Joris-Karl HUYSMANS (1848-1907). Autograph manuscript, Appendix, [1890] 1 page large in-4. On Axël de VILLIERS DE L'ISLE-ADAM. This is the draft of the appendix published at the end of the posthumous first edition of Axël by Quantin in 1890; it was Huysmans who completed the posthumous edition of the unfinished drama; he had insisted that Villiers give his drama a Christian ending. This draft is heavily crossed out (partly in blue pencil) and corrected. "192 pages of this book were printed when Villiers de l'Isle-Adam died. He had also corrected and reworked 2 sheets of proofs. "The last 70 pages were found as composed proofs, barely proofread. It should now be pointed out that Villiers repeatedly expressed his firm resolve to change the ending of Axël. In addition to his probity as a perfect artist, he had scruples of conscience. He did not feel that, from a Catholic point of view, his book was sufficiently orthodox and he wanted the Cross to intervene in the scene that unravels the drama"... Etc.