Octave UZanne. The eminent french author now in this city. His appearance. The New York Times, April 12, 1893. Octave Uzanne vu par les américains en 1893 à l'occasion de sa venue pour la World Fair à Chicago.

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OCTAVE UZANNE

THE EMINENT FRENCH AUTHOR NOW IN THIS CITY - HIS APPEARANCE.

At the Grolier Club last evening, among the listeners to Mr. Hildeburn's address on William Bradford, first printer of the Middle Colonies, was remarked Octave Uzanne.
Even in the atmosphere of Paris he may be taken for an Indian Prince, but the sea air has given an amber color to his face. His eyebrows almost meet ; his eyes have flashes of steel ; his resolute chin is hidden under a curly beard, and his hair is thick, brilliant, black, and wavy. One may divine that he has the air of his style, the phrases of which are strings of pearls, of rubies, or sapphires, and of chrysolites.

He arrived last Sunday, one of the most distinguished visitors that the Chicago fair may attract, preceded by an enviable fame among the Americans who know and love art in books. He is President of the Société des Bibliophiles Contemporains, the publications of which are models, even in France, where art in books is traditionnally excellent. He is not forty, and he has written and edited over fifty volumes that will live.
He edited in 1876 to 1877 the "Conseiller du Bibliophile" ; in 1878 to 1880, "Les Miscellanées Bibliographiques" ; in 1880 to 1889, "Le Livre" ; in 1890 and 1891, "Le Livre Moderne" ; in 1892 "L'Art et L'Idée", and led in these successive periodicals a progressive constituency of ardent book lovers.
At the same time he produced works, wherein subtle analysis, profound erudition, and thoughtful fantasy were charmingly united : "Le Bric-à-Brac de l'Amour", in 1879 ; "Le Calendrier de Vénus", in 1880 ; "Les Surprises du Coeur", in 1882 ; "L'Eventail", in 1882 ; "LOmbrelle, le Gant, le Manchon," in 1883 ; "Son Altesse la Femme" in 1885 ; "La Française du Siècle" in 1886 ; "Le Miroir du Monde" in 1888 ; "Le Paroissien du Célibataire" in 1890.
Then he edited four volumes of "Les Poètes de Ruelles du XVIe (sic) siècle," twelve volumes of "Les Petits Conteurs du XVIIIe siècle," and four volumes of "Document sur les Moeurs du XVIIIe siècle." He assembled as colaborers young etchers, lithographers, water colorists, and bookbinders who were unknown, and he made them famous.
He is the chief of the younger school of book lovers in the view of whom the formation of a library is not only the collection, by force of money, of valuable books, but a selection, an expressive of individual taste, the end of which shall be a realization of the most elevated ideals in bookmaking. M. Uzanne is to note "Sensations d'Amétique," which will be published serially in Le Figaro. We may be persuaded in advance that the work shall be sincere, original, independent, and delightfully written.

The New York Times

April 12, 1893

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Cet article élogieux, qui nous décrit bien la personne physique Octave Uzanne ainsi qu'une partie de ses œuvres et de ses idées, nous permet de savoir (ou plutôt d'avoir confirmation) qu'il débarque à New-York un dimanche, le 10 avril 1893. Nous avions fait l'erreur dans un précédent billet de croire qu'il était arrivé le lundi 10, mais en réalité, avec le décalage horaire de presque 7 heures, si le bâteau débarque dans la baie de New-York en fin d'après midi le dimanche 10 avril (en France nous somme alors déjà le lundi 11, d'où la confusion). Nous corrigeons cette erreur d'appréciation.

Cet article du New York Times nous a été aimablement communiqué par M. Alain Delpirou, Président des Amis d'Angelo Mariani. Merci à lui.

Bertrand Hugonnard-Roche