Customer Reviews

Camille

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Near the end, when she was coughing blood and had a fever, Marie Duplessis sat in her usual box at the Varietes for the last time, said a Paris columnist, like something beautiful, he reported later, something white and spectral. For the last time the imagined Marguerite Gautier had dragged her white face and camellias to the opera. After Alphonsine was buried in Montmartre, there took place the famous sale auction of her many possesions, furniture, hangings, dresses, objects d'art bibelots and bijoutterie. Literature is not a trusty reproduction of reality and like in most roman-a-clef the original yarn is more vivid and interesting than the fabricated version concocted by an author. This is no exception. Before Verdi's Violetta and Dumas young's Marguerite, there lived briefly and died a mislead soul of such unusual qualities, she was destined to cast a tall artistic shadow. "La dame aux camellias" are the novel (1848) and play (1852) by the son of Alexander Dumas, France's literary lion. The young Dumas, while growing, somewhat dissolute, was one of the many lovers of the fascinating courtesan who was Paris' arbiter of elegance, perennial in the gazettes, carrying camellias, always. An exquisitely enchanting maiden, who rented her love, thus making and spending millions. Duplessis was notorious for her extravagance, and, conveniently, the spell she cast on rich men. She was a fixture at theaters and gaming houses. A madly desired Marie Duplessis could never have imagined she would one day be the muse of Sarah Bernhardt Pola Negri, Eleonora Duse and Greta Garbo. 'La dame aux camellias" the novel and play both became success-de-scandale, both finding an instant and feverish acclaim. This old Romantic novel is based on the true story of Alphonsine Plessis, an abnormally pretty farmer, who abused by her brutal father, runs off to Paris and becomes a grisette. It's believed Plessis began selling his daughter at the age of twelve. There, in Paris, quite effortlessly, she becomes a ravishing courtesan, a swan, before dying of consumption at the age of 23. In the real biography Marie Duplessis (in her climb Alphonsine changed her name) is always juggling lovers (and debts) some, more fabulously wealthy than others. She also finds time for handsome and brilliant young men of fashion, despite their monetary limitation, and soon we learn she gives up Dumas for Frans Liszt (can you imagine the cinematic possibilities here?) Later, as the shadow of death grew near, Duplessis marries a faithful titled paramour, becoming a countess thus adding coronets to her plate. Now in the outs with Liszt (trust me, I can't go into everything but the life of the real heroine is very interesting)and while young Dumas (the original Armand Duval) travels with his father (in reality having perhaps forgotten Plessis, or Duplessis, Gautier or Valery, it's a bit confusing) the lady of the camellias dies alone of tuberculosis, in her dismantling, erstwhile courtly apartment. In this sad note ends the story of Alphonsine, also Verdi's opera, Garbo's movie and Dumas young's novel and play. The novel, a sometimes mistreated literary treasure that has seen print since the days of Louis Napoleon. Some dismiss it, some find it a bridge between the Romantics and the new realism of Flaubert. A curiously intimate young love account ending in a heart-crushing pathos. My regret is not seeing Duse or Eva LeGallienne in the role. See, I think this story would make a great modern movie. Unless you cry at dog-fights and are innately sentimental, don't pick up this book. If you like it, go on to read Abbe Provost's 'Manon Lescaut'. I could have never imagined I would one day get to grade 'La dame aux camellias', but here it is, you guessed it, I give it five stars.

This is the story of a beautiful, headstrong, and emotionally detached courtesan Marguerite Gautier who seems to live her life for the moment and her tragic love with Armand Duval. The main plot of the story is that their love can really never be allowed because of society's strict standards. Kind of in the themes of The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. This book was written by the famous Alexander Dumas's son, so the style of writing is very different. In the film version, Greta Garbo plays Marguerite in the movie, and plays her beautifully. This is one of the classics that everyone should really read, several classic novels and movies take their inspiration and ideas from Camille. The imagery is really pretty outstanding and several scenes stand out vividly in my memory even after several months. My favorite scenes are when Armand Duval and Marguerite meet for the first time in an operahouse,it's entertaining to see 19th Century social conventions-- and to peer into its darker underside. I think the novel is a little lacking in originality, but is made up by the beauty of the charactars and the depth of the love. It runs in the strain of Romeo and Juliette, very very quickly. The book can probably be read in a day or two without any effort. A classic.

Dumas was fascinated by this girl's personality, And he created a tragic novel of romance , and misunderstanding that is right up there with all the greats: romeo and juliet,anthony and cleopatra..sacrifice for love.. Dumas is a timeless writer,who will hold your attention to the last page.

Dumas' novel of passion, sacrifice and expiation provides typical 19th century French fare--a work which inspired Hollywood to produce classic B/W film versions. Here we have corrupt Paris at its most seductive, patronized by all levels, but formally scorned by High Society. Dumas presents the world of Courtesans--beautiful young women who survive by their wits and charms, "kept" in luxury by a succession of rich lovers. How do such women exist financially once their bloom has faded? Ah, consider the case of Mme Prudence Duvernoy. Many innocent young men have been lead astray and been ruined by gambling in order to procure their latest mistresses the required carriages, servants, gowns, jewels, and furniture. But CAMILLE (not her first name)proves more than a mere cautionary novel.

Readers will meet two narrators, plus the letters from Marguerite Gautier herself and a young friend named Julie. This was an age when young men wept openly and threw themselves into headlong passions--when caution and familial obligations rarely bowed to common sense.

At an estate auction the first narrator purchased a copy of MANON LESCAUT, autographed to Marguerite from her ardent lover, Armand Duval. When the wretched fellow seeks out and introduces himself to the compassionate purchaser, the two young men become friends. Ultimately it is Armand, returned too late for her funeral, who takes up the thread of the 2nd narration--willingly providing all the painful, shameful details of his liaison with the lovely courtesan who was dying of consumption--and a broken heart.

The title of CAMILLE refers to her floral penchant for wearing or appearing only with white camellias. Having viewed Marguerite in a box at a public performance Armand is instantly smitten, and presses his suit-- although she already has a rich lover and an elderly protector. In the course of this novel Armand and Marguerite fall deeply in love--she for the first time. Can love cleanse her of her tainted lifestyle? Will society accept the reformation of a notorious courtesan? Passion, jealousy, pique, emotional cruelty and psychological torture drip from these 170 pages. But Armand lives in a fool's paradise if he thinks he can flaunt the mores of his class-conscious world. Working behind the scenes his father is desperate to save his son from social and financial ruin. Armand in life and Marguerite in death mistakenly trust their affairs to a faithless woman.

One underlying theme is that of redemption through love. The author incorporates many references to the Church and holy matters; gentle Julie hopes that God will forgive Marguerite greatly because she loved greatly. But is it enough? Will she be received into Heaven in return for her protracted physical suffering and mental anguish? You be the (merciful) judge!

This is a quick read. I found it engaging and hard to put down. Very well written and a chance to view 19th century French Society from a darker side. I picked it up before going to see La Traviata and I am very glad I read it!

A touching and passionate story about love, loss and jealousy. I read it twice: once as a teenager and again in my mid-twenties. I couldn't put it down both times - I read through the night and cried for the last 60 pages.

This is a very moving story. The love between Marguarite and Armand could not survive the hypocritical French society of the time, with its "honour, guilt, and shame," because no-one ever dared to challenge it. It is an entrapping read, from the very first page.

I thought this book was a real page turner and a great read. You have Marguerite Gautier a high society escort who caters to only the richest in Paris who by the way is ill and probably suffering from some STD she pickup from sleeping with many men. Her greed throughout the entire book keeps her from a great love and having a beautiful life with Armand Duval. You have Armand Duval who is a naive man in his early twenties who can't seem to keep his head right. He falls in love with Marguerite Gautier who he knows is a "kept woman" and that he can't afford as his lover. So he pursued her and then finds himself becoming a gambling man just to afford her. Their love affair is doomed from the beginning because Marguerite enjoys her standard of living (ei opera, fancy cloths, carriages etc) and will not give up the other men in her life that pay for her lifestyle. I can't feel sorry for Armand because he brings much of his issues and problems upon himself. By the end of the story Marguerite tries to be a one man woman but too many people keep interfering like Armand's father and Marguerite's friend Prudence. Prudence is the pot stirrer throughout the story letting Armand know up front that his dreams of a life with Marguerite will never be. She is the neighbor and friend who seems to only be friends with Marguerite becuase of the money and material things she owns. Then Armand's father feels that his families honor has been shaken because his son is living with this escort in the country which by the way a Duke from her escort life paid for house in which they are living together. By the end Marguerite leaves Armand which is sad and sends him a Dear John type letter saying that by the time he reads it she will have taken another lover. Armand gets his revenge by taking another more beautiful escort as his lover but it doesn't last long and ends up having a couple of ill-fated meetings with Marguerite. In the end Armand leaves Paris and joins his friend in Marseille to get away from all the nonsense in Paris and thus ending all further contact with Marguerite. Marguerite dies alone with bails men watching her belongings because she is in debt and no longer has those high society men to care for her.

I was surprised how engaging this novel was. Having seen the 1930's movie based on this book with Greta Garbo (Maguerite) and a very youthful Robert Taylor (Armand) not to mention familiarity with Verdi's La Traviata which was also based on this book I thought I knew what was between these covers. Not so. Some of it was a bit over the top (It is French after all) but most of it was believable and emotionally honest. The hardest thing was to leave my preconceptions from the movie and opera behind and concentrate on the story. It is set in the mid 1800's in Paris and a young man who's finished his studies but who'd rather kick his heels up a little rather than settle into lawyering meets a beautiful young kept woman. He's entranced. After a little toing and froing she decides she likes him too. In fact she goes to quite a bit of personal trouble to make sure she's not a burden on him financially and then they leave Paris for the country to be together. Armand talks her into leaving her glamorous and many peopled Paris life behind and they have a short time to be a young couple in love. Then Armand's pop gets wind of the shenanigans.

I only bought the book for a friend named "Camille" who did not know anything about her literary namesake. I am not sure off the top of my head if this is the same author who wrote "The Three Musketeers." or not. I think this is the son. I can highly recommend the original B&W movie version starring Greta Garbo. I don't get emotional easily but the movie moved me. Also, obvious why Garbo was considered one of the "great" ones.