Paris Post War: Art and Existentialism 1945-55

Edith Piaf

My dearest Jean,

What joy to read and re- read your letter, I know how very many people love you but if you only knew how much I love you, despite the rare moments when we see one another, it's very strange the impression I have each time I see you, I want to protect you from all the wickedness of the world and I realise each time that it is you who sets me up again and gives me the courage again actually to face this hard world]

Don't you think it's wonderful to love someone without needing him, to love him only for himself, because you know that this being is magnificent, well, I love you like that, when I hear your name or read it somewhere I always feel my heart leap]

From a letter to Jean Cocteau from in Le Passe Defini Vol. 1, by Jean Cocteau, (Gallimard, Paris, 1983).