LA SYMPHONIE PASTORALE [Mass Market Paperback]

André Paul Guillaume Gide (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Editions Gallimard (1986)
• ASIN: B001J8L3S0
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating novella, March 6, 2006

By 

Eddy (amazon.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: La Symphonie Pastorale (Folio Ser .: No 18) (French Edition) (Mass Market Paperback)

The 60 or so pages of 'La Symphonie Pastorale' was all that Andre Gide needed to offer us a beautifully rendered account of the passions of a rural, Protestant minister, and their affects on him and those around him.

Gide's novella circles around the aforementioned minister and his 'Christian Mission' to take in and educate a blind, mute girl who lives in his parish. Gide provides an interesting reflection on the clash that occurs when optimistic Christian idealism comes head to head with the realities of life. The zealotry of this good samaritan is brought crashing down to earth when his ambitions are expressed to his exasperated wife and his less than enthusiatic family.

What proves more interesting however is Gide's development of the relationship between the minister and the young blind girl. The affection that develops in the heart of the minister forges parallels with Vladimir Nabokov's 'Lolita', however Gide develops this bond in a different manner. This closeness is on far more of an emotional and spiritual level and does not have the lascivious or explicitly sexual leanings of Nabokov's novel.

Gide's talents in respect of both depth of character and richness of prose, are well exemplified in this very attractive novella. For those interested in reading Gide, 'La Symphonie Pastorale' is a perfect starting point.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing in a state of grace., May 3, 2001

By 

Luisa (Oporto, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LA Symphonie Pastorale (French Edition) (Paperback)

La Symphonie Pastorale deals with the semi-acknowledged love affair between a married Protestant priest and Gertrudes, a blind girl he takes into his home and educates. Blinded by love, the priest continually neglects his wife and children, deceiving himself and Gertrudes in the process. Many themes run through this amazing novel: love, family, duty, blindness (literal and metaphorical), sensibility, moral conventions, and so on. All is dealt with with a subtle, highly intelligent touch and in a language that evokes the world at its most beautiful and painful.

The priest himself tells the story and as we go with him on his narrative journey, we feel his deep humanity and the yearning for understanding that only Gertrudes can appease. Unfortunately theirs is not a sanctioned love...

Read it. ;-)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, July 10, 2006

By 

skiwoman (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LA Symphonie Pastorale (French Edition) (Paperback)

This is a beautifully written tale of how a good person can deceive himself (or herself) and do great damage. It is as good an examination of self centeredness and the suffering it causes as any Buddhist text (I'm a 19 year Chan and Tibetan practitioner) and a gorgeous peice of literature besides.