Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed Camille : The Lady of the Camellias (La Dame aux Camelias) on + 1176 more book reviews
I've had a Modern Library copy of Camille for many years and decided to finally get around to reading it. I'm hoping to read some of the other classics I have on my shelf that have also been waiting for years...so much to read!
From Wikipedia:
Written by Alexandre Dumas fils (1824â1895) when he was 23 years old, and first published in 1848, La Dame aux Camélias is a semi-autobiographical novel based on the author's brief love affair with a courtesan, Marie Duplessis. Set in mid-19th-century France, the novel tells the tragic love story between fictional characters Marguerite Gautier, a demimondaine or courtesan suffering from consumption, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois. Marguerite is nicknamed la dame aux camélias (French for 'the lady of the camellias') because she wears a red camellia when she is menstruating and unavailable for making love and a white camelia when she is available to her lovers. Armand falls in love with Marguerite and ultimately becomes her lover. He convinces her to leave her life as a courtesan and to live with him in the countryside. This idyllic existence is interrupted by Armand's father, who, concerned with the scandal created by the illicit relationship, and fearful that it will destroy Armand's sister's chances of marriage, convinces Marguerite to leave. Up until Marguerite's death, Armand believes that she left him for another man. Marguerite's death is described as an unending agony, during which Marguerite, abandoned by everyone, regrets what might have been.
To me, this novel was perhaps the ultimate in 19th century melodrama. The definition of melodrama is "a dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions." Although this was supposedly based on a true story, the tragedy of Marguerite and her death by consumption was the ultimate in a melodramatic event to appeal to the emotions. She and Armand are apparently in love but because of Marguerite's extravagant lifestyle, profession as a courtesan, and need for so much money to get by (200,000 francs per anum), their love was doomed. Armand could not support this life which sent Marguerite back to the arms of a rich Duke and Count. This of course made Armand jealous and he ends up striking back at her. Many tears of regret eventually come from Armand when he relates the story of their love which adds to the melodramatic tone of the novel.
The novel was adapted by Dumas for the stage in 1852 with many versions of the play to follow. It has also been made into several movie versions, the most famous being the 1936 version starring Greta Garbo. I don't think I have seen this one but if it comes up on TCM, I may give it a look.
From Wikipedia:
Written by Alexandre Dumas fils (1824â1895) when he was 23 years old, and first published in 1848, La Dame aux Camélias is a semi-autobiographical novel based on the author's brief love affair with a courtesan, Marie Duplessis. Set in mid-19th-century France, the novel tells the tragic love story between fictional characters Marguerite Gautier, a demimondaine or courtesan suffering from consumption, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois. Marguerite is nicknamed la dame aux camélias (French for 'the lady of the camellias') because she wears a red camellia when she is menstruating and unavailable for making love and a white camelia when she is available to her lovers. Armand falls in love with Marguerite and ultimately becomes her lover. He convinces her to leave her life as a courtesan and to live with him in the countryside. This idyllic existence is interrupted by Armand's father, who, concerned with the scandal created by the illicit relationship, and fearful that it will destroy Armand's sister's chances of marriage, convinces Marguerite to leave. Up until Marguerite's death, Armand believes that she left him for another man. Marguerite's death is described as an unending agony, during which Marguerite, abandoned by everyone, regrets what might have been.
To me, this novel was perhaps the ultimate in 19th century melodrama. The definition of melodrama is "a dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions." Although this was supposedly based on a true story, the tragedy of Marguerite and her death by consumption was the ultimate in a melodramatic event to appeal to the emotions. She and Armand are apparently in love but because of Marguerite's extravagant lifestyle, profession as a courtesan, and need for so much money to get by (200,000 francs per anum), their love was doomed. Armand could not support this life which sent Marguerite back to the arms of a rich Duke and Count. This of course made Armand jealous and he ends up striking back at her. Many tears of regret eventually come from Armand when he relates the story of their love which adds to the melodramatic tone of the novel.
The novel was adapted by Dumas for the stage in 1852 with many versions of the play to follow. It has also been made into several movie versions, the most famous being the 1936 version starring Greta Garbo. I don't think I have seen this one but if it comes up on TCM, I may give it a look.
