The Unmade Bed

by Françoise Sagan, Abigail Israel

BOOKSTORE STAMP ON FIRST PAGE. NO OTHER WRITING OR MARKS ON PAGES. MINOR WEAR ON EDGES OF COVERS.

Genres: Fiction, France, Roman, French Literature, Literature, Novels, Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Born Françoise Quoirez, Sagan grew up in a French Catholic, bourgeois family. She was an independent thinker and avid reader as a young girl, and upon failing her examinations for continuing at the Sorbonne, she became a writer.

She went to her family's home in the south of France and wrote her first novel, Bonjour Tristesse, at age 18. She submitted it to Editions Juillard in January 1954 and it was published that March. Later that year, She won the Prix des Critiques for Bonjour Tristesse.

She chose "Sagan" as her pen name because she liked the sound of it and also liked the reference to the Prince and Princesse de Sagan, 19th century Parisians, who are said to be the basis of some of Marcel Proust's characters.

She was known for her love of drinking, gambling, and fast driving. Her habit of driving fast was moderated after a serious car accident in 1957 involving her Aston Martin while she was living in Milly, France.

Sagan was twice married and divorced, and subsequently maintained several long-term lesbian relationships. First married in 1958 to Guy Schoeller, a publisher, they divorced in 1960, and she was then married to Robert James Westhoff, an American ceramicist and sculptor, from 1962 to 63. She had one son, Denis, from her second marriage.

She won the Prix de Monaco in 1984 in recognition of all of her work.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lady on the cover of this Penguin edition wouldn't look out of place in a Milk Tray or Black Magic advert from the 1980s (those non UK folk might not know what I'm talking about). In fact, speaking of those chocolates, the first 20 to 30 pages of this where the two lovers resume a past affair and stay in bed for ten days made me want to chomp on a combination of Truffle Heart, Strawberry Temptation and Raspberry Heaven. It was all caressing, nibbling at body parts, staring into eyes, stroking hair, and all the other things one would come to expect from a love scene. Thankfully, it didn't turn into the soppy and sentimental romance novel that I thought it would. Overall, behind the glitter and glamour, we get a turbulent relationship between Beatrice & Edouard that was believable and, in places, even cruel. It's no Bonjour Tristesse, but I would be lying if a said I didn't like it. More for the life of the busy playwright and novelist Edouard, who sacrifices a lot for the slighty nutty actress Beatrice, who wants to tie him up to a bedpost and cover him with sandalwood oil one minute, and humiliate, cheat, and laugh mockingly at him the next. Basically she is seething with Jealousy over a new fictional character he has created. It takes the dying theatre owner Jolyet, who gave Beatrice her first shot at success, to bring kinder, more commendable and unselfish qualities out in her. Somehow, despite much strain on the hearts of Beatrice & Edouard, their love survives, even grows. And I guess that's all that matters.

[Cristians. Sirb · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Există femei care-și înșală bărbații, vesel și afectuos, dar din clipa în care ei descoperă acest lucru, nu mai pot să-i suporte, respectul lor de sine refugiindu-se în privirea celuilalt.” Cam despre asta-i vorba-n povestire (și nu numai)…

Béatrice nu poate îndura lângă ea - fără s-o pedepsească - prezența lipsită de reacție a iubitului, odată ce acesta a luat la cunoștință că ea l-a înșelat. Iertarea prea lesnicioasă denotă slăbiciunea bărbatului și o degradantă atitudine de câine ce o așteaptă umil pe preșul dinaintea ușii; urmarea naturală a acestei atitudini canine a iubitului fiind, implacabil, disprețul spumos, acid, al lui Béatrice.

O carte destul de dificil de parcurs, densă, foarte frumos scrisă și pe care n-ai cum s-o “trădezi” sărind pasaje sau citind printre rânduri. Și aproape că poți simți franceza originală din traducerea românească. Nu-i de citit cu coada ochiului, nici pe furiș, ci cu totul înecat în ea!

Un roman dificil de cuprins în niște cuvinte reci. Imposibil să fiu obiectiv scriind despre “Patul răvășit”.

Este genul de roman pe care îl poți foarte ușor “lua personal”. Ca pe un afront. Radiografia unei relații (mă feresc s-o numesc iubire) — a unui cuplu format din două individualități definite mai ales prin respectiva relație. Două persoane care n-ar fi deloc aceleași de n-ar fi, fiecare, parte a acelei relații.

O relație nefirească, chinuită, chinuitoare, dar veridică. Episoade (scene, otrăviri în doi) dintre cele descrise de Sagan ni s-au întâmplat multora dintre noi. Iar altele, citite doar în carte, ne-ar îngrozi dacă ar surveni în viețile noastre. Dar nimic nu-i exclus.

Îmi dau seama că scriitorii i n t e l i g e n ț i mă seduc în aceeași măsură ca scriitorii cu talent nativ.

Mă seduc atât marii comentatori, tentați să „intelectualizeze” la nesfârșit o scenă (Proust, Marías) - unii, fiindcă n-au nimic altceva în minte, n-au acea imaginație a (născocirii) faptelor, au în special talentul hermeneuticii, al criticii, al descoaserii și al deconstrucției, al interpretării incontinente) cât și ceilalți, scriitorii-povestitori înnăscuți, care știu să te vrăjească, să te țină captiv, relatând cu tâlc și jonglând măiastru cu cronologia și cu faptele brute.

O carte de citit. O autoare de o inteligență feroce. Exprimările astea tind să se clișeizeze la mine. Dar n-am ce face.

[Harlan Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is...
Verbose
Melodramatic as all hell
Somehow believable
Atrociously paced but somehow that adds to its authenticity

The characters do things to one another that made my blood boil as I read. I picked this book up about 6 months ago and still think about the emotions surrounding the novel when I see it lying innocuously on the bookshelf.

Kinda makes me want to read another of her works, but I'd need to be in the French over-the-top state of mind that they purvey sooo very well.

[Guy Mankowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I actually find it a little unsettling just how accurately Sagan depicts affairs of the heart.

[Helena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF-ed it. Didn't enjoy it, didn't appreciate the writing style and I also don't feel like continuing it.

[Bookaholic]

Patul răvăşit, un roman scris de Françoise Sagan, nu avea mai nimic care să mă atragă. Nici titlul, nici subiectul şi nici numele autoarei nu-mi provocau o mare curiozitate, dar acum, după ce l-am citit, nu pot să constat decît că am, în continuare, tot felul de prejudecăţi literare.

Patul răvăşit (trad. Adina Diniţoiu, Editura Art) e un roman cu foarte multe ingrediente franţuzeşti, iar Françoise Sagan le pune în pagină cu un simţ aparte pentru fineţurile psihologice esenţiale într-o histoire d’amour. Povestea are ca fundal lumea actorilor şi Parisul plin de fiţe artistice, iar eroii ei sunt Béatrice Valmont, o actriţă cu multe toane şi nenumăraţi amanţi şi Édouard Maligrasse, un dramaturg tînăr, cu semnalmente de copil teribil al teatrului grav.

Cred că numai Françoise Sagan şi Woody Allen ar putea să ia nişte situaţii care trăznesc a clişeu şi să facă din ele ceva valabil artistic, fără să le deturneze însă foarte mult de la ce sunt ele de fapt. Şi cam asta se întîmplă şi în Patul răvăşit: cei doi iubiţi îşi joacă fiecare rolul, cu toată gama de transformări. Uneori au umor, alteori inspiră ceva mai adînc, dar niciodată nu te plictisesc. (cronică: http://bookaholic.ro/de-lamour-franco...)

[Елвира · Rating 4 out of 5]

Франсоаз Саган определено е писателка с голяма дълбочина на мисълта и желанията, една прекрасна комбинация от въображение за ситуации и от проницателност по отношение на характера на мъжа, жената и цялото общество като колективен, но и собствен образ. Удоволствие е да се четат изреченията на тази чудна жена, чиято интуиция ме удивлява много силно, възхищавам ѝ се. При това не става дума само за интуиция и за силна чувственост, но и за остър ум и хаплива интелигентност.

Макар и нравствено да не харесах образите и на Албер, и на Беатрис (става дума слабохарактерен влюбен, макар и гениален драматург и студена и груба, (неприятно)нимфоманизирана и изневеряваща талантлива актриса), то в перспектива няма как да скрия, че са великолепни, изградени са страхотно, страшно интересно, непоколебимо, а същинското им пресичане във финала наистина ми достави удоволствие. Всички герои на Саган са сложни и оплетени и точно това ми допада толкова много. И тук личи способността ѝ да създава второстепенните и поддържащите роли великолепно. Струва ми се, че самата тя щеше да е един прекрасен театрален режисьор!

[Magrathea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francese, francesissimo...

Ai tempi delle "fanciulle in fiore" e di pomeriggi e notti a base di pane e visioni cinematografiche, è stato semplice trovarsi fra le braccia di "Bonjour, tristesse!" ed "Aimez-vous Brahms?". Con tutti i tic che i francesi hanno, non si può però negargli un certo modo di affrontare alcuni argomenti. Françoise Sagan cammina in equilibrio tra il melodramma e la sua negazione, ma tra una sponda e l'altra riesce a tirar fuori stati d'animo sui quali non tutti scommetto si siano soffermati nella loro esistenza. L'amore, questo sentimento rosolato in tutte le sale, il mondo della celebrità che sia il teatro o altra forma similare, i rapporti umani, la morte, tutti temi poco originali ma dei quali la scrittrice si è resa interprete particolare negli anni del dopoguerra. Si può amarla od odiarla, ma è difficile non ritrovarci qualcosa di sè fra le righe dei suoi romanzi.

[Musa Mustafayev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It has very exceptional characters with special personalities and their relationship between each other was sad and unfair. This love novel was unlike others. It describes the strength of a love and jealousy and cheating. In this book love overcomes everything and makes the female part to love back. really enjoyed reading it.

[Linn Ålund Thorgren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremt tråkig tyvärr.

[adeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

jtm françoise sagan

[Francesca]

Fino alle ultime 20 pagine me ne potevo pure stare... gli ultimi 3 capitoletti mi hanno un po' sciupato la lettura.

[Helynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le lit défait, one of the later of Françoise Sagan’s 20 novels, brings readers into the world of theater—playwrights, directors, and actors—of which she was a part as the author of several plays. Béatrice is a popular stage and film actress and a party girl whose lovers are legion and who has no qualms about indulging herself frivolously, spontaneously, and completely. Five years earlier she had a fling with Edouard when he was an unknown then quickly dumped him for a much richer lover. Now that Edouard has become a respected playwright, she has accepted him back into her life with the understanding that nothing is serious or permanent. Edouard, who has never stopped loving her obsessively, agonizes over Béatrice’s cavalier attitude about love and fidelity, and realizes that if he loves this woman, he may just have to endure her lifestyle or lose her altogether. He tells a mutual friend, “J’aime cette femme qui est belle et peut-être méchante, comme tu dis, mais il n’y a que près d’elle que je me sente vivre” (59). Béatrice’s insouciance over her own behavior makes her even more exotic and enticing to him: “Elle rendait même Béatrice plus exotique, plus perverse et plus désirable que jamais, car quoi qu’elle en fasse, son corps était à lui; elle ‘lui en avait fait cadeau’ et ce cadeau était irremediable” (LLD 117). So, Edouard has a difficult choice to make. If there is no changing the behavior of his frivolous paramour, he must either leave her or accept a future with her and the probability of her continuing peccadillos. But then Edouard has a career of his own that looks promising and empowering as he flies off to New York to promote his first play, which has become a success on Broadway. I will not reveal the ending, but I will recommend this novel as yet another example of Sagan’s psychological acuity in her ardent prose and dialogues.

[João Correia · Rating 3 out of 5]

afinal quem somos nós aos olhos de quem amamos? seremos a mesma pessoa que nos vê ao espelho? esperamos ser a pessoa que imaginamos querer ser ao outro, mas tudo se torna difícil no amor. é difícil amar tendo em conta que temos as nossas vontades incontroláveis e voláteis e na simbiose dum relacionamento a turvam.

poderemos voltar a amar alguém que rejeitámos no passado? assim como o inverso ocorre quando deixamos alguém?

esta narrativa explora isto, no entanto de um modo exaustivo e denso, apesar da facilidade com que se passa de linha para linha.

(parte mais parcialmente apreciativa)
as personagens são excessivamente melodramáticas, mas isso também as enche. a narrativa parece perder-se, não ter um objetivo, é apenas o decorrer de um relacionamento em certo modo tóxico.

[Alina Renko · Rating 5 out of 5]

парижское закулисье в кровати одной ненасытной женщины

[milana lokatosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

200 страниц — со скрипом
100 страниц — за час

(невероятная трансформация героини сделала эту книгу любимой у саган);
продолжать знакомство с творчеством в 24’ году буду обязательно

[Enorab04 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je vis pour les histoires d’amour compliquées

[Gloomy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Todavía ignoraba que la memoria carecía de esteticismos, que la memoria no tiene buen gusto y que, para él, la imagen de la felicidad perdida sería una imagen anónima y sin evidente interés: por ejemplo, Béatrice, volviéndose hacia él antes de subir a un taxi. Cuando alguien deja de amaros, jamás se recuerda su voz de antes diciendo: "Te amo", sino más bien su voz de antes afirmando: "Esta noche hace frío", o bien: "Tu chándal es demasiado largo." No se recuerda un rostro conmovido por el placer, se recuerda un rostro distraído, vacilante, bajo la lluvia. Como si la memoria, lo mismo que la inteligencia, se mostrara deliberadamente rebelde a los movimientos del corazón."

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

感觉女主就是那种很有个性不按常理出牌，随心所欲的出轨，自己的任性，小诡计，小脾气，娇嗔的，自恋的，时而清醒又昏头的，喜欢男主对自己的欺骗，说他好有想象力，有人看了女主这个角色估计骂她自恋，凭什么所有男人都为你着迷。女主正如有那种把珍贵的古董摔个粉碎的而不屑的底气，没错就是这种底气。

男女主就好像两个彼此正好缺失的拼图，在一起是完美的整体，彼此纠缠，有时候读者心理提心吊胆，按照正常思维担心担心彼此因为误会，或者女主肉体的背叛会越走越远的时候，萨冈自然用她不按常理出牌的线把他们牵到一起，这本书很多时候比较是即兴情感写作，比较伍尔夫的意识流。理性的思考会常常觉得不合逻辑，但是爱情或者说人的心，你真的可以摸清所有可能的纹理以及事情的走向吗，你自己都不可能确定你的选择，更个何况你笔下的角色，你不是同一心境下创作了他们，正如书的结尾''不管怎么，爱德华在给了他一份美好的爱情的同时，还给了她一个美好的角色"其实就是一个作的角色。

尤其喜欢里面这一句"他想象若利埃在走向真正的死亡，后面跟着一连串琐碎无聊的回忆；他想象他面对微笑，在栗子树下散步，而他却再也看不到这些栗子树开花了"这本很多议论，我喜欢读客观故事叙述对话一点，实在是有的部分读起来理解起来费劲.

[Sara Velluti · Rating 3 out of 5]

C’è poco da dire, la scrittura di Francoise Sagan è un marchio unico di disillusione, cinismo e forse anche un lievissimo velo di invidia nei confronti delle relazioni umane vere, stabili e profonde: questo tipo di relazioni non compaiono mai nelle sue opere e sono invece sostituite da relazioni instabili, menzognere, effimere.
Spesso i personaggi hanno personalità impalpabili, difficili da inquadrare e comprendere, talvolta per questo non risultano degni di stima agli occhi del lettore: è il caso di Béatrice, donna apparentemente superficiale, egocentrica al limite del narcisismo, quasi crudele nella sua vanità, che poi in realtà vuole solo nascondere fragilità e timore di restare ferita.
È l’esempio opposto quello di Édouard, eroe romantico, fedele, gentiluomo, che in questo contesto viene dipinto come privo di spina dorsale, passivo e succube della donna solo di facciata forte che gli è accanto.

Fra le varie storie raccontate dalla Sagan questa (che richiama un po’ alcuni romanzi di Fitzgerald a mio parere) perde un po’ di forza a causa della sua ridondanza e della staticità della relazione, che evolve tutta in un colpo, rivoluzione che si verifica però in mezzo a centinaia di pagine di immobilità.
Pur non essendo il più entusiasmante dei suoi romanzi, io ne amo comunque lo stile decadente, e pertanto lo trovo comunque meritevole di lettura

[Christina Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a marvelous surprise. I admire Sagan’s writing so very much. She has eloquently pieced together the unspoken acceptance of infidelity when she draws us into the story of this lovestruck playwright and his charismatically beautiful actress lover. Each have played their role in being the victim and the antagonist. You’ll find yourself just sort of fed up with both of them and then you realize that maybe that’s what’s meant to be this entire time, this book was to show the intricate bits of a relationship behind closed doors— the little imperfection. It’s essentially a game played between these French lovers, begging to love and be loved. Edouard is head over heels for Beatrice and in the beginning, you feel bad for his character for always desperately wanting a requited love. However Beatrice had started out as the bad guy, cheating continuously and refusing to give Edouard the love that we’re made to think he deserves. What I love was Sagan’s descriptive stream of thoughts that she has her characters think.

This was wonderful book. I’m glad to have found it in a used bookstore.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 299 pages, Le Lit Defait is an epic in Francoise Sagan’s oevre. Her books, which are habitually spare, sly and smart, weigh in a 90-120 pages, a perfect novella length and none the worse for it. This novel from 1975 takes a very different course, and unusually for her its topic is not the collapse and aftermath of a relationship, but the thing itself, more specifically the love affair between Béatrice, a star of the Parisian stage and Édouard, an upcoming playwright.

From the start the scenario and the cast of characters give the book an almost cheesy 1970’s air, with melodramatic scenes and quarrels are succeeded by seedy rendezvous in various boites de nuit. It’s unpromising and seems to stand in stark contrast to the clean lines of her earlier work.

Of course, a 300-page novel is scarcely an epic, but into this she fits, in no particular order: multiple betrayals, a journey to New York, a holiday in the South of France, rehearsals and the disastrous premiere of a new play, the creation of a new play (including the “divine spark” moment, frenetic tearing up of manuscripts etc., through to the successful sale of rights for the film), the diagnosis, prognosis and final death of an old friend from cancer, his funeral, countless drunken nights and passionate confessions.

Put this way it sounds somewhat overstuffed, and it probably is. Nonetheless it’s still a worthwhile read, primarily for the remarkable insight Sagan shows into the relationship between the main protagonists, Béatrice and Édouard. It’s an existential and highly reflective view, drawing on her understanding of the philosophical and psychological developments around her.

In the end that leads to a quite contingent and differentiated view of the “love” between the two lead figures, built out if their weaknesses, dependencies, needs and vanity as well as the better and kinder aspects of their natures. It is something utterly specific and non-essentialist, a miracle that while it might be epiphenomenal and a mere phantasm, is a miracle nonetheless, born as it is from the sleazy back pages of “tout Paris” thinks and gossips about. But that fact and that unlikely transcendence might just be the point.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Sagan's writing, I think she writes beautifully and I liked the setting and the glamour of the novel. However, I found the characters detestable - I suppose that's sort of the point? I was slightly disappointed with the book because of this, I was expecting to like the characters more and build a more positive relationship with them. Beatrice and Edouard's relationship is pretty twisted, I was appalled by a lot of their choices. Although in a way, that's what makes the story entertaining. Sagan does a good job depicting ugly truths about relationships, the way that people feel about each other and the way they act on those feelings.

[d · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai envie de me justifier et dire que j’ai aimé et adoré avec la conscience que mon intérêt est politiquement incorrect mais ça ne change rien, j’ai trop kiffé. Et surtout je pense que c’est pas le sujet, les personnages sont trop purs pour finir par être dans le jugement et juger son jugement, je trouve.
De toute façon vraisemblablement j’adore ce genre de dynamique dans les relations amoureuses donc c’est évident que je ne puisse être plus comblée

Madame Sagan, quelle écriture incroyable. Puis quelle femme et quelle écrivaine mdr quel culot. Sa page Wikipédia est insane.

Je voulais être l’Édouard Maligrasse de cette Béatrice Valmont, je dois avouer

[Jul Le chamois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre très joliment écrit, qui nous embarque dans une histoire d'amour dont les protagonistes sont aussi attachants que cruels. Françoise Sagan dépeint un amour passionnel et parvient, en nous plongeant au coeur de l'intimité des sentiments des personnages, à nous faire aimer l'amour fou, innocent et naïf d'Edouard ainsi que la férocité et la liberté de Beatrice.
J'ai trouvé ce roman très poétique, et j'en ai apprécié l'aspect quelque peu théâtral : les décors, les quiproquos, l'introspection des personnages nous font vivre cet amour de manière intense.

[Andrew Standish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was probably a little to young when I first read this but I enjoyed the peek into a "sophisticated"world that seemed far away from my humble home and simple life in West Yorkshire, England. At twelve years of age it came as a shock to realise that the "adults" were just as vulnerable and fallible as I felt myself to be. I loved it then and I still find it entertaining to this day. If you enjoy people watching, social satire, a touch of hedonism and glamour you will enjoy this book.

[honey · Rating 4 out of 5]

totally my thing!!!!! has the exact same feeling of laziness and city ups and downs as 90s indie movies that i love with all my heart. would probably be a five star read if the copy i incidentally picked up from a closing antique shop didn't have a couple of blank pages in the last few chapters. anyway, i truly wasn't expecting to be so enamored by this book, and even like it more than bonjour tristesse

[Richard Gal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi-a placut inceputul insa impresia pe care mi-a lasat-o cartea, dupa 200 de pagini citite, e aceea ca desi ca personajele sunt conturate perfect si armonios, defapt sunt doar fatalitati si nu sunt complete deloc. Sunt foarte multe puncte de suspensie intre detaliile caracterelor care care nu pot fi interpretate.

[Cecilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es-tu douce ou dure ?
Est-il sensible ou moqueur,
Ton coeur ?
Je n'en sais rien mais je rends grâce à la nature
D'avoir fait de ton coeur mon maître et mon vainqueur.

Fidèle, infidèle ?
Qu'est-ce que ça fait,
Au fait
Puisque toujours dispose à couronner mon zèle
Ta beauté sert de gage à mon plus cher souhait.

[beatriz morais · Rating 3 out of 5]

É um livro muito bom, do começo ao meio. Achei os personagens bem reais, que falham como uma pessoa comum. O único problema é que, do meio ao fim do livro, a história se torna um pouco enjoativa pra ler. Mas a escrita da Françoise é ótima, ela sabe se comunicar bem com o leitor. Concerteza vou ler algum outro ela!