Gigi, Julie de Carneilhan, Chance Acquaintances.

Colette.

ISBN 10: 0374513171 / ISBN 13: 9780374513177

Published by Farrar Straus & Giroux, New York, NY, 1952

About this Item

Near Fine in Wraps: shows only the most minute indications of use: just a hint of wear to extremities; mildest rubbing. Binding square and secure; text clean. Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. 315pp. First Edition; no doubt this is a later printing, but there are no notices or indications of that. Gigi was translated by Roger Senhouse and 'Julie' & 'Chance Acquintances' were translated by Patrick Leigh Fermor. Noonday Press N522. Trade Paperback. Gabrielle Colette died in 1954. She is most famous for writing "Gigi" which became a Broadway musical and Oscar winning film. Gabrielle was a talented, gifted writer, with aesthetic skills and a charming perception of humans, particularily the society she grew up in early twentieth century France. A fascinating woman, she wrote mainly short stories, dealing with women coming of age, older women making new decisions, relationships with intensity, and all of her characters have memorable nuances. She may have drawn from personal experience. Colette was clearly a woman with deep understanding of the nature of love and the course of human emotions. Gigi is the story of a young woman brought up in a decadent, materialistic society. Her aunts have raised her to become a mistress, a courtesan for the wealthy. Gaston falls for Gigi, and attempts to make her his mistress. But Gigi refuses to be a part of the pretentious society in Paris, wanting an honest and open relationship based on love. In the end, she is granted this for remaining true to herself. Julie de Carneilha and Chance Encounters are striking tales of women in love, beautifully written and set in the opulence of Paris. Colette is a cosmopolitan writer, one can almost see her as she writes with a bottle of champagne on her writing desk, a view of the Eiffel tower from her window and a vivid imagination that takes flight. My favorite selection was "Julie de Carneilhan" as the main character was such an independent spirit and unconventional in the same sense I believe Colette was. It was through this title I really felt like I got to know the author intimately. The writing style favors action with tightly woven descriptive and sensory elements which also tune into Colette's voluptuary leanings. A truely unique book written by an author well known for her originality. Seller Inventory # 42569

Bibliographic Details

Title: Gigi, Julie de Carneilhan, Chance ...

Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux, New York, NY

Publication Date: 1952

Binding: Paperback

Edition: First Edition; later printing.

About this title

Synopsis:

Colette's grand story of a young girl's growing up is joined by equally representative narratives of an elegant woman deserted but still charmed by her husband and an invalid wife and her philandering mate

Review:

"The paradoxes of great literature are those of human nature, and Colette is nothing if not human . . . Accessible and elusive; greedy and austere; courageous and timid; subversive and complacent; scorchingly honest and sublimely mendacious; an inspired consoler and an existential pessimist--these are the qualities of the artist and the woman. Its is time to rediscover them."--From the Introduction
"Colette is one of the glories of France."--Michael Straight, "The New Republic"

The paradoxes of great literature are those of human nature, and Colette is nothing if not human . . . Accessible and elusive; greedy and austere; courageous and timid; subversive and complacent; scorchingly honest and sublimely mendacious; an inspired consoler and an existential pessimist--these are the qualities of the artist and the woman. Its is time to rediscover them. "From the Introduction"

Colette is one of the glories of France. "Michael Straight, The New Republic""

The paradoxes of great literature are those of human nature, and Colette is nothing if not human . . . Accessible and elusive; greedy and austere; courageous and timid; subversive and complacent; scorchingly honest and sublimely mendacious; an inspired consoler and an existential pessimist--these are the qualities of the artist and the woman. Its is time to rediscover them. From the Introduction

Colette is one of the glories of France. Michael Straight, The New Republic

"

"The paradoxes of great literature are those of human nature, and Colette is nothing if not human . . . Accessible and elusive; greedy and austere; courageous and timid; subversive and complacent; scorchingly honest and sublimely mendacious; an inspired consoler and an existential pessimist--these are the qualities of the artist and the woman. Its is time to rediscover them." --From the Introduction

"Colette is one of the glories of France." --Michael Straight, The New Republic