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Translated from the French by Margaret Crosland
These two linked novels, Duo and Le Toutounier,
are works of Colette’s maturity.
First published in France in 1934 and 1939 respectively, they
have been rated as being among Colette’s finest work.
In Duo, Colette observes, with astuteness and perception,
two characters whose marriage is foundering on the wife’s
infidelity. Acting out the crisis, Alice and Michel have the
stage to themselves so that nothing is allowed to distract
from the marital dialogue.
Le Toutounier continues Alice’s story after Michel’s
death and her move to Paris. There she and her two sisters
live in a shabby, homely apartment; fiercely independent,
reticent, hard-working, needing men but showing little sign
of loving them, they speak a private language and seek comfort
in the indestructible sofa (toutounier) of their childhood.
‘A major literary talent.’ – Irish
Times
‘Drenched with her talent at its best.’ – Sunday
Times
‘Sensuous vital prose.’ – Scotsman
‘A delight . . . dazzling sustained dialogue.’ – Sunday
Telegraph
SIDONIE GABRIELLE COLETTE was born in Burgundy in 1873. She
married when she was twenty, and collaborated with her husband
on the ‘Claudine’ books published under his name.
She became the foremost French woman author of her time and
established herself as an outstanding talent which novels
and prose-works which are notable for their sensitive understanding
and portrayal of nature and country life. She died in 1945. |
