The Lady of the Camellias E-Book

Noé Grenier

• Herausgeber: BrightSummaries.com
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 24

Beschreibung

What should we learn from The Lady of the Camellias, this tale of an impossible love in the 19th century? Find everything you need to know about this work in a complete and detailed analysis.
You will find in particular in this sheet:
- A complete summary
- A presentation of the main characters such as Armand Duval and Marguerite Gautier
- An analysis of the specificities of the work: the true story of Marie Duplessis, realism and social criticism, the turbulent reception of the work and its impact
A reference analysis to quickly understand the meaning of the work.

Leseprobe

ALEXANDRE DUMAS FILS

FRENCH WRITER

•Born in 1824 in Paris

•Died in 1895 at Marly-le-Roi

•Some of his works:

°The Clemenceau Affair, Memoir of the Accused (1866), novel

°Le Fils naturel (1858), play

°Un père prodigue (1859), play

Alexandre Dumas fils bears the same name as his father, the famous author of The Three Musketeers. With La Dame aux camélias, published in 1848, he distinguished himself as a talented writer and stepped out of his father's shadow. During his lifetime he was mainly known for his theatrical works, although he also wrote numerous novels. His work is characterised by a well-crafted style and witty, sharp sentences, particularly suitable for the theatre. He was very close to realism in literature. His work is distinguished by its moralistic character and its criticism of his time.

THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS

THE IMPOSSIBLE LOVE OF A PARISIAN COURTESAN IN THE 19TH CENTURY

•Genre: novel

•Reference edition: La Dame aux camélias, Paris, Le Livre de Poche, 1975, 285 p.

•1st edition: 1848

•Themes: love, realism, Parisian life, 19th century, courtesans, jealousy

The Lady of the Camellias was written by Alexandre Dumas fils after the death of his former mistress and first love, Marie Duplessis, a prominent courtesan in Paris in the mid-1800s. This novel, considered one of the precursors of realism, was adapted for the stage by the author himself. It has become a classic of literature and has been adapted in many forms (opera, film, ballet). The novel depicts the love affair between Armand Duval, a passionate young man, and Marguerite Duval, a 'kept woman'. Their relationship is compromised by Marguerite's past, which constantly catches up with them, either through Armand's jealousy or through the disapproval of his father.

SUMMARY

ALEXANDRE DUMAS MEETS ARMAND DUVAL

The story begins in Paris in 1847. In the first chapters, Alexandre Dumas fils is the narrator. He tells of how he learned of the death of a famous courtesan, Marguerite Gautier. The woman died riddled with debts, and an auction of her personal belongings was organised. The narrator goes there to attend the event. Many ladies of the 'Tout-Paris', nobles and respectable bourgeois, are present. They come out of curiosity, to get a glimpse of the scandalous lifestyle of a 'maintained' woman, and in the hope of being able to take possession of one of the many luxury items that Marguerite Gautier's lovers have given her during her life. Alexandre Dumas buys a book, Manon Lescaut, at a high price, in which there is a note from a certain Armand Duval.