La Paix chez les bêtes

by Colette

« J'ai rassemblé des bètes dans ce livre, comme dans un enclos où je veux qu'il n'y ait pas guerre... »
Avec ces saynètes publiées en 1916, au plus fort du massacre, la romancière de Sido et de La Vagabonde trouve une fois de plus un recours, comme elle le fait face aux désarrois du sentiment, dans la proximité de nature et de la vie animale.

Par la grâce de l'écrivain, les chiens et les chats qui vivent dans ces pages sont merveilleusement eux-mèmes, saisis avec un extraordinaire bonheur d'expression, en mème temps qu'ils apparaissent comme des ètres doués de raison et de parole.
Ils délivrent une vérité parfois cruelle, certes, mais innocente - subtile ambiguïté qui est un des thèmes les plus profonds et les plus continus de toute l'oeuvre de Colette.

Genres: Fiction

128 pages, Pocket Book

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

Colette was the pen name of the French novelist and actress Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. She is best known, at least in the English-speaking world, for her novella Gigi, which provided the plot for a famous Lerner & Loewe musical film and stage musical. She started her writing career penning the influential Claudine novels of books. The novel Chéri is often cited as her masterpiece.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a collection of stories from this book in translation. I am sure the original is beautiful because this translation was a delight. I recognized my little dog and both of my cats in her elegant and intelligent voices created for each animal in the book. I would highly recommend this as a lovely quick and delightful read!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't see my cats and dogs the same way as I used to!

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

De nuevo, qué imaginación y qué forma tan divertida de ver el mundo. Ya no sé qué más decir de Colette, voy a pasarme 10 años recomendando sus movidas

[aj · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Mela]

Letta la versione in italiano: La pace tra le bestie.

[sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'aime vraiment énormément ce genre de très courtes histoires parce qu'elles font office de petites vignettes qui attisent l'imagination tout en restant très ouvert. Les portraits qu'elle a dessiné de toute cette ménagerie d'animaux sont très humains ce que j'apprécie énormément. J'adore Colette et j'adore les animaux; je crois bien avoir trouvé mon nouveau recueil préféré :)

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little prose poems about animals. trying to capture their personalities. very anthropomorphic but she does a lot with few words.
i wasn’t overly fond of it, but perhaps would have loved it as a child.
really nice illustrations in the edition i read.

[Ninja Neko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spotted this book in the local library's "if you can carry it you can take it home" clearance and recognized the author. The description intrigued me so I added it to my teetering pile.
And to be totally honest: since we've adopted kittens a few months back they seem to dominate some of my reading choices too...

The first half of this little collection was very charming. Written from the POV of the animal, anthropomorphizing them a bit but done elegantly and simply. Sure, my recently acquired soft spot for cats will have something to do with it, but I was genuinely smitten. Nearer to the end it kind of sizzled out though, especially the last few stories felt a bit awkward and missed the spot.
Hit and miss for me, intriguing me enough to try and seek out some of Colette's other work.