ALPHONSE DAUDET

In "Tartarin On The Alps," Alphonse Daudet crafts a satirical yet affectionate portrayal of provincial life through the eyes of the larger-than-life character, Tartarin, who seeks adventure in the majestic Alps. This novel employs a blend of humor and vivid descriptive language, showcasing Daudets keen observation of human foibles. Set against the glamorous backdrop of the Alpine landscape, the narrative navigates themes of ambition, illusion, and the absurdity of romanticizing danger, echoing the broader literary context of 19th-century French naturalism and realism. The books rich imagery invites readers to experience the dichotomy between the allure of adventure and the often ridiculous nature of human aspiration. Alphonse Daudet, a prominent figure in French literature, was influenced by his experiences as a journalist and novelist in Provence and Paris. Born in 1840, Daudets own encounters with the complexities of life and the contradictions of human nature shaped his writing. "Tartarin On The Alps" serves as both a continuation of his exploration of character and a witty commentary on the societal expectations faced by individuals in pursuit of grandeur. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy clever satire and vivid storytelling, "Tartarin On The Alps" not only entertains but also encourages critical reflection on our dreams and the often humorous realities that accompany them. Engage with Daudets unique narrative style and discover the delightful absurdities that lie within the search for adventure.

Alphonse Daudet contracta la syphilis très jeune, à l''âge de dix-huit ou vingt ans. Cette maladie, à l''époque incurable, touchait toutes les couches sociales et notamment les jeunes bourgeois amate

En palabras del autor, la historia de mis libros me parece la verdadera manera original y distinguida de escribir las memorias de un hombre de letras en el margen de su obra. Daudet, representante del Romanticismo tardio frances, amigo de Mistral y del parnasianismo, su obra ya anticipa el naturalismo de Zola. Fue testigo de excepcion de toda una epoca, la que va desde la Revolucion de 1848 hasta los acontecimientos que jalonaron el fin y caida del Segundo Imperio, con el sitio de Paris, y la Comuna, la breve ocupacion prusiana, y la Restauracion hasta la proclamacion de la II Republica.

Con el cigarro en la boca, tendidos a lo largo de un diván, en un estudio de artista, dos amigos, poeta el uno y pintor el otro, charlaban cierta noche después de cenar […]. —Nosotros podríamos discu

Passionate, calculating, only sometimes honourable but always honest, Fanny Legrand is one of the great female characters in literature.Nothing could be more shocking to Jean Gaussin, a serious young student from the provinces, than the moral swamp his mistress has been living in before they met. Sculptors model, poets muse, Fanny Legrand has seen and done it all in the twenty years since her first lover, Caoudal, cast in bronze the girl from the Paris gutter and named her Sappho. But revulsion is no match for lust; and little by little, despite continual outbreaks of rage and jealousy, Jean is able to live with Fannys disgraceful past, to find a certain pleasure in the degraded domesticity of their life together and even to feel a degree of pride in his new connections with famous men. The arrival on the scene of a marriageable young girl seems to offer Jean the escape route he needs...

En Cartas desde mi molino, Daudet descubre su corazón; nos aporta sucesivamente alegría, tristeza, emoción, odio... No le falta espontaneidad ni frescura, ni esa agudeza irónica cuando aborda ciertos temas.Ademas, Daudet no inventa nada: recoge algunas anecdotas que ha presenciado o que le han contado, intenta deformar lo menos posible la realidad. Hace revivir para nosotros su Provenza natal, al pueblo provenzal con su alma, su imaginacion desbordante, sus espejismos, sus malicias, sus alegrias y sus penas.

Tartarín de Tarascón, el mitómano y fantasioso Tartarín, usando y aun abusando de los efectos que el espejismo produce en los calenturientos cerebros de los tarasconeses, se ha ganado fama de intrépido aventurero y hasta de audaz vapuleador de bandoleros chinos en Shangai. Pero un dia el espejismo deja de funcionar y Tartarin se ve obligado a marchar a tierras argelinas a la caza de leones inexistentes. Las aventuras africanas de Tartarin, con su dosis de humor, ironia e incluso satira del regimen colonial, mantienen el interes del lector en todo momento, que se encariña con este heroe en zapatillas, una estupenda aleacion provenzal de don Quijote y Sancho.

Trans.: Mary Neal Sherwood