Posted on November 5, 2018 at 11:45 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Note: An alert reader pointed out that El Mundo cites the letter as being delivered by Charles Baudelaire's mistress to his notary, in contrast with AFP reporting. We've edited this post accordingly.

French poet Charles Baudelaire’s letter previewing a suicide attempt has sold at auction for three times more than what was expected.

The Guardian reports that a private buyer purchased the note for €234,000 ($266,850), far beyond the predicted range of €60,000 to €80,000 (about $68,000 to $91,000).

Baudelaire wrote his letter in 1845, when he was twenty-four and depressed about his financial and professional situations.

He ultimately lived another twenty-two years and hopefully shed the despair expressed in the letter, excerpts from which you can read on the Guardian’s website.

Categories: Today in Books

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