La Princesse de Clèves by Lafayette, Marie-Madeleine
French
Novel
6 chapters
60,276 words
4,451 views
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Question: what is happening in the beginning of this book that is so important for the rest of the story? I want to take the time and figure this out. Lots of royals, consultants the rest of dukes and duchesses the court are introduced. I had to do a littel historical backcheck just to understand who is who and why! Sigh...history and french lessons tonight!
Royal court of Henri II is a maze full of names, intrigues and royal love affaires. It has taken me some time to figure out who's who and what is their ambitions. It seems that everyone is a piece on a chess board. Alliances are made in marriage and the boudoir of the mistresses! Princess of Clèves? Still in the shadows...
Struggling to understand the intrigue de la Cour Henri II @TailoredTexts. It's the XVII
"Bold and the (very royal) Beautiful!
History de la Cour revealed via mother-daughter ( princesse) conversation. I got lost in the explanation of the unwritten house rules regarding lovers attending dazzeling balls! Who cares?..but some things are just not done. Language: "avait conservé des commerces" = having love affaires. What a strange way of putting it....
Reading about love is exhausting. Love: one is blinded by it (Princesse de Clèves) , entertained by it (Duc de Nemours), consumed by it (Sancerre), empowered by it (Diane de Poitiers) and a slave to it (Henri II of France)."
Never write love letters and never become the Queen's lover! These are all accidents waiting to happen to Vidame de Chartres, Pr de Clèves'uncle. A conversation with Catherine de Medici ruthless and manipulative wife of France's King Henry II would send chills down anyone's back! Hang on, it's going to be a rocky ride....!
The confession (dénouement) was heartbreaking to read. Pr. de Clèves was so tormented by her fall from virtue, her husband devastated. "Quel chemin a-t-il trouvé pour aller à votre coeur?" ( how did he find his way into your heart?) M. de Clèves does not hold this confession against her, he only loves her more. She lowers her eyes and remains silent never revealing the name of her lover.
French book and Champions League ( Barcelona vs Paris St-Germain, difficult to concentrate! Half time...time to read! The confession makes Mme de Clèves feel stronger, sense of responsibility but full of regret: "J'ai perdu le coeur et l'estime d'un man qui devait faire ma félicité. " ..elle se trouvât accablée ( was overwhelmed)"
Despair is dripping off the pages in part 4. Two lovers who truly are in love yet cannot be together. Nemours, notorious lover of many, is obsessed with Princesse de Clèves. She is torn between vice and virtue. "..d'aller voir dans le jardin, s'il y avait quelqu'un. ...Souhaitait-elle, autant qu'elle le craignait d'y trouver M. de Nemours. ( wishing and yet fearing to find her lover...) 12 more pages to read!
Dutch:
Cin cin e saluti....0 pages to read!!
Het uitlezen van een boek ( Princesse de Clèves) in het frans is reden voor een "feestje"! Tijd om te relaxen, review schrijven en genieten van een Heineken!!
English: Every book I finish in french is cause for a celebration! Time to relax, gather my thoughts and enjoy my traditional Heineken! Review is in the works. http://ipsofactodotme.wordpress.com/
La Princesse de Clèves: Jumping back to the 17th cent for my next project. This book is known as an "roman précieux". Never heard of this genre. Characteristics: purity of language, elegant manners/behavior, dignified morals, and idealized love. Styles used: hyperbole, metaphor and neologisms. Sounds like a great lesson in french literature!