A Tale of the Wind: A Novel of 19Th-Century France

by Kay Nolte Smith

As a series of dramatic aesthetic revolutions sweep through nineteenth-century France, a dynasty of remarkable, strong-willed women struggles to redefine the conventions of morality, love, and life

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels

516 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 1991

About the author

Kay Nolte Smith (July 4, 1932 – September 25, 1993) was an American writer. She was for a time friendly with the philosopher-novelist Ayn Rand, who was her leading literary and philosophical influence.

Smith was born in Eveleth, Minnesota and grew up in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Smith launched her literary career after her separation from the Ayn Rand circle. Her first novel was the mystery story The Watcher. Smith's Catching Fire is set in the world of the New York theater, with an anti-trade union political stance. Mindspell centres on the conflict between science versus religion, with Nolte Smith stating this fiction was written "to challenge strongly the belief in the occult".[4] Her novel Elegy for a Soprano is a roman a clef inspired by Rand, Nathaniel Branden, and the circle around them. Elegy for a Soprano also portrays the life of Jewish Holocaust survivors from Czechoslovakia and Norway. Two of her novels — Elegy for a Soprano and A Tale of the Wind — were nominated for Prometheus Awards in 1986 and 1992, respectively.

She published seven novels before her death from cancer at age 61.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Nol..., accessed May 25, 2012)

Reviews

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 Oct. 2017
I have now read all of Kay Nolte Smith's books and looking back on them, probably still agree with my short review below that this book was super-well written and a fascinating story. It is not my personal favorite of hers, but I still love it.

The reason it is not my favorite is that it did not contain as much philosophical or political/economic ideas that some of the others did, which I really look for in a book. And even the historical setting in this, though significant, was not quite my cup of tea, especially compared to some of her others.

But the author's mastery of characterization, plot, setting, suspense and inter-human relationships, as well as character self-doubts (a male dwarf's doubts of true love), goals, happinesses, etc., were simply superb.

Treat yourself.
-------------------
3 Sept. 2012
Cool book. I have very fond memories of this. I think I read it about 15-20 years ago. This was Kay Nolte Smith's 2nd to last and perhaps best. I have only read two others, but neither were as close to being as well written.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this book had ended around page 400, I would have given it a four. It's nearly a century of French history within Paris and to me, it just tries to do too much and too dramatically for those many generations. It reads much like Victor Hugo's style. Nandou is a complete and thorough characterization and is the best part of this epic. All the other characters seem SO romanticized to their good or evil cores. Lot and lots of drama and feeling, emotive denial or passionate renderings nearly completely dominant the choices, rather than any common sense or logical thought. It entirely belongs to the French successive rebellions, repeating eras of barricades- where decisions are made in context to what "feeling" of liberty presides highest. While at the same time individual freedom is practically decimated. As if a wish for "fairness" and cruel revengeful recompense is deserved and will make it automatically happen. Childish levels of emotive thinking with not a whit of any practical applications for any afterwards. So, of course, tons of sorry and failures result.

There are lots of flawed characters, as in "Les Miserables", as well. And similar too, in that dying becomes a kind of sacrificial statement with implied or actual suicide wish. It lost an entire star for me with the Granddaughter's story and the Vollard legacy, the aftermaths of that story line and marriage of convenience. Right there the book lost the warmness of the first half completely. Cold and calculated, as the characters and their self-identity in that last age had so great a disconnect.

I would only recommend this to those who love sad, unrequited or never to be ascertained passions and love the grime and cholera amidst the Romantic passion and "arts" of the period.

[Beth Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Set in post-Napoleonic France, this multigeneraltional tale centers on the lives of 2 characters and key relationships of family and romance. The political and social struggles of the time are gently intertwined with personal dlimemas and character growth. There are empathetic people to admire as well as other to pity and/or loathe. Hugo-esque in its over all feel. I wish I could find more books so thought provoking and emotionaly engaging.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I last read this when it first came out in hardcover about 20 years ago--and reading it again, I find I still love it. Set in nineteenth century Paris, the novel follows three generations of women, Jeanne, a ragpicker's daughter, her daughter Gabrielle and her daughter Simone. Each is drawn into the life and art of Paris and Smith skillfully weaves in the politics, art and social mores of the day and how they intertwined. The book impressed upon me how turbulent was this period from 1827 to 1885 with France continually bouncing back and forth between a republic and monarchy. It's also a story about the importance of living authentically and the power of family--especially the ones we make beyond those of mere blood.

Yes, I can see problems. I think the biggest is a particular stylistic tic of Smith's. There doesn't seem to be a metaphor or simile she didn't like. So many are tacked on, after descriptions:

She had dozens of frocks–especially yellow and pink, in which her mother loved to dress her, all lavishly trimmed, so that as she ran about the house and the garden, she was like a flower shaking petals of ribbons and lace.

I simply opened the book at random and jotted down the first instance--it's a frequent habit, and reminds me of the wisdom of the "RUE" principle in writing--"Resist the Urge to Explain" that admonishes against overwriting. I do think Smith is often guilty of that.

So why do I rate this book so highly? Partly because I do love books that like this one can take me to a time and place not my own and make me feel I got to know it better. But what makes the novel special to me are the characters, who Smith made me care about greatly. Particularly Nandou. He's the man with the voice, the talent and intellect that should have let him play great dramatic roles--but he's trapped in the body of a dwarf. He's the one that changes Jeanne's fate, when he takes her off the streets and brings her into his life when she's a young girl. He's one of those characters I rather love--with unexpected facets and flaws and handicaps but endearing and larger than life.

Kay Nolte Smith's writing career was a short one--only about ten years before she died of cancer and she had only seven novels to her credit. I don't think any are still in print, which I think a shame. I loved best her two last novels, both works of historical fiction, this one, A Tale of the Wind and Venetian Song set in Renaissance Venice. Both have a permanent place on my bookshelves for good reason.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already a fan of Kay Nolte Smith from having read two previous books, after reading, and being awed by, "A Tale of the Wind," I am now a near-worshiper of her.
I admit to being reluctant at first because of the setting, but because of my admiration for author Smith, I took a chance on "Tale" -- and am I glad!
Generally not disposed to giving five stars, I have no hesitation to giving the highest praise to "Tale" and urging readers seeking quality writing to read this book.
I urge readers seeking unusual settings to read this book.
I urge readers seeking fascinating characters to read this book.
It's true that "Tale" does not explore philosophy and ideas to the extent of some of her other books, but it does present strong and admirable characters, who strive despite situations that would defeat lesser persons, and generally overcome the obstacles.
Sorry for the repeated word, but I am honestly in awe of this beyond-excellent book and its great and very talented author.
No offense to anyone, but author Smith shows what Ayn Rand could have created if she had had an upbringing as a native English speaker and writer.
Smith knows words and how to use them, better than -- right now -- almost any other writer I know or know of. Again, I highly recommend "A Tale of the Wind."

[Janice Shue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.couldn't put it down.

[Callee Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read this book over and over again. It made me angry, it made me overjoyed, and it shattered my heart. Excellently written, a beautiful portrait of Romanticism.

[Nisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a shame. I read this about two or three years ago. It was quite good, for me. The book, the way I remember it, is about a French dwarf nicknamed Nandou who works in a circus, who falls in love with the beautiful daughter of a garbage collector, and this girl falls in love with another rich boy, who impregnated her. This boy was some kind of a politically radical activist, and his family didn't approve of him living together with a dustman's daughter. (I can't remember if they're married, but they certainly lived together..) Boy and girl had a passionate relationship, but he eventually falls out of love--after she told him she's pregnant. Yeah. A jerk--and the dwarf saves her before she destroys her life.

It was actually beautiful, the silent emotion Nando always has, almost every second of the book. He kept silent when he was jealous, when he was angry, even when he's with the girl, but ultimately he's the one that gets her love.

Well, I had a hard time remembering the title of this, given the time elapsed, so I googled it up. I tried dwarf, french dwarf, french circus dwarf, french circus dwarf in love with garbageman's daughter, but it never showed up. Only when I remembered Nandou's name it appeared. And when I checked up Kay Nolte Smith on Wikipedia, I was shocked to see only a couple of sentences or so about her (yeah. Her being a her also surprised me).

I've always thought this book is pretty good. Then how come it's not famous? Hm.

(update: so I searched for this in amazon, and I agree with this one.

From Publishers Weekly
Smith's ( Elegy for a Soprano ; Country of the Heart ) clever, solidly based historical novel of 19th-century France follows the tangled professional/sexual fortunes of three women of the theater: Jeanne, a ragpicker's daughter who rises to become a playwright; her headstrong daughter Gabrielle, a singer; and her granddaughter Simone. Devoted to Jeanne is the actor Nandou, a noble dwarf who rescues her as a girl, educates and cherishes her, and parents her illegitimate daughter when Jeanne's well-born lover--the painter Vollard--deserts her. Vollard weds an heiress; their son Marc, abhorring his "sodomite" inclinations, forms a marriage of convenience with half-sister Gabrielle. The plot unfolds against the well-depicted political and artistic upheavals of the age, including the stormy beginnings of French romanticism with the work of Victor Hugo, who makes a cameo appearance in the novel and remains a constant presence: not only is Hugo a friend of Nandou's, but the portrayals of Nandou and Jeanne optimistically recreate Hugo's hunchback and gypsy girl of Notre Dame de Paris. Unfortunately, though Smith orients her story to lively issues--artistic boldness, feminism, homosexuality, incest, adultery (the libertine Vollard jails his wife for infidelity)--she fails to probe the psychic depths of her characters, who speak and behave like wooden puppets. Literary Guild alternate.

[Annisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a shame. I read this about two or three years ago. It was quite good, for me. The book, the way I remember it, is about a French dwarf nicknamed Nandou who works in a circus, who falls in love with the beautiful daughter of a garbage collector, and this girl falls in love with another rich boy, who impregnated her. This boy was some kind of a politically radical activist, and his family didn't approve of him living together with a dustman's daughter. (I can't remember if they're married, but they certainly lived together..) Boy and girl had a passionate relationship, but he eventually falls out of love--after she told him she's pregnant. Yeah. A jerk--and the dwarf saves her before she destroys her life.

It was actually beautiful, the silent emotion Nando always has, almost every second of the book. He kept silent when he was jealous, when he was angry, even when he's with the girl, but ultimately he's the one that gets her love.

Well, I had a hard time remembering the title of this, given the time elapsed, so I googled it up. I tried dwarf, french dwarf, french circus dwarf, french circus dwarf in love with garbageman's daughter, but it never showed up. Only when I remembered Nandou's name it appeared. And when I checked up Kay Nolte Smith on Wikipedia, I was shocked to see only a couple of sentences or so about her (yeah. Her being a her also surprised me).

I've always thought this book is pretty good. Then how come it's not famous? Hm.

(update: so I searched for this in amazon, and I agree with this one.

From Publishers Weekly
Smith's ( Elegy for a Soprano ; Country of the Heart ) clever, solidly based historical novel of 19th-century France follows the tangled professional/sexual fortunes of three women of the theater: Jeanne, a ragpicker's daughter who rises to become a playwright; her headstrong daughter Gabrielle, a singer; and her granddaughter Simone. Devoted to Jeanne is the actor Nandou, a noble dwarf who rescues her as a girl, educates and cherishes her, and parents her illegitimate daughter when Jeanne's well-born lover--the painter Vollard--deserts her. Vollard weds an heiress; their son Marc, abhorring his "sodomite" inclinations, forms a marriage of convenience with half-sister Gabrielle. The plot unfolds against the well-depicted political and artistic upheavals of the age, including the stormy beginnings of French romanticism with the work of Victor Hugo, who makes a cameo appearance in the novel and remains a constant presence: not only is Hugo a friend of Nandou's, but the portrayals of Nandou and Jeanne optimistically recreate Hugo's hunchback and gypsy girl of Notre Dame de Paris. Unfortunately, though Smith orients her story to lively issues--artistic boldness, feminism, homosexuality, incest, adultery (the libertine Vollard jails his wife for infidelity)--she fails to probe the psychic depths of her characters, who speak and behave like wooden puppets. Literary Guild alternate.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the book was good from the start, it took me a while to really get into it - it didn't grab me with the urge to carry on reading at first, partly because much of what I read at the beginning had already been explained on the blurb, making me feel as though there was little of interest ahead. I was wrong about this - though the book perhaps spends a little to long focusing on what we already know, the latter parts were amazing.

I found myself transported to Paris, and while I was reading the book I was totally unaware of anything but the plight of the characters and the world that surrounded them. The characters were believable, and lovable - imperfect, though they still inspired a sense of longing. That the story crosses over several generations works, as it often does not - one forms the same affection for the younger, newer characters then for the older ones.

I almost didn't buy this book - in the end it was the cover that convinced me to do it, and the fact that I had nothing else to read. For this reason I am very grateful to whoever designed this edition.

[Jeffrey Falk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unjustly unsung and forgotten novel is an exultant, epic, organized, and inspiring work of romantic realism (I must thank the inestimable Steven Schub, himself an important romanticist, for bringing it to my attention). It is both an exemplar of and monument to romanticism, the greatest school of art and literature this desperate world (which surely needs it) has seen. The author, who sadly died shortly after the publication of this, her penultimate novel, worked with Ayn Rand (who brought romantic realism back from obscurity). Smith obviously benefited from Rand's influence but is her own writer, bringing her own sensibilities, observations, and interests. Critics of romanticism may prefer Smith's dramatization of human mistakes and weaknesses as well as triumphs and strengths, and the former are more representative of naturalism (or, perhaps in this case, ancient Greek drama, romanticism's precursor). Some of Rand's fans may be less interested in the novel for that reason. But there is no question it is an important benchmark in romanticism's history and slow renascence.

[Marco den Ouden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smith's best novel, this sweeping drama is set in 19th century Paris. Smith was a huge fan of Victor Hugo and this book celebrates the romantic era of the time. Smith was also an acolyte of Ayn Rand's but she broke away from the Randian mold and touched on themes Rand would likely have disapproved of. This one, for example, treats homosexuality favorably, something that anathema to Rand.The hero is also a dwarf, a man of small stature but of noble spirit. Not sure if Rand would have approved of that either as all her heroes had to be square-jawed tall manly men.

Stylistically, the Hugo influence is very evident, notably in some of the turns of phrase and Hugo's use of ironic contrasts.

I've read it twice. The first time it blew me away. I thought it was one of he best books I had ever read. The second time did not have the same allure. I will definitely read it a third time though. It is a maervelous story.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of sweeping emotions set within a family during one of the most enchanting time periods and in one of the most enchanting places ever! When I picked this book up I dipped my toe into the story hesitantly but instead the story pulled me warmly along, carrying me throughout decades of interesting relationships and other events. I was thoroughly impressed with this book! It seemed, to me, to be a cross between Anne Rice and V.C. Andrews but I wasn't put off by that at all. I very much enjoyed the way language rolled off the author's tongue: she never stated facts. Instead she weaved together scenarios lasting over decades while using well-crafted characters to bring about the ideals she had been trying to get across throughout the whole book. This book just seems to be a warm velvet bathrobe, to me.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most absorbing book I have read in a while, great story and characters complimented by historical details of Parisian life, art and revolution in the 1800's.

"In some respects the world will never change, expecially its hostility to whatever is new and different. Remember when Romanticism was the shocking and hated thing? then it was Realism, and now it is Monsieur Zola and his Naturalism...It is not a coincidence that society is always eager to imprison those who do not accept its codes. A woman who dares to venture outside marriage, an artist who makes an easy suspect because he does not paint in the approved manner. As long as our world is what it is, one must respond to its nature."

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scale of this book is impressive; the story covers a long period of time and a large cast of characters, but Kay Nolte Smith balanced detail and summary perfectly. The story moves forward with pace but she took the time to make the characters incredibly distinct, and they remain true to their natures even as they change and grow. Lovely all around.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had been so long that I'd forgotten how good this book was. The setting was so vivid, and the characters complex and realistic. There relationships and how they changed over time was what really made this book special.

[Julie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book like an old friend....I've probably read it 5 times.
Has a little of everything in it...love, loyalty, betrayal, war, politics, adversity, sadness, and joy. Its a well written story thats easy to be engrossed in.

[Callista Cassady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really lovely story about life and love in general. A sense of pacing that makes you want to tear through the story just so you can go to sleep sure in the knowledge of what the characters did.

Bottom line: Worth a reread.
Cool thing: Happy ending!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smith's narrative perfectly captures post-revolution culturally focused Paris with complex characters and passions of every manner on every level. Indeed, it is a masterpiece of balancing the banal and the extraordinary and leaves the reader pondering which is which.

[Jack Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating History of Esthetics & Society

The birth and struggles of Romanticism and of three generations of strong women in 18th century France. Begins with the fight to perform Victor Hugo's "Hernani" and ends with the struggle to publish Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano De Bergerac."

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever. I will always love Nandou x

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the literary and popular theatre life of Paris from 1827 to 1898, and a good one. The characters are very well realized, the plot moves well, though not predictably. An enjoyable read.

[Jax Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into this, but once I did I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. Good stuff. :)

[Potato (previously Ennie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read. Very interesting.

[Velvetink]

8/10/2013 1 of 20 books @ $10