16 July 1945

André Sabatier to Father Englebert

My reason for writing to you will come as a surprise. Here is what it is about: you will surely know I. Némirovsky by name and reputation, one of our greatest novelists of France in the years preceding the war. Jewish and Russian, I. Némirovsky was deported in 1942, as was her husband, and undoubtedly sent to a concentration camp in Poland; we have never been able to learn anything more. Even today, there is total silence and we have, alas! lost any hope of finding her alive.

I. Némirovsky left her two little girls, Denise and Elisabeth Epstein, in France in the care of a friend. I have just seen the woman who has looked after them; she told me that she had managed to get the girls accepted as boarding students with the Dames de Sion [Sisters of Zion]. It was all agreed when, at the last minute, the Mother Superior changed her mind, on the pretext that there were not enough places, which was both a disappointment and a terrible problem for the good woman who is looking after these two little girls. Would it be possible for you to find out exactly what is going on? And if you have influence with these Sisters, could you use it to ensure that Denise and Elisabeth be admitted to the Dames de Sion for the beginning of the school year in October at the latest.

We care a great deal about these two little girls, as you can understand; whatever happens, even if you can do nothing, thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.

23 July 1945

Telephone call to André Sabatier

Chautard (Union Européenne Industrielle et Financière [European Union of Finance and Industry])

Monsieur de Mézières of the U.E.[33] is willing to do something to help Irène Némirovsky's children, in conjunction with our firm.

[manuscript note on transcript of call: wait until he contacts us]

Would be willing to send 3,000 francs per month.

Has found a religious boarding school near Paris for 2,000 francs per month per child.

[33] Banque de l'Union Européenne (formerly the Banque des Pays du Nord where Michel Epstein was Manager). (Editor)

7 August 1945

Omer Englebert to André Sabatier

I am pleased to inform you that the Russian Jewish novelist (I can't recall her name!) whose daughters you wanted to help and whom Monsieur Sabatier recommended to me on your behalf, have been accepted at the Dames de Sion, in Grandbourg near Evry-Petit-Bourg. The Mother Superior has just told me that they can attend at the beginning of the coming academic year.

29 August 1945

Julie Dumot (46 rue Pasteur, Marmande) to A. Sabatier

I do not know how to thank you for your extreme loyalty. I am very happy for the children, especially for Babet who is only eight years old and has her entire education ahead of her. As for Denise, who is doing very well now, she can improve herself in this first-class establishment, as her mother wished. This is why I am so very grateful to you, for having made their parents' wishes come true. If Denise cannot continue her studies, she must have her Certificate of General Education to be able to work, we'll find out about that in a few days. Your kind letter reached me here where I have brought the children for their holidays. Denise is completely cured. She had an X-ray which showed that all signs of the pleurisy had disappeared. As for Babet, she is going to have her tonsils and adenoids out next week. I couldn't have it done sooner, as the doctor is on holiday, which means I'll get back to Paris a week later than expected.

Yes, Monsieur Sabatier, there was the possibility of the Société des Gens de Letters (Society of Men of Letters) doing something for the children. Monsieur Dreyfus, to whom I explained my situation, saying that I couldn't manage with my 3,000 francs per month, that Denise had been under medical care for six months, took the matter to his friend, Monsieur Robert, asking for something to be done for the children. The very same day, I informed Monsieur Esménard, who knows all about it. If you need any information about me, Tristan Bernard has known me since I was sixteen.

3 October 1945

Albin Michel Publishers to Julie Dumot

12,000 francs: Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec 1945.

7 December 1945

Robert Esménard (note for Mlle Le Fur)

Friday afternoon, I went to see Mme Simone Saint-Clair who is a member of a committee whose purpose is to come to the aid of I. Némirovsky's children. Certain individuals and groups are going to deposit a monthly amount to a notary who has been appointed to retain the money until, in theory, they have finished sitting the exams for their baccalauréat. Once Denise, the eldest, has passed it, I assume this matter will be reviewed.

Apart from that, these gifts will be received in such a way as to constitute a capital sum for I. Némirovsky's daughters, which they may use however they wish when they are no longer minors. There is already a certain sum, which includes a payment by the Banque des Pays du Nord where M. Epstein was employed, something in the region of 18,000 francs, corresponding to 3,000 francs a month with a certain number of back payments.

Mlle Dumot will have at her disposal, through the auspices of the notary, X amount to reimburse her for her expenses, then each month an amount to be decided. As for our firm, I have said that from the date of our last monthly payment-the sum of 2,000 francs per month will be paid, without, of course, this amount being deducted from I. Némirovsky's royalties. In addition, I shall allocate the sum of 2,000 francs per month from Mme Némirovsky s royalties, dating from the month when I began sending these monthly payments, in other words, these monthly payments will be calculated retrospectively from the date of the first payment.

Widespread announcements will be made in the press to raise money.

7 December 1945

W. Tideman to Irène Némirovsky

I am a journalist working for a newspaper in Leyden (Holland) for whom I have offered to translate a novel or short story from French, in instalments. They have just informed me that they agree in principle to publish whatever I suggest or send them. I explained to them that there would be royalties to pay, which would undoubtedly be much greater for a novel already published here, as the publishers would claim their share, than for a new, unpublished short story, for which they would only have to deal with the author. And I thought of you even though I am only familiar with your novels.

29 December 1945

Albin Michel's reply to W. Tideman

I have seen the letter sent to my offices addressed to I. Némirovsky and am alas! unable to pass it on to her. Mme I. Némirovsky was, in fact, arrested in July 1942 then deported to Poland, we think. Since the date of her arrest, no one has heard anything from her.