| Claudine at School | |
 First edition cover of Claudine à l'école with Willy as author |
|
| Author | Colette |
|---|---|
| Original title | Claudine à l'école |
| Translator | Antonio White (1st English edition) |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Series | Claudine |
| Genre(s) | coming-of-age |
| Publisher | Willy (1st edition) |
| Publication date | 1900(1st edition) |
| Published in English |
1957(1st English language edition) |
| Media type | |
| Followed by | 'Claudine à Paris' |
Claudine at School, or Claudine à l'école, (1900) is Colette's first published novel, originally attributed to her first husband, the writer Willy. Colette was the pen name of the French Novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette ( January 28 1873 &ndash August 3 Claudine is the protagonist of the early novels of the French author Colette, published under the name of her husband 'Willy' Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Henry Gauthier-Villars ( August 8, 1859 - January 12, 1931) or Willy, his Nom-de-plume, was a French Fin-de-siecle Colette was the pen name of the French Novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette ( January 28 1873 &ndash August 3 Henry Gauthier-Villars ( August 8, 1859 - January 12, 1931) or Willy, his Nom-de-plume, was a French Fin-de-siecle The novel recounts the final year of secondary school of 15-year-old Claudine, her brazen confrontations with her headmistress, Mlle Sergent, and her fellow students. Claudine is the protagonist of the early novels of the French author Colette, published under the name of her husband 'Willy' The work is assumed to be highly auto-biographical, and includes lovely descriptions of the Burgundian countryside, where Colette grew up.
Contents |
Plot summary
Claudine, a fifteen year old girl, lives in Montigny, with her father, who is more interested in mollusks than his daughter. Molluscs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca. There are around 250000 extant Species within the phylum with an estimated 70000 Claudine attends the small village school, which is the primary location of her many adventures, presented like an intimate journal. For other uses of the term 'diary' see Diary (disambiguation. The journal begins with the new school year, marked by the arrival of the new headmistress, Miss Sergent, and her assistant Miss Aimée Lanthenay, as well as the boys' instructors Mr. Duplessis and Mr. Rabastens. Although Claudine begins an affair early on with Miss Lanthenay, Miss Sergent soon discovers the liaison and discourages Miss Lanthenay, ultimately taking her on as her own lover. Claudine feels betrayed and causes trouble for the two women with the help of her friends Anaïs and Marie Belhomme. Miss Lanthenay's sister Luce arrives at school, and Claudine mistreats her. Some major events of the school year documented in the novel are the final exams, the opening of the new school, and a ball to mark the visit of an important political minister to the town.
Characters in Claudine at School
- Claudine - The 15-year old protagonist. Claudine is the protagonist of the early novels of the French author Colette, published under the name of her husband 'Willy' Claudine is an only child who lives alone with her father. Extremely bright, Claudine revels in nature and feels underchallenged at school.
- Mlle Sergent, the new headmistress.
- Mlle Aimée Lanthenay, a new instructor - Young and attractive, Mlle Aimée soon attracts the attention of Claudine. She begins as Claudine's English tutor; but after the two begin a homosexual affair, she is forbidden to see Claudine and instead takes up with Mlle Sergent. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation.
- Luce, the younger sister of Mlle Aimée, who emulates Claudine.
- La grande Anais, a friend of Claudine.
- Marie Belhomme, a friend of Claudine.
- Antonin Rabastiens - the music teacher who woos Claudine. He also teaches courses for the male students.
- Claire - the foster sister (sœur de lait) of Claudine.
Major themes
Claudine at School is an example of homoerotic fiction in the tradition of Gertrude Stein's Fernhurst (1904), Ivy Compton-Burnett's More Women than Men (1934), Christa Winsloe's The Child Manuela (1933), or Dorothy Bussy's Olivia. Homoeroticism refers to the representation of same-sex love and desire most especially as it is depicted or manifested in the Visual arts and Literature. Gertrude Stein ( February 3, 1874 &ndash July 27, 1946) was an American Writer who spent most of her life in France Dame Ivy Compton-Burnett, DBE ( 5 June 1884 &ndash 27 August, 1969) was an English Christa Winsloe (1888-1944 was a 20th century German Novelist, Playwright and sculptor best known for her play Gestern und heute, filmed in Dorothy Bussy (née Strachey) (24 July 1865 – 1 May 1960 English novelist and translator [1]
Literary significance and reception
Upon its publication in 1900, Colette's novel was heralded by Charles Marras for its "maturity of language and style" [2] It was immediately successful, yet it brought Colette scandal as well. [3]
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Claudine at School has had several French film adaptations.
- Claudine à l'école (1917)
- Claudine à l'école (1937)
- Claudine à l'école (1978 - made for TV)
External links
- Claudine à l'école in French
References
- ^ Blackmer, Corinne E. (Fall), “'The Finishing Touch' and the Tradition of Homoerotic Girls' School Fictions”, Review of Contemporary Fiction 15 (3): 32-39
- ^ Kristeva, Julia (2005). Colette. New York: Columbia University Press, 448. ISBN 9780231128971.
- ^ Dugast, Francine. "Views of Colette". Retrieved on 2007-10-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.