Carmen and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Prosper Mï¿1/2rimï¿1/2e (Author), Nicholas Jotcham (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Oxford World's Classics | Publication Date: April 22, 1999

Carmen, Merimee's classic tale of passion and power, provided the inspiration for one of the world's most enduringly popular operas, and numerous films. Like Carmen, the other stories in this book, including Mateo Falcone, The Etruscan Vase, and The Venus of Ille, explore the clash of primitive and civilized values. This is the only selection of Merimee's short stories available.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'there is no doubt that the French-born Merimee was one of the earlier masters of the short story' Cape Times

'A very good edition and a solid translation.' Dr Lance Butler, University of Stirling

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192837222
• ISBN-13: 978-0192837226
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rational Emotion, May 9, 2003

By 

"qisi" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carmen and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Bizet's CARMEN OVERTURE is well known and frequently used in the occasion that a champion comes out.In my opinion,Carmen is a champion,a champion of love,a champion of freedom.Mérimée,the author of CARMEM,describes Carmen as a sparkish and abandoned woman,searching for true love and sticking to freedom.In this book, Mérimée narrates how he ran across Don Jose' and the whole story between Don Jose' and Carmen.Don Jose',a soldier,falls in love with Carmen,a prisoner who kills a woman worker,when he is on his way to send her to prison.He gives her reins in spite of being punished.He becomes a bandit and killer so as to stay with her and please her.He kills her eventually for preventing her from loving someone else.It is a tragic ending.And I am deeply shocked.But if not for the death of Carmen,her spirit of chasing freedom can't be that striking.
There are two plots that make me consider a lot:
1.FOR OBTAINING CARMEN,DON JOSE' KILLS A SUBALTERN.
<I ran away,all-out in the street,but not knowing where to go.I felt someone after me.When I came to,it turned out to be Carmen.she never left me alone.>He was injured,and Carmen took good care of him until he recovered.I am moved for it.Someone may say Carmen has many lovers,and her love to Don Jose' is not true love.But I can't agree with it.From this part,we can see clearly that her love is of ligeance.Why she risked her life to save Don Jose',just for exploiting him sometime?Absolutely not.Don't forget Carmen can let any man do anything.Don Jose' is puny,but her love is significant.It can be confirmed in the latter part.When they were attacked by the army,Don Jose' was unfortunately shot,and Carmen looked after him patiently and attentively,without sleeping.<Never has a woman cherished a man she loves with so much consideration.>She did love him with every beat of her heart.It must be noticed that only one time Carmen's crying was mentioned and this was the first time Don Jose' had seen her weep.Carmen stole Mérimée's watch but failed to get his ring for the prevention of Don Jose'.And then they quarrelled.Don Jose' beat her.<Her face turned pale and she cried.>A woman who is beat will cry,but a woman who cries is not certainly beat.Personaly I think Carmen cried for love,not for the beat.
2.FOR OCCUPYING CARMEN,DON JOSE' KILLS HER.
Here,the story comes to climax.<I am sure you are going to kill me.This is my destiny.But I won't give in to you........I don't love you anymore,but you still love me,therefore,you are going to kill me.I can tell lies over and over again,but I am not inclined to do so.All is over.As my rum,you have the right to kill your rummy.But Carmen is free forever.....It is impossible for me to go on loving you,and I am unwilling to live with you anymore.>Even when Don Jose' took out a knife to threaten her,Carmen did not quail a bit.she took off the ring he had given to her and threw it into the jungle.Finally,he thrust into her heart...She died for her freedom,and her freedom survived.I don't think one should give up freedom in order to love someone.Carmen is a classic example.She prefers being killed to staying with Don Jose'.Her love is for freedom,and her freedom is for love.She will love whom gives her freedom.Free love is unselfish.Don Jose' can't give her free love,and longs to occupy her on his own,so he is doomed to fail.
So,do remember that Real Love is a rational emotion!

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT Bizet's Opera,, April 3, 2005

By 

T. J. Stewart (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carmen and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

But rather a collection of some of Merimee's finest short stories.

They range from the tragio-comic (The Etruscan Vase) to pure horror (The Lokis). Others are just strange (Venus of Ille). Merimee's writing (or at least the translation) flows in a way that makes him easily accessible to the modern reader (like me).

This is the perfect book to put on your nightstand for a good evening read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Merimée's Short Stories, October 17, 2009

By 

Joseph C. Jones (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carmen and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

First, this is a collection of Prosper Merimée's short stories and novellas, including "Carmen," which became the basis for the more famous Bizet opera. But this is NOT the opera or anything to do with the opera other than being the source material.

The novella "Carmen" holds up pretty well, though it's worth noting that Bizet only used a portion of the tale for his opera. Personally, my favorite story in the collection is "Colomba," in which a French soldier, returning to his Coriscan homeland, finds himself entangled in a tragic family feud, spurred on by his scheming sister--it's a riveting tale, very suspenseful and filled with rich Corsican detail.