harvard in 1946 and began writing a thesis on Cummings, which he never finished. According to Grossman this was the start of their correspondence proper. En Traduction was Grossman's first book of translations, and in 1980 he was awarded the Prix Halperine-Kaminsky for his works on Cummings.

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