PANDORA written in the Seventies

In his latest letter to me, GW indicates PANDORA BY HOLLY HOLLANDER was completed in July 1979. Confirms John Clute's supposition. --Nick Gevers.

This suggests to me that the forward to PbHH was written later than the rest of the novel. In it, Wolfe writes (as Pandora): "This just one that took a long time to sell. (Except in France, so vive la France!....)" Was Pandora published originally in France, in any form? I couldn't find any evidence in the usual sources, and I didn't find anything from a quick google search. It seems an odd thing to write if it's not true, but it wouldn't be the first time one of Wolfe's narrator's was less than truthful. -Jeff Prucher