Claudine in Paris is the first book I’ve read by Colette. Since reading this I’ve also read Claudine Married, the next book in the series of four, but have not yet reviewed this. By rights, I should have started with Claudine at School, but have not yet found a copy of this book.
I might have liked Claudine better had I started at the beginning of the series, but I found her character to be cruel and contradictory. She was frank, but well-aware of the effect she produced at all times, which made the occasions when she demonstrated naivety to seem false. Her conversation and behaviour was often salacious and sensationalist, and sometimes nasty, just for effect.
The story began with seventeen-year old Claudine recovering from an illness that had left her thin and tired. She was mourning her long hair that had fallen in ringlets to her waist, as it had been cut off during her illness, leaving her with a boyish crop of curls.
When Claudine’s father suddenly decided to move to Paris, Claudine was devastated at leaving her beloved home and village school at Montigny, which seemed to have been be a hotbed of lesbian affairs, including one between the headmistress and a teacher. Claudine happily left Luce behind, a fellow schoolgirl who she had teased, taunted and abused for years.
In Paris, the self-obsessed Claudine met her effeminate cousin Marcel and manipulated him into sharing the details of his love affair with another boy. When Claudine met Marcel’s father, her much older and widowed Uncle Renaud, she fell in love with him and he with her and her boyish crop of curls, or was it just lust? I don’t know and don’t care, these two deserved each other.
Eventually Luce also came to Paris and became the mistress of an elderly, unattractive man who she called ‘uncle’. I can’t imagine why this shocked Claudine, yet it did.
I also disliked Claudine’s maid Melie, who felt sorry for Claudine’s cat Fanchette when she went on heat and provided the cat with a ‘husband’. Claudine arranged for the resulting kittens to be put down.
Although I disliked Claudine’s character and the predatory sexual behaviour in the story, she had a distinct voice and I liked that she pushed boundaries. I also liked the writing, especially when Claudine talked about her beloved Montigny.
I preferred Claudine Married even though the story was more scandalous still, because it seemed to me that in Claudine Married, Claudine ‘owned’ her bad behaviour instead of faking wide-eyed ingenuity. Review of this to follow.
Claudine in Paris was book nine of my second Classics Club challenge to read 50 classics before my challenge end date of September 08, 2028.
Comments on: "Claudine in Paris by Colette" (16)
Well dang. You lost me at the whole cat business!!
I couldn’t believe what I was reading at the time, either. In hindsight I should have DNF this one.
Blimey! I haven’t read any Colette but have one on my classics list too as she’s one of those writers’ every one talks about isn’t she? The only thing is, that everyone sounds so horrible that I’m quite intrigued!
I had expected something different from these books but that’s my fault for not doing any prior research. I didn’t like how contrived the main character was, which overshadowed the writing for me. Readers who are less judgemental about characters would appreciate this better but my reading experience is usually determined on how much I like the characters. It’s not a very literary approach on my part! I think you are a fairer reader than me so would appreciate these better.
Will you read any others in the series?
I’ve since read the next book, Claudine Married, but only because I already had the book and was on holiday with a limited amount of books with me! I’ve since bypassed the last book in the series after seeing it for sale in a second-hand bookshop.
I might try other stories by this author but would avoid Claudine as didn’t like her as a character.
I’ve had a check and the one I have is Gigi, so let’s see if that’s any better! I’m glad you think I’m a fair reader but I’m not so sure. . .!
Well, there is always the film with the lovely Leslie Caron…
Is there?
Yes, a 1958 musical.
I’d already decided this wasn’t for me even before we got to the bit about the kittens! Ugh!
I can’t even imagine this being likeable reading when it was new. The writing itself is good, but the characters were off-putting.
I read one of these stories years ago and found it totally unappealing and have never been back for more – so bravo for reading two of them!!
I don’t deserve any credit for reading this at all, as I under-packed my books for a holiday and was caught short!
Ha ha – I’ve done that before – now I tend to overpack much to Mr Books amusement (I will forgo a pair of shoes for a book)!
He Who Eats All of Our Leftovers never asks why my bags are so heavy whenever we go anywhere, either!