Customer Reviews

La Dame aux Camelias (Oxford World's Classics)

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

 

 

La dama aux Camelias is Marguerite Gaultier, one of the most desirable courtesans in Paris with a very expensive taste. This is a sad love story of her affair with Armand Duval, a man that could not satisfy her demands for luxury but who could fulfill her need for being love and love but life is a too complicated of a matter. This novel is based on a true love story from Duma's life and in this edition of the book you could find quite some good links between the story and the events in real life of Alexandre, fils

I am currently writing a research paper on La Dame Aux Camelias. I have read the book many times, and every time it has the same effect on me. Dumas fils gives us a thorough understanding of the love between Armand and Marguerite, which mirrors the love he had for Marie duplessis, whose affair this book was based on. The levels of love and sacrifice are amazing and leave the reader craving more. After the book is finished you'll still be wondering about the poor girl who died with a broken heart, so that her love could have a proper future, and have a clean name. You'll love it, I promise!

I decided to read this book because it is the story that the opera La Traviata is based on and I wanted to read the story before experiencing the opera. With that said I am very looking forward to seeing the opera. This book was a very good, short read and the story was for the most part, moving along at a good pace. I believe that this book would be ideal for a person interested in starting to read classic literature, but great for anyone, so go read it....and keep me updated!

I don't know whose story is the sadest, Alexandre Dumas' La Dame aux Camelias (1848), or Abbe Prevost's Manon Lescaut (1731)....Manon Lescaut (Penguin Classics).... They are very close in their subject matter; men with good family connections and upbringing falling in love with women of ill-repute. They are so similar that one might suggest one was copied from the other, but that is very unlikely, since they were written 117 years apart, and the Dumas novel is said to be a true account of Alexandre Dumas (fils) love affair with Marie Duplessis. It is not at all hard for me to believe that a man can fall in love with a woman as deeply as these two men did, whether the story be fiction (Manon) or true (La Dame aux Camelias), because I believe I was that deeply in love with my own dear late wife. She caused me heartache, but nothing to compare with what these two men went through, for love.

You may wonder what made me want to read these stories. Ballet is the answer. About three years ago I fell in love with ballet, and THE LADY OF THE CAMELIAS, and MANON were the ballets that piqued my curiosity to read both novels. Do you like ballet? Give it a try. You, too, may fall in love with the artform.

Some people have declared that La Dame aux Camelias is not a very good book. In fact, the translator of the version I have, said just that. I say that any book having over sixteen broadway shows, and over 20 movies, plus 4 ballets and one of the most popular of all the operas based in it, should be considered good. I have not seen any of the movies based on the book, but the opera and the ballet have scenes with the hero present when Marie/Margerite/Violetta dies, but in fact he was out of the country when she died with only her maid to comfort her. No money was ever thrown in her face to embarrass her, but in a fit of anger Armond (his name in the novel) wrote her a letter telling her that the money included therein was in payment for her services, an act meant to embarrass her. The letter in fact, did not embarrass her. It saddened her, to be sure, but it would have been more of an embarrassment to Armond, when it was established how little money he had enclosed. The amount he enclosed was not enough to pay her for even one night of bliss, much less for the three or four months he was able to enjoy her for practically nothing, and as it turned out, at HER considerable expense. Marie kept the letter and it still exists today. If you are a sentimental type (like myself) this story is bound to bring tears to your eyes. I tear up every time I watch the ballet or the opera (La Traviata), or read the book. I consider this to be one of the most tender and moving love stories of all time, but it will never replace Romeo and Juliet, another love story which has had innumerable plays, movies and ballets based on it.....Verdi: La Traviata Special Edition Blu-Ray - Exclusive Bonus Feature.....AND....Chopin: La Dame aux Camelias [Blu-ray]

As an opera lover, I'm especially crazy for this famous, crushing tale- but anyone can appreciate the beautifully way this haunting love story is told.

While "La Dame" is a very good romance and a nice read, it can't compare to the far superior works of the author's Father, Alexandre Dumas, Pere.

For the real thing read dear old Dad's.

I loved the movie "Camille" so much I just had to finally read "La Dame aux Camelias". The book is very good, but I must admit that the 1937 classic motion picture had me picturing Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor all through the novel.
As I said, the novel is very good, but I have to say what is not usually said: the film of 1937 is better. It is very hard not to picture Garbo and Taylor as the perfect Marguerite and Armand.

I've read the book as a school reading.
The story is good, and we can see how was the life in this époque.
the story is about a young man armand duval who fall in love with a courtesan, they loved each other but it was impossible.
I think that armand is little bit hysterical, and it's boring because he's always crying.
I recommend to read the theatre piece too

I don't like to criticise so negatively but this has no humor and is definitely not on the level of the elder Dumas. I would like to sell mine but the prices are too low and not worth a PO trip. I just want to enter another opinion but recognize that I am in the minority among the others responding. So buy the book and see for yourself. It is very easy reading and I suppose was easy to write.

This books is the first love story book I've read. The characters are so real. The messages given out is not only usable in the past but it's also true for this modern world. Anyone who love reading should try on this book.