00252 Guide to the Paul Blouet correspondence, 1885-1903 Inventory prepared by Maggie Kean Woodson Research Center
Rice University, Houston, Texas
20060724 Finding aid encoded by Veronica Arellano. 20060710 Finding aid written inEnglish. 20060710Edited with Oxygen 7.2 by Veonica Arellano, according to instrustions in TARO 2 EAD 2002 Editing Instructions Descriptive Summary Blouet, Paul, 1848-1903 O'Rell, Max, [pseudonym] 1848-1903 Paul Blouet correspondence 1885-1903 1 folder (64 letters) Materials are in English MS 129 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, Texas This collection consists primarily of letters written by French author and journalist, Paul Blouet (pseudonym, Max O'Rell) between 1885 and 1903. The letters discuss Blouet's lecture tours, the management of his play John Bull on the Continent, and his affliction with cancer. Biographical Note

Paul Blouet (1848-1903) was a French humorist and writer best known by his pseudonym, Max O'Rell. Blouet studied piano at the Paris Conservatoire, was educated in Paris at the Ecole Polytechnique, and served as a cavalry officer in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1887 Blouet published John Bull et son ile, a work that parodied English characteristics and eccentricities. In 1887 and 1890 Blouet lectured in the United States, where his humorous speeches made him extremely popular. In 1902 he settled in the Champs-Élysées quarter of Paris as correspondent of the New York Journal and wrote in the French newspaper Le Figaro. Blouet died of stomach cancer on 24 May 1903.

Works Cited: Seccombe, T. and Matthew, C.G. (2004). Blouet, (Leon) Paul. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved July 24, 2006 from http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31933

 Scope and Contents

This collection contains 62 letters written by Paul Blouet (pseudonym, Max O'Rell) and one written by Marie Blouet. Some are signed as Paul Blouet, others as Max O'Rell. Most letters are addressed to E.W. Appleton and G. Christy and discuss Blouet's various lecture tours and speaking engagements. In one letter to G. Christy, Paul Blouet discloses the recurrence of the cancer that would ultimately lead to his death. Also included in this collection is an agreement for the exclusive rights to manage Blouet's play, John Bull on the Continent, with Fredrick Mouillot.

 Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Correspondence from Paul Blouet to E. W. Appleton, 1885-1889 Series II: Correspondence from Paul Blouet to E. W. Appleton and G. Christy, 1891-1903 and undated Series III: Management agreement for John Bull on the Continent, November 4, 1895 Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

 Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the Paul Blouet correspondence must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

 Preferred Citation

Paul Blouet correspondence, 1885-1903, MS 129, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University

 Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased on May 9, 1958.

 Accruals

No future additions are expected for this material.

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) O'Rell, Max,1848-1903--Correspondence Blouet, Paul, 1848-1903--Correspondence Subjects Franco-German War, 1870-1871 Formats Correspondence Detailed Description of the Collection

Series I: Correspondence from Paul Blouet to E. W. Appleton, 1885-1889

32 letters, in fair condition.

 1 Correspondence, 1891-1903 Series II: Correspondence from Paul Blouet to E. W. Appleton and G. Christy, 1891-1903 and undated

31 letters, in fair condition.

1 Correspondence, 1891-1903 Series III: Management agreement for John Bull on the Continent, November 4, 1895

This agreement gave Fredrick Mauillot the exclusive rights to manage Paul Blouet's play, John Bull on the Continent. Document is in fair condition.

 1 Correspondence, 1891-1903