The Wanderer (Meridian classics) [Paperback]

Henri Alain-Fournier (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 1 pages
• Publisher: Plume (July 1, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452007542
• ISBN-13: 978-0452007543
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,882,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Tale of a Mysterious Journey, September 2, 2005

By 

D. S. Bornus (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wanderer (Le Grand Meaulnes) (Hardcover)

I read this book back in high school because I was intrigued by the title. I enjoyed it at the time, and through the years I always remembered it as one that really resonated with my gloomy adolescent mind.

Feeling nostalgic, I located a used copy online and read it again, trying to recapture whatever it was that had engaged me so many years before. It was interesting to see the same story after having a bit more experience of life. It was not as deep as it had initially seemed to me before, and yet I noticed and understood many nuances and details that had been opaque to my teenage mind.

The edition I bought included a short biography of the author, who was killed in WWI - this was his only book. It was interesting that the story of the lost love was based on real events in Alain Fournier's short life. It is a glimpse into just one young life that was snuffed out by war, all future promise never to be revealed. As such, it is a story which is nearly as wistful and sad as the novel itself. Just as one wonders "what could have been" if Meaulnes got the girl, so we wonder what other novels Fournier might have gone on to write, had he not been buried beneath the sod of Europe.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good for the middle aged, April 3, 2004

By 

Bada (San Clemente, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wanderer (Le Grand Meaulnes) (Hardcover)

I had to read this book in college for a German literature course - which doesn't make much sense since it was originally writen in French and takes place in France. But hey, one character does briefly go to Germany during the course of the story so maybe that was the justification.
Anyway, I have always remembered the book as being fantastic and one of the most emotionally powerful things I had ever read. So much so, that a water stained, yellowed papaerpack copy had come with me over 25 years and 10+ moves to three continents.
So finally last week, I made the time to read it again both to try to remember the specifics of what was so good and also so I could share it with my teenage daughter. Imagine my surprise to find it somewhat simplistic both in storyline and wtiting. The passion of the characters that caused them to make bad decisions in their lives must have seemed heroic to me as a 20 year old but sure seem transparently stupid to me now.
The general theme that you lose what ever you most passionately desire if you actually acheive it, does not really resonate with me now. Sometimes I find it to be true; other times not and in any case most older people don't desire things with the passion of the young.
Anyway, interesting book. Differet from most other things you might read. Worth the time; especially if you are 20 years old.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Malle or Truffaut?, March 19, 2006

By 

Derek C. Oppen "dcodco" (Charlottesville, Va United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Wanderer (Le Grand Meaulnes) (Hardcover)

I knew this book first from the film (english subtitles) and found it even better than Malle or Truffaut at capturing young sensibilities (and yes, immaturity)... I recommend it highly and hope that it will be released on DVD...