Horace

by George Sand, Zack Rogow (Translator)

The first English-language edition of a major work by George Sand. Translated by the winner of the 1994 BOMC-PEN Translation Award. "A courageous work, nowadays unjustly neglected". -- Renee Winegarten "Sand develops her most advanced political, social and sexual views in this classic work". -- Feminist Bookstore News

Genres: Classics, Fiction, French Literature, France, 19th Century, Novels, Feminism

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1842

About the author

Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, best known by her pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. One of the most popular writers in Europe in her lifetime, being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balzac in England in the 1830s and 1840s, Sand is recognised as one of the most notable writers of the European Romantic era. She wrote more than 50 volumes of various works to her credit, including tales, plays and political texts, alongside her 70 novels.
Like her great-grandmother, Louise Dupin, whom she admired, George Sand advocated for women's rights and passion, criticized the institution of marriage, and fought against the prejudices of a conservative society. She was considered scandalous because of her turbulent love life, her adoption of masculine clothing, and her masculine pseudonym.

Reviews

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is such a high concentration of good (kind-hearted, honest, noble, reasonable, devoted) people in this novel that reading it was like attending a psychotherapy session. All these 'good' people, including the narrator, are contrasted with the main character, Horace, a charming egotist.
In the end, each character gets what they deserve. That's why the novel reminded me of a romantic fairy tale.

[Sincerae Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theophile is the narrator in the novel, Horace. He is the loyal and patient friend of the difficult, pretentious, and impetuous university student Horace, who comes to Paris from the provinces. Horace has been spoiled by parents who sacrificed their merger income for their selfish son. Surrounded by the excitement and temptations of the city, Horace forgets his studies and gets entangled in love affairs, becomes a social climber and has aspirations to become a celebrated author, willing to lie and spend money he doesn't have to make his way into the homes of the aristocracy. He creates a lot of drama and brings grief into the lives of the people closest to him, while at the same time keeping his antics well hidden from his doting parents.

George Sands' writing in Horace is as witty, wise, and dramatic as in other novels of hers that I've read.

[Helynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Horace, which was motivated by a quarrel between author George Sand and fellow novelist Marie d'Agoult, Sand portrays her friend in a most unflattering manner as the vain and peevish Vicomtesse Léonie de Cahilly. The unfolding of the plot shows the Vicountess Cahilly as flagrantly amoral, egotistical and vindictive, an indifferent mother and un unfaithful wife who indulges herself in numerous affairs, and eventually wreaks petty revenge on the title character, the feckless Latin Quarter dandy Horace Dumontet, by ruining his reputation in Parisian society through gossip and schemes. Of course, Horace is an unsympathetic character to begin with. He is so ruthless in his spending that all the money his devoted parents can spare him for his education goes straight to his vainglorious lifestyle in Paris. It's maddening to read about it.
Fortunately, the novel includes some much more sympathetic male characters such as narrator Theophile, a wise medical student of noble birth, and art student Paul Arsène. Sand also creates some likeable working-class women characters who stand up to the typical misogyny and irrational limitations placed on women of the time.
Though Sand's motivation may not have been entirely pure when she wrote Horace, she, nevertheless, came up with a very interesting and enjoyable novel about a tumultuous period in French history–two years after the 1830 July Monarchy–when idealistic young men rose up against the Citizen King Louis-Philippe and were crushed for their pains. (The same skirmishes are portrayed in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables). While Horace careens toward his inevitable comeuppance, the other more stolid characters triumph over seemingly unsurmontable odds. Don't worry about the unlikely coincidences that move the plot along. Just flow with Sand's wonderful writing style and enjoy.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know which character annoyed me more, Horace, who is completely unredeemable. Or Theophile, the narrator, who seemed naively blind to Horace's faults and continually made excuses for his friend's behavior. Too bad we didn't get more from Marthe or Eugenie's POV, although at the time the book was written, this is not surprising.

Eugenie is my favorite character. A strong, independent woman who is never fooled by Horace. And one of the main themes is still relevant today. Marthe displays all the classic symptoms of an abused spouse; self-blame and making excuses for her tormentor. A problem which has not been eradicated in the ensuing 150 years and probably never will be. But at least victims have more options to obtain help today, though protecting a woman from domestic abuse, whether physical or mental, is still woefully inadequate. A bold stance taken by Sand at a time when women were considered little more than a man's property and had few, if any, rights.

Even though she is only briefly mentioned at the beginning of the book, I felt sorry for Horace's sister, Camille, throughout. Her dowry was sacrificed to indulge an ungrateful, egotistical brother possessing a false sense of entitlement. Unfortunately, even today I see family's dismissing the talents or accomplishments of a daughter in preference and in order to indulge a son. Right off the top of my head, I can think of two personal examples of acquaintances in my life. Thank God, I was born into a family with only sisters.

I kept waiting and hoping Theophile would see the light concerning Horace. But even at the end, he makes excuses for Horace, although through the incident with the student's mother, we see Horace has not changed. I'm only glad Marthe, who was victimized by his ego, saw the light.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love George Sand. She played with gender roles (gave her self a masculine pen name) and always paints a powerful picture of life in France in the 1800's.

[Chris Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this before you go to France to be an intellectual.

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship ended with LES MISERABLE
Now HORACE is my favorite 19th. c. French romantic novel featuring the June 1832 rebellion

(i would die die die for marthe!)

[Brigid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first George Sand book I've read, and it was alright - interesting more from a historical point of view than as a work of literature, but worth a read for that aspect alone. This work was scandalous in its day, and even today there are some people who would consider it's valorous stand against marriage a bit shocking. Well, not against marriage per se, but rather in favor of unmarried domestic commitment, something couples still struggle with.

One of the stranger things about this book is that this radical philosophy is accepted by most of the characters as the automatic position to hold, so that the expected drama - of tension between disapproving society and the 'fallen' but unrepentant female - is completely avoided. This is where it's nice to have a female author, and one who didn't swallow the status quo whole. Sand is uninterested in punishing female transgressions, nor even in considering them to be transgressions.

Reading Horace reminded me of seeing the wonderful French film "Look At Me" (actual title: Comme une image) written, directed and starring Agnes Jaoui, who takes the favorite male character of so much French film - the asshole artistic type - and shows him as he really is. She (and Jean-Pierre Bacri, her co-star and co-writer, so this is a feminist perspective but not just a female one) provides a necessary and critical perspective on male privilege. The women Sand writes are utterly different (at least the sympathetic ones) from those created by her male peers, and it was, frankly, a relief to read them. There is plenty of stilted stuff in here, but seeing and feeling the differences in how she portrays life from how her male colleagues do was fascinating.

Perhaps her major failure for me was in the depiction of her main character, Horace, who although he manages to maintain the affection and friendship of the other characters (or perhaps this is just an illustration of their nobility?), never even engaged mine. His appealing characteristics are mentioned rather than described, while his extreme jerkishness is dwelt on in loving detail. The character is supposed to be based on an ex-lover of Sand's, so the reasons for this may be understandable, but she continues to maintain throughout that despite his faults he is still worth knowing and caring for, and I beg to differ, at least given the material for judging that she provides us with. Although I respect her liberal and generous ideas of friendship, I cannot share them. Everyone in the book would have been better off to sever ties with this asshole the first time around rather than instantly forgiving him and giving him endless additional chances to be a dick. While that kind of thing can be said about lots of books - how often do we wish that people would just see a therapist? (not that that option tended to be available at the time) - she doesn't make the journey compelling enough to let us forgive the ruses used to prolong it.

[Sugar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I`m very happy and amazed from this book. It really showed me many different and strage aspects of human behaviour, which is the saame no matter of the time and era. The characters are not equal, and the only note is that so gorgeous as writer George Sand can`t hide her real feelings to the "personage" of Horace. He is described as highly egoistic, and selfconfident person, whos only aim is to be loved and adored, to succeed no matter in what price. He can`t have real value for the life, and he could be anyone. Some features of his character look annoing, rediculous, bizare, but most of all he seems to be real. Not only him,but somehow the whole story and many levels of stories and adventures in the sociaty of middle and high classes in time before French revolution, are marked by feeling of theater. The reader accepts all characters as playing their personal roles, some are constant and never change their inner beauty from beginning to end. The only changable character is Horace, so that why he seem even little artificial, even he is most real. His story is told with little ironic and sarcastic intonation, but also convincing us in his pure heart, no matter of all. SO in the end reader just feel pity of this poor young man, who did`t succeed his plan to enter the high class sociaty.

[Steve Gordon]

I'd say this novel delivered on all of its promises. Revolutionary street fighting. Yes. Struggles of working class women to take control of their lives in the Paris of 1830s. Indeed. A young man's journey through student, lover, fop, and finally adulthood (reminiscent in some ways of Balzac's Lost Illusions). Check. Well written. Of course. Always remember boys and girls - George Sand will never let you down.

[Ruthmgon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"neglected literary classics" That is what this is. I love classic english lit, and this is just like it only French. I like that it is set during real 18th century french uprisings and feels quite modern at the same time. Brace yourself for the annoying but realistic cad, I really enjoyed it. not a fast read at all. Not found in my library at all I am going to donate this one.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

How wonderful to find a feminist novel written in 1941. George Sand's witty and insightful writing about French politics and characters of the time brings us a remarkably modern trio of protagonists. I am very grateful to Zack Rogow for finding this gem and translating it so well.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Georgia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

[Raimondaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the other users have pointed it out, the fact that Horace, as annoying and irredeemable as he is, seems to get away with everything and that the narrator stays by his side, is the most annoying thing about this book. That being said, there are many good things about this book - Horace is a pretty good character study, the book itself is a fascinating portrayal of a historical time, and it describes an abusive relationship, including gaslighting, etc. with surprising accuracy, which is not that often seen in 19th century literature (or later one, for that matter). Horace and Martha's relationship are basically a textbook case, and Sand describes their relationship dynamics so precisely that it could be used as a material to teach what is abusive behavior and how do people end up in such relationship.

[Susan Mcfate]

Ch4
Prestige rests entirely with God. In the book he has revealed to you that whenever you hear God’s signs disbelieved in and ridiculed, you should not sit with them until they change to some other topic. You would be just like them then!

[Julia Florek Turcan · Rating 3 out of 5]

M

[no one puts their actual fuhkin name here · Rating 4 out of 5]

zcela vazne mi tam chybela jeho sebevrazda na konci

[Wendy Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

French novelists tend to find happy endings for their characters and to be forgiving of the sins of their protagonists and this book proves the case in point. An enjoyable half-heavy/half-light read. This was my first foray into Sand and I might try another of his novels, assuming that Horace is not considered to be his finest work.

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

loved the beginning, hated the long boring middle, liked the end but wanted more of it. a few too many fever and fainting spells throughout. but i do appreciate the then(1840)-groundbreaking tale of the fallen woman emerging victorious.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Criminally underrated.