From the notes of Dr. Catherine Perry: Auguste Dorchain (1857-1930) was a French poet and writer. In this letter Noailles expresses her admiration for his book on 17th-century playwright Corneille and says she was going to vote for him to receive the Lasserre award but that she has been ill with the flu and couldn't go out to vote. She nonetheless believes many others will vote for him. Indeed, he received this award for his book on Corneille.