Eric Byrd’s Reviews > Lost illusions: Paul Léautaud and his world > Status Update

This is full of piquant lore and every page is funny: "They were both, to a certain extent, refugees from the brilliance of Valéry. Gide confided in Leautaud the shattering effect Valéry used to have on him. After hearing his conversation, Gide said, he was overwhelmed and lost all confidence in himself. He would look with despair at what he had written. Sometimes he needed a week, a fortnight, to recover. "