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Trilogie marseillaise #1
Marius
Le port de Marseille, dans les années vingt. Marius, le fils de César, patron du bar de la Marine, est partagé entre son amour pour Fanny la petite marchande de coquillages, et son désir de prendre la ruer, de parcourir le monde... Lorsque Marcel Pagnol, en 1929, fait représenter Marius sur une scène parisienne, sans doute ne se doute-t-il pas que ses personnages deviendront aussi célèbres qu'Harpagon ou monsieur Jourdain. Deux ans plus tard, Pagnol et Alexander Korda en tirent un film, Raimu, Charpin, Orane Demazis, Pierre Fresnay reprennent leurs rôles, et la pellicule les immortalise. Ils feront le tour de la terre.... " Quand tu me parles sur ce ton, quand lu m'espinches comme si j'étais un scélérat... Je ne dis pas que je vais pleurer, non, mais moralement, tu me fends le cœur. "
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1931
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702 people want to read
About the author
Marcel Pagnol
320 books288 followersMarcel Pagnol was a French novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. In 1946, he became the first filmmaker elected to the Académie Française.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 17, 2025
ça a la couleur des pièces classiques où les portes claquent, les personnages se cachent, les mensonges et quiproquos s'accumulent avec la douceur du Sud et l'humour de Pagnol. j'ai adoré.
October 4, 2016
Marcel Pagnol’s books and plays were some of the first stories I fell in love with. This man had a gift for storytelling, clever and powerful dialogues, and tender, bittersweet humour. I recently found a copy of “Marius” in excellent condition at a used bookstore, and got my hands on the newest film version (2013), directed by Daniel Auteuil. I know the play by heart at this point, but it never fails to transport me, make me laugh and cry – sometimes both at once!
One characteristic of classics that I particularly love, is the ability to make the seemingly small lives of ordinary people feel epic in scope and timeless. Pagnol is one of those writers, just like Dickens (another favorite of mine) who can show you the events that took place in a tiny working-class neighborhood over the course of a handful of weeks and make them feel as grand and universal as any Shakespeare or classical Greek play. The “Fanny Trilogy” (originally known as the “Trilogie Marseillaise”), of which “Marius” is the first episode, is theatre of that monumental caliber.
The story of “Marius” is about the bond between a father and his son, the violent intensity of first loves and the irresistible urge to get away from home and see the world. Our titular character is twenty-two, lives and works with his father César, owner of the Bar de la Marine, a café in the Old Port of Marseilles in the 1930's. Fanny is eighteen, she runs her mother’s seashell kiosk in front of the bar. She and Marius have loved each other all their lives, but he has never said a thing to her because he is also in love with the sea: the great expanse of blue teasing him from just outside his window, and the wide, unexplored world it promises to him. He lives tortured by the knowledge that he must one day make a choice: leave and break both his father’s and Fanny’s heart, or stay with them and spend the rest of his life longing for adventures beyond the horizon.
Pagnol’s love of his native city transpires through his writing, as usual. His deep affection for the people of Provence, their very peculiar humour and quirks brightens and elevates the story of the daydreaming barman into an ensemble play that makes you feel like these characters are your friends, that you share a part in their story. The cast is colorful and endearing, from the grumpy bar owner César to the hilariously sweet Capitaine Escartefigue, it is impossible not to love every single one of the players in this tragi-comedy. Fanny is an exceptional character: head-strong, passionate and incredibly giving. The sequel is more focused on her character and develops it further, but already in “Marius” we see a young woman with incredible inner strength and resolve that understandably captured Marius’ attention. The dialogue can go from hysterical to tearful in a matter of seconds, and no matter if it is funny or sad, it is always brilliant and touching.
When I visited Marseille, I went to the Bar de la Marine in the Old Port and drank a couple of pastis there: they have an oil painting of the card game scene from the original movie directed by Alexander Korda on the wall. The DVD of that original version is extremely hard to find, but should you come across it, do not hesitate, it is truly a masterpiece. As good as the newest version is, Pierre Fresnay, Orane Desmazi, Raimu and Charpin are simply unforgettable.
Reading “Fanny” immediately after “Marius” is a good idea, as it picks up literally moments after the first play’s conclusion, and it just as good, if not even better than its predecessor.
One characteristic of classics that I particularly love, is the ability to make the seemingly small lives of ordinary people feel epic in scope and timeless. Pagnol is one of those writers, just like Dickens (another favorite of mine) who can show you the events that took place in a tiny working-class neighborhood over the course of a handful of weeks and make them feel as grand and universal as any Shakespeare or classical Greek play. The “Fanny Trilogy” (originally known as the “Trilogie Marseillaise”), of which “Marius” is the first episode, is theatre of that monumental caliber.
The story of “Marius” is about the bond between a father and his son, the violent intensity of first loves and the irresistible urge to get away from home and see the world. Our titular character is twenty-two, lives and works with his father César, owner of the Bar de la Marine, a café in the Old Port of Marseilles in the 1930's. Fanny is eighteen, she runs her mother’s seashell kiosk in front of the bar. She and Marius have loved each other all their lives, but he has never said a thing to her because he is also in love with the sea: the great expanse of blue teasing him from just outside his window, and the wide, unexplored world it promises to him. He lives tortured by the knowledge that he must one day make a choice: leave and break both his father’s and Fanny’s heart, or stay with them and spend the rest of his life longing for adventures beyond the horizon.
Pagnol’s love of his native city transpires through his writing, as usual. His deep affection for the people of Provence, their very peculiar humour and quirks brightens and elevates the story of the daydreaming barman into an ensemble play that makes you feel like these characters are your friends, that you share a part in their story. The cast is colorful and endearing, from the grumpy bar owner César to the hilariously sweet Capitaine Escartefigue, it is impossible not to love every single one of the players in this tragi-comedy. Fanny is an exceptional character: head-strong, passionate and incredibly giving. The sequel is more focused on her character and develops it further, but already in “Marius” we see a young woman with incredible inner strength and resolve that understandably captured Marius’ attention. The dialogue can go from hysterical to tearful in a matter of seconds, and no matter if it is funny or sad, it is always brilliant and touching.
When I visited Marseille, I went to the Bar de la Marine in the Old Port and drank a couple of pastis there: they have an oil painting of the card game scene from the original movie directed by Alexander Korda on the wall. The DVD of that original version is extremely hard to find, but should you come across it, do not hesitate, it is truly a masterpiece. As good as the newest version is, Pierre Fresnay, Orane Desmazi, Raimu and Charpin are simply unforgettable.
Reading “Fanny” immediately after “Marius” is a good idea, as it picks up literally moments after the first play’s conclusion, and it just as good, if not even better than its predecessor.
August 12, 2024
"Marius" c'est un classique. Il raconte l'histoire d'amour de deux jeunes personnes Marius et Fanny. Au moment où la pièce commence Marius a 22 ans et Fanny a 18 ans. Amis d'enfance, ils deviennent des amoureux et ensuite des amants. Le père de Marius et la mère de Fanny les poussent vers le mariage. Selon toute logique ils devront se marier et mener une vie conjugale heureuse. Contre toute attente, in extremis, Marius et Fanny ratent l'affaire.
C'est le genre de chose qui se produisait dans le temps de Pagnol. Ca continue de nos jours et ca continuera dans l'avenir. L'amour est peut-être grand mais son succès n'est jamais garanti.
C'est le genre de chose qui se produisait dans le temps de Pagnol. Ca continue de nos jours et ca continuera dans l'avenir. L'amour est peut-être grand mais son succès n'est jamais garanti.
January 31, 2010
Slightly less good than "Fanny," slightly better than the song "Brandy," by Looking Glass (it was their *first* big hit). In case you don't remember, that's the song with the chorus: "Brandy, you're a fine girl/ What a GOOD wife/ You would be/But my life, my love, and my lady/ Is the SEA." I remember hearing it a lot around 2000, and then a lot again around 2006. Not so much lately, but that's partly because my car radio is broken. I can't even listen to Hannity!
Anyway, this is the first book of the Fanny trilogy, but I read it second. I feel like that was probably the right way to do it -- the stakes seem much higher in this one when you know what's in store for Fanny and Marius.
The story is a timeless one, set in the Marseilles of 80 years past: boy tries doggedly to get girl to do it with him, then almost immediately abandons her for the sea, about which he has grossly romanticized notions; all this against the backdrop of a bar where the regulars gather, ordering Pernods and chatting relentlessly, a la Cheers.
As with "Fanny," the movie version of this is equally good. It's also the only book in the trilogy that didn't get an Alice Waters restaurant named after it. For some reason she chose instead to honor Panisse, a less prickish character than Marius.
Anyway, this is the first book of the Fanny trilogy, but I read it second. I feel like that was probably the right way to do it -- the stakes seem much higher in this one when you know what's in store for Fanny and Marius.
The story is a timeless one, set in the Marseilles of 80 years past: boy tries doggedly to get girl to do it with him, then almost immediately abandons her for the sea, about which he has grossly romanticized notions; all this against the backdrop of a bar where the regulars gather, ordering Pernods and chatting relentlessly, a la Cheers.
As with "Fanny," the movie version of this is equally good. It's also the only book in the trilogy that didn't get an Alice Waters restaurant named after it. For some reason she chose instead to honor Panisse, a less prickish character than Marius.
November 22, 2015
Best accompanied with a glass of Pastis and bowl of bouillabaise.
October 3, 2023
Je crois aimer ce livre uniquement parce que ça me ramène à la maison, mais très facile à lire. On est plongés dans une vie banale du début du siècle, les sentiments ne sont pas du tout mis de côté.
merci marcel!
merci marcel!
January 5, 2025
4,75/5 franchement je suis assez choquée d’avoir apprécié une pièce de théâtre, en plus il y a une petite histoire d’amour donc tout benef
September 19, 2025
Encore une belle histoire. Simple, mais belle.
August 11, 2024
J’suis bousillée…y’a une vibe d’Andromaque de Racine là-dedans …
Pagnol jtm 🫶🏻
Pagnol jtm 🫶🏻
May 3, 2025
Deuxième livre de la trilogie fini ! Bon j’ai pas commencé dans le bon ordre mais ça reste super bien. J’adore comment les persos sont trop bien écris, c’est à la fois drôle et touchant.
April 11, 2021
Marius (🇫🇷🇮🇹)
“L’amour n’est pas tout dans la vie, il y a des choses plus importantes que lui” affirme Fanny, alors qu’elle donne sa vie en sacrifice à l’amour…
Ce grand classique du théâtre du siècle dernier, nous amuse énormément avec le style pront et franc de Pagnol et pourtant quelle élégance, quelle finesse d’esprit, quelle maîtrise de la langue française. Et quelle sagacité dans les caractères et les particularités des personnages… tout le monde a son rôle comme dans les fondamentaux de la Commedia dell’Arte et pourtant tout le monde peut s’y reconnaître ainsi que son voisin. La vie est-elle une pièce de théâtre ? C’est ce que Pagnol semble suggérer, car ses héros sont drastiquement humains…
Bravo à la transposition cinématographique ( d’ailleurs dirigée par Pagnol lui-même) qui ne fait que exalter les propos du texte en rendant davantage ‘divulgative’ son œuvre: elle parle à tous, immédiatement, sans distinction sociale ou culturelle, avec des mots simples et de l’émotion profonde.
"L'amore non è tutto nella vita, ci sono cose più importanti" afferma Fanny, mentre dà la sua vita in sacrificio all'amore...
Questo grande classico teatrale del secolo scorso, ci diverte enormemente con lo stile pronto e franco di Pagnol e tuttavia quanta eleganza, che finezza di spirito, quale padronanza della lingua francese. E che sagacia nei caratteri e nelle peculiarità dei personaggi... Tutti hanno il loro ruolo, come nei fondamenti della Commedia dell'Arte, eppure ognuno può riconoscerci se stesso e il proprio vicino. La vita è una rappresentazione teatrale? Questo è ciò che Pagnol sembra suggerire, poiché i suoi eroi sono così drasticamente umani...
Congratulazioni alla prima trasposizione cinematografica ( diretta dallo stesso Pagnol) che non fa che esaltare le parole del testo rendendo ancora più divulgativa la sua opera: parla a tutti, immediatamente, senza distinzione sociale o culturale, con parole semplici e profonda emozione.
“L’amour n’est pas tout dans la vie, il y a des choses plus importantes que lui” affirme Fanny, alors qu’elle donne sa vie en sacrifice à l’amour…
Ce grand classique du théâtre du siècle dernier, nous amuse énormément avec le style pront et franc de Pagnol et pourtant quelle élégance, quelle finesse d’esprit, quelle maîtrise de la langue française. Et quelle sagacité dans les caractères et les particularités des personnages… tout le monde a son rôle comme dans les fondamentaux de la Commedia dell’Arte et pourtant tout le monde peut s’y reconnaître ainsi que son voisin. La vie est-elle une pièce de théâtre ? C’est ce que Pagnol semble suggérer, car ses héros sont drastiquement humains…
Bravo à la transposition cinématographique ( d’ailleurs dirigée par Pagnol lui-même) qui ne fait que exalter les propos du texte en rendant davantage ‘divulgative’ son œuvre: elle parle à tous, immédiatement, sans distinction sociale ou culturelle, avec des mots simples et de l’émotion profonde.
"L'amore non è tutto nella vita, ci sono cose più importanti" afferma Fanny, mentre dà la sua vita in sacrificio all'amore...
Questo grande classico teatrale del secolo scorso, ci diverte enormemente con lo stile pronto e franco di Pagnol e tuttavia quanta eleganza, che finezza di spirito, quale padronanza della lingua francese. E che sagacia nei caratteri e nelle peculiarità dei personaggi... Tutti hanno il loro ruolo, come nei fondamenti della Commedia dell'Arte, eppure ognuno può riconoscerci se stesso e il proprio vicino. La vita è una rappresentazione teatrale? Questo è ciò che Pagnol sembra suggerire, poiché i suoi eroi sono così drasticamente umani...
Congratulazioni alla prima trasposizione cinematografica ( diretta dallo stesso Pagnol) che non fa che esaltare le parole del testo rendendo ancora più divulgativa la sua opera: parla a tutti, immediatamente, senza distinzione sociale o culturale, con parole semplici e profonda emozione.
October 15, 2013
Je ne vous cache pas que c'est la sortie en salle de l'adaptation qui m'a donnée envie de découvrir ce livre. Première surprise : il s'agit d'une pièce de théâtre. Je l'ignorais totalement. Cela ne m'a nullement gênée dans ma lecture. Au contraire, les scènes s'enchaînent et le tout est très rythmé. Du coup ma lecture a été très rapide. En si peu de temps, il se passe énormément de choses.
J'ai pu lire enfin la fameuse scène du jeu de cartes et du "tu me fends le coeur". J'ai bien ri. Tout en lisant je ne pouvais qu'imaginer les personnages s'exprimant avec l'accent chantant. Cette lecture est tout à fait adaptée à cette période estivale. Cependant, les expressions typiques m'ont un peu destabilisées car je n'y comprenais pas grand chose.
La relation entre Marius et Fanny est une très belle histoire. Marius, très timide, mettra un certain temps à se déclarer à sa belle. Fanny, malgré son jeune âge (18 ans), n'a pas froid aux yeux et pousse celui qu'elle aime dans ses retranchements. Elle lui dévoile de but en blanc ce qu'elle ressent. Par bien des fois elle a tenté d'attirer son attention auparavant, mais il ne s'est aperçu de rien. Marius était trop préoccupé par ses envies et désirs de naviguer. Fanny, trop amoureuse de lui, se sacrifiera pour lui. Tout cela se déroule rapidement. La fin est même brutale car tout est précipité.
Je suppose donc qu'il faut lire "Fanny" pour connaître la suite...
J'ai pu lire enfin la fameuse scène du jeu de cartes et du "tu me fends le coeur". J'ai bien ri. Tout en lisant je ne pouvais qu'imaginer les personnages s'exprimant avec l'accent chantant. Cette lecture est tout à fait adaptée à cette période estivale. Cependant, les expressions typiques m'ont un peu destabilisées car je n'y comprenais pas grand chose.
La relation entre Marius et Fanny est une très belle histoire. Marius, très timide, mettra un certain temps à se déclarer à sa belle. Fanny, malgré son jeune âge (18 ans), n'a pas froid aux yeux et pousse celui qu'elle aime dans ses retranchements. Elle lui dévoile de but en blanc ce qu'elle ressent. Par bien des fois elle a tenté d'attirer son attention auparavant, mais il ne s'est aperçu de rien. Marius était trop préoccupé par ses envies et désirs de naviguer. Fanny, trop amoureuse de lui, se sacrifiera pour lui. Tout cela se déroule rapidement. La fin est même brutale car tout est précipité.
Je suppose donc qu'il faut lire "Fanny" pour connaître la suite...
January 21, 2022
"Quand on fera danser les couillons, tu seras pas à l'orchestre."
"Parce qu'il souffre, et par ma faute... Je lui ai fait du mal sans y penser... Quand on aime quelqu'un, c'est effrayant comme on pense peu aux autres..."
"Écoute, Marius : tu ne connais pas encore bien les femmes, mais moi, je vais te les expliquer. Les femmes, c'est fier, et c'est délicat. On a beau ne rien leur dire : ça voit tout, ça comprend tout, ça devine tout. Hier, quand cette petite, au commencement, t'a parlé de votre mariage, c'était pour voir la tête que tu ferais : et toi, comme tu n'es pas pressé, tu as dû lui offrir, sans te rendre compte, un mourre de dix pans de long. Alors, té, par fierté, elle bat en retraite, elle dit : " Je crois que je suis trop jeune... Et nous avons bien le temps... " Mais moi je suis sûr que si tu lui disais que la messe était commandée pour demain matin, elle serait à l'église avant le bedeau."
"Parce qu'il souffre, et par ma faute... Je lui ai fait du mal sans y penser... Quand on aime quelqu'un, c'est effrayant comme on pense peu aux autres..."
"Écoute, Marius : tu ne connais pas encore bien les femmes, mais moi, je vais te les expliquer. Les femmes, c'est fier, et c'est délicat. On a beau ne rien leur dire : ça voit tout, ça comprend tout, ça devine tout. Hier, quand cette petite, au commencement, t'a parlé de votre mariage, c'était pour voir la tête que tu ferais : et toi, comme tu n'es pas pressé, tu as dû lui offrir, sans te rendre compte, un mourre de dix pans de long. Alors, té, par fierté, elle bat en retraite, elle dit : " Je crois que je suis trop jeune... Et nous avons bien le temps... " Mais moi je suis sûr que si tu lui disais que la messe était commandée pour demain matin, elle serait à l'église avant le bedeau."
January 10, 2021
Quel plaisir de lire la plume de Pagnol. On retrouve ici les personnages bien connus: Marius, Fanny, César mais aussi Panisse et Honorine.
L'ambiance du bar de César et du port de Marseille est authentique. On retrouve l'humour et aussi la mauvaise foi des personnages.
La lecture de Pagnol est toujours un plaisir pour moi.
L'ambiance du bar de César et du port de Marseille est authentique. On retrouve l'humour et aussi la mauvaise foi des personnages.
La lecture de Pagnol est toujours un plaisir pour moi.
August 18, 2017
Des dialogues délicieux et des personnages forts! J'ai adoré ce premier volet, qui ce lit très facilement, de par le format théâtral et la rapidité des répliques. Très dépaysant.
Par contre, la rapidité a pour mauvais côté de ne présenter que très succinctement la relation entre Marius et Fanny.
Par contre, la rapidité a pour mauvais côté de ne présenter que très succinctement la relation entre Marius et Fanny.
August 19, 2020
Un 5 étoiles un peu généreux, mais des personnages attachants, une pièce fraîche et amusante.
January 24, 2022
Amusing, but the end leaves one with a lot of questions. I guess I need to find the other two parts of the trilogy now!
September 19, 2021
Some works of literature are so connected with their settings that they make you hear and smell what's going on. This is the case of Marcel Pagnol's Marius, which is the first part of his Marseille trilogy. The story is quiet simple, Marius is a young ambitious man who works at a bar run by his father, César. He and Fanny love each other, but Marius as well loves the sea and dreams of sailing, so he must eventually decide who or what he loves the most.
The play is very vibrant with characters and Pagnol makes Marseille live. It's a lovely work to read. Through it, we can sense the author's love for the city. At the same time, it's a very old story about choices and what we truly desire in life and the sacrifices we have to make. Will we take the easy choice, yet eventually be miserable? Or will we take the hard choice and be happy? What price will we be willing to pay? These are essential to Pagnol's play, and I am sure these are questions we all had to answer.
The play is very vibrant with characters and Pagnol makes Marseille live. It's a lovely work to read. Through it, we can sense the author's love for the city. At the same time, it's a very old story about choices and what we truly desire in life and the sacrifices we have to make. Will we take the easy choice, yet eventually be miserable? Or will we take the hard choice and be happy? What price will we be willing to pay? These are essential to Pagnol's play, and I am sure these are questions we all had to answer.
April 25, 2023
I read this for french class, and although everyone said it wasn't too great I couldn't help but like it! The story of 'Marius' is pretty basic, but it was funny and constantly managed to capture my attention. I think the main factor that I enjoyed this was because of the romance --- okay, I know the romance wasn't top-tier or anything, but it gave me a sense wistfulness, of two lovers who were being pulled apart by fate. The idea behind it was quite romantic, though it wasn't particularly executed that way. Tragic, nonetheless. Then again, what play isn't tragic to some degree? Also, the setting was exquisite. I've never been to Marseille or anywhere in France, but now I have the sudden desire to go visit that area.
To sum this up, all I can say is that when I read the last part of the play, I thought: "Marius fucked up for sure."
...But there's a sequel!
To sum this up, all I can say is that when I read the last part of the play, I thought: "Marius fucked up for sure."
...But there's a sequel!
November 26, 2017
Not Pagnol’s best. Studying it in French literature class, where we have choose shorter works, and can’t really go for anything too demanding, for fear of losing those newer to reading books in French, because we need a certain number of students, or the class won’t run.
It’s OK, gentle little story (play) about young love in Marseille in the pre-War II era, set amongst ordinary folk.
There’s none of the cynicism of Balzac, Flaubert or Zola, nor of the amorality of Colette or Duras. Lightweight.
It’s OK, gentle little story (play) about young love in Marseille in the pre-War II era, set amongst ordinary folk.
There’s none of the cynicism of Balzac, Flaubert or Zola, nor of the amorality of Colette or Duras. Lightweight.
April 21, 2018
This beautiful little play effuses Marseille and French culture. Reading it, I feel that I am there - with the empowered matron, the ideal what it means to be in her 40’s as a French woman; César, the tender and sentimental father; Fanny, the glory of youth and beauty, lost on Marius, a typical young man. The bar, the port, the Sea, are all as present as the people, despite the lack of description. And we are there too, watching te ever-predictable but always addictive story of love fall apart, as we know it will. Just beautiful.
June 28, 2022
Le port de Marseille, dans les années 1920.
Marius, fils de César, patron du bar de la Marine, est partagé entre son amour pour Fanny la jolie marchande de coquillages, et son désir de prendre le large et parcourir le monde...
Au-delà de l'intrigue qui peut paraître légère, Pagnol aborde des questionnements plus sérieux auxquels nous sommes confrontés dans notre vie:
Qui de l'amour ou de la raison faut-il privilégier? Comment envisager l'avenir sereinement alors que l'on entre dans la vie adulte avec un tas d'incertitudes?
Cette pièce de théâtre est drôle, elle sent les vacances, le soleil et les apéros entre amis, on entend les cigales en bruit de fond... bref tous les ingrédients pour en faire une lecture idéale cet été!
Marius, fils de César, patron du bar de la Marine, est partagé entre son amour pour Fanny la jolie marchande de coquillages, et son désir de prendre le large et parcourir le monde...
Au-delà de l'intrigue qui peut paraître légère, Pagnol aborde des questionnements plus sérieux auxquels nous sommes confrontés dans notre vie:
Qui de l'amour ou de la raison faut-il privilégier? Comment envisager l'avenir sereinement alors que l'on entre dans la vie adulte avec un tas d'incertitudes?
Cette pièce de théâtre est drôle, elle sent les vacances, le soleil et les apéros entre amis, on entend les cigales en bruit de fond... bref tous les ingrédients pour en faire une lecture idéale cet été!
September 15, 2023
Pagnol nous offre avec Marius une tragédie dans la ville phocéenne. À la fois cette superbe rhétorique propre au marseillais et ce tragique digne des auteurs les plus grands. Encore mieux ce n'est que le début de la trilogie !
Je conseille les films d'époque, mais la lecture a aussi beaucoup de charme !
Je conseille les films d'époque, mais la lecture a aussi beaucoup de charme !
October 19, 2023
Actually fantastic, very funny, easy breezy French to understand, and the characters are so well written, I’ve noticed that I really value a well written character who I can understand and whose decisions I can justify in some way, and Pagnol is truly the master, will be reading the rest of the trilogy
January 14, 2025
Love love love this book! Although the ending was a little bittersweet, I was addicted to this book. All the characters (except Panisse) were so lovable and each had their own little charm. César genuinely made me giggle a bunch of times. The romance between Marius and Fanny also made my inner lover girl so giddy. All in all an amazing start to the trilogy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
J’avais un souvenir assez vague du film vu en famille dans mon enfance. La lecture du texte a été une quasi-redécouverte. Et comme c’est savoureux. Certes c’est assez daté, mais les dialogues sont savoureux, ça se lit avé l’assent en tête, et reste la question d’arrière-plan de l’amour qui peut devenir une prison. Un classique à juste titre!
July 18, 2019
I fell in love with this book ! I really like Pagnol's writting style. Indeed, humour is running through the play and the characters are endearing, especially César. To my delight "Marius" is a play. You should definitly read it in summer as it takes place by the sea, in Marseille.
May 14, 2020
Il y a peu d’auteurs (et dans ce cas précis, de dramaturges, scénaristes...) aussi émouvants, humains et simples que Pagnol. Une merveille, qui transporte dans l’ambiance du port de Marseille des années 30. J’ai hâte de revoir les films que j’avais vu il y a je pense 20 ans...
July 23, 2017
Du Marcel Pagnol, tout simplement... Du grand, du beau!
April 20, 2018
it's a classic from French literature and its hilarious. I appreciated the funny gentle plot. now I have to read the next two books of this trilogy
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