Le temps déborde

This collection brings together fourteen poems arranged in two groups, separated by the fateful date of 28 November 1946, the day of the sudden death of Nusch, the poet’s wife. The opening text, of overwhelming intensity, records the tragedy:

“Vingt-huit novembre mil neuf cent quarante-six.
Nous ne vieillirons pas ensemble.
Voici le jour en trop : le temps déborde.
Mon amour si léger prend le poids d’un supplice.”

For this book Éluard adopted the pseudonym Didier Desroches, whose existence he had revealed to Gala only a few days earlier, on 25 November, declaring his wish to “begin his poetic life entirely anew. I am tired of my poems being bought on trust for the signature.” Nusch alone shared this secret; struck down by death three days later, the poet used this name only once, making this collection a final tribute to his muse and companion of seventeen years.

The print run was announced at 500 copies, but in fact only 258 copies were printed (no. 106). The paper required for printing was provided by Gallimard, but post-war shortages prevented a complete run: Éluard himself notes, in the copy he gave to Valentine Hugo, that “only 258 copies could be printed, and not the 500 announced in the colophon.”