I have completed the translation from the English of the book, unpublished in French, by John Gregory Bourke entitled Scatological Rites of All Nations, published in Washington in 1891. The importance of this book did not escape Freud, who wrote a preface for the German edition of 1913. A translation of this preface appears at the beginning of the French version that I have produced, thus completing a presentation that emphasizes the topicality of the work with respect to the most recent ethnological and psychoanalytic work and research.

The translation and presentation are part of an enterprise undertaken under the authority of Dr. Jacques Lacan. In this context, I have published a Histoire de la Merde, which was printed by Christian Bourgois[1] in 1978; a preface to a scatological work by Jonathan Swift, printed by Editions Les Formes des Secrets in 1978; and several articles published in France and abroad.

I would be grateful if you could inform me quickly if the publication of this work – the translation of which I announced when my book was published – interests you. I place the manuscript at your disposition and enclose a succinct presentation of the entirety.

[1] See the letters published in volume 1 of Champ Libre’s Correspondence.

Although interested in the publication of the work written by John Gregory Bourke, I cannot follow up on your proposal because I do not recognize Dr. Jacques Lacan’s authority in any domain.

(Published in Editions Champ Libre, Correspondance, Vol. 2, Editions Champ Libre, Paris, 1981. Translated from the French and footnoted by NOT BORED! August 2012.)