Customer Reviews

The Master Pipers (Oxford World's Classics)

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George Sand, a feminist before it became fashionable, writes of young love, class conflict, and the artist who nobody can understand. While she does often present a romanticized and idealized version of love, her social critiques are poignant. She was a socialist and while this is not her most socialist of novels, it does make its point. Besides the social issues, it is a wonderful love story. For those interested in the Romantic Period, peasant or pastoral novels, or feminism (even though the official feminist movement did come until the end of the 19th century) George Sand is an author that should not be passed over, and this is one of her best books.

.... and in order to live well, you don't live at all.'

In the same pastoral environment as 'The Devil's Pool' George Sand weaves a marvellous rural tale. It reflects on the power of music, but also on how vulnerable it can make people. When the baby Charlie was introduced more than half way through the novel, I was nonplussed and uncomfortable with the secrecy surrounding the child. Why did the narrator keep back from us the reasons for the secrecy? Of course, the secret was being kept from the narrator so it reflected his knowledge at the time, if not at the time he told the story. Maybe the story was a bit contrived, but the reason for the secret is quite reasonable.

The dramatic resolution of the story is not only contrived, but it is also melodramatic. And the final outcome for one of the characters is gloomy - the man left out. I did enjoy the novel - Sand is a wonderful story teller and she recreated (represented?) a world I can never experience except through words of the time.

other recommendations:

'Indiana' - George Sand
'The Devil's Pool' - George Sand