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French Linguist Alain Rey Passes Away

Alain Rey, October 28, 2015. JOEL SAGET / AFP
Alain Rey, October 28, 2015. JOEL SAGET / AFP
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French Linguist Alain Rey Passes Away

Alain Rey, October 28, 2015. JOEL SAGET / AFP
Alain Rey, October 28, 2015. JOEL SAGET / AFP

Famous French linguist Alain Rey, one of the major creators of the iconic dictionary Le Robert, died Tuesday at the age of 92, announced his wife and publishers les éditions Le Robert.

Rey, winner of many literary awards, was a member of the team brought together by French-Algerian lawyer Paul Robert to create a new French language dictionary. The six-volume dictionary known as Le Grand Robert saw the light in 1964, followed by le Petit Robert in 1967, and many other later versions.

Alain Rey was among the toughest defenders of the French language's evolution in its hybrid origin from different languages (such as Latin, Celtic, and German) and its constant interference with other languages like Italian, and Spanish. The late linguist had also overseen the creation of the Historical dictionary of the French language (1992).

His audience knew him through a daily morning segment discussing words and language on France Inter FM from 1993 to 2006. Rey won many prizes, and worked as a university professor in the US, and at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He also headed the terminology committee in the ministry of culture, and was known for his support to feminizing professions' names.

"Alain Rey had always insisted to represent the French language in all its challenges, richness, and mystery," a joint statement by his wife and Le Robert publishing house wrote.

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Letter Written Onboard the Titanic before It Sank Sells for Almost $400,000 at Auction

This undated handout picture provided by the auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, England, shows a lettercard, penned by one of the Titanic's most well-known survivors from onboard the ship days before it sank, which has sold for 300,000 pounds ($399,000) at auction. (Henry Aldridge & Son via AP)
This undated handout picture provided by the auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, England, shows a lettercard, penned by one of the Titanic's most well-known survivors from onboard the ship days before it sank, which has sold for 300,000 pounds ($399,000) at auction. (Henry Aldridge & Son via AP)
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Letter Written Onboard the Titanic before It Sank Sells for Almost $400,000 at Auction

This undated handout picture provided by the auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, England, shows a lettercard, penned by one of the Titanic's most well-known survivors from onboard the ship days before it sank, which has sold for 300,000 pounds ($399,000) at auction. (Henry Aldridge & Son via AP)
This undated handout picture provided by the auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son, England, shows a lettercard, penned by one of the Titanic's most well-known survivors from onboard the ship days before it sank, which has sold for 300,000 pounds ($399,000) at auction. (Henry Aldridge & Son via AP)

A lettercard penned by one of the Titanic's most well-known survivors from onboard the ship, days before it sank, has sold for 300,000 pounds ($399,000) at auction.

In the note, written to the seller's great-uncle on April 10, 1912, first-class passenger Archibald Gracie wrote of the ill-fated steamship: “It is a fine ship but I shall await my journeys end before I pass judgment on her.”

The letter was sold to a private collector from the United States on Saturday, according to auction house Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, England. The hammer price far exceeded the initial estimate price of 60,000 pounds.

The letter is believed to be the sole example in existence from Gracie from onboard the Titanic, which sank off Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg, killing about 1,500 people on its maiden voyage.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described it as an “exceptional museum grade piece.”

Gracie, who jumped from the ship and managed to scramble onto an overturned collapsible boat, was rescued by other passengers onboard a lifeboat and was taken to the R.M.S. Carpathia. He went on to write “The Truth about the Titanic,” an account of his experiences, when he returned to New York City.

Gracie boarded the Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912, and was assigned first-class cabin C51. His book is seen as one of the most detailed accounts of the events of the night the ship sank, Aldridge said.

Gracie did not fully recover from the hypothermia he suffered, and died of complications from diabetes in late 1912.