TRILBY LE LUTIN D ARGAIL

by Charles Nodier, Μαρίχεν Τσαλίκη (Translator)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

63 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1822

About the author

Jean Charles Emmanuel Nodier was a French author who introduced a younger generation of Romanticists to the conte fantastique, gothic literature, vampire tales, and the importance of dreams as part of literary creation, and whose career as a librarian is often underestimated by literary historians.

Reviews

[Kuba Matuszewski · Rating 1 out of 5]

it is so bad, i wanna give you a zero, but that's not possible, so I give you a one

[zuzia]

ależ to było okropne

[Sandro Valery Gvaramia · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the fuck did i just read

[Bibliolyra · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Published in 1822*
This is part of my chronological reading project, a publication for each year of the 19th century.

The first time I "heard" of Charles Nodier was when I was checking out early vampire myths & literature and came across his story "Smarra" (1821), which features a vampire. So, when I was looking for something to read for 1822 and saw that his story Trilby was published that year, I decided to give this one a go.

This is a fairy tale novella set in a Scottish landscape. The household fairy Trilby lives in the cottage of the fisherman Dougal and his wife Jeanie, a ferrywoman. Trilby is mischievous but not malevolent, he protects the household against accidents and tempests. He is in love with Jeanie, who is at first only amused by that but then starts to wonder about her own feelings for Trilby. Soon she finds herself torn between duty and desire. At the same time Dougal seeks the help of monk Ronald, who performs an exorcism to banish the spirit from the house. When Trilby is gone, Jeanie begins to miss his presence and realises that her feelings were deeper than she thought.

A charming but surreal little story with a dreamlike atmosphere. However, I'm not sure what to make of the plot. Jeanie struggles throughout the story between duty, which is symbolised in her faith in christianity and marriage to Dougal, and her heart, which feels drawn towards paganism and nature, symbolised in Trilby and the fairy world. At least that's the impression I got. So, I wonder if that was Nodier's intention. Maybe it is indeed making a case for Romanticism, to advocate emotion, imagination and appreciation for nature over the rationalism of the modern world (the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution). 

Be that as it may, this is a fascinating story that I still enjoyed reading, even though it felt a little disjointed at times. And the ending left me a little bit confused.

[Orçun Güzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daha önce folklorik korku hikâyeleri derlemesini (Infernaliana) okuduğum Nodier, İskoçya’yı bir baştan öbür başa gezip dolaştıktan sonra, Walter Scott’tan da esinlenerek bu masalı yazmış; herhalde Kelt folkloruna dayanıyordur diye tahmin ediyorum. Romantik yazının bütün özelliklerini yansıtan, bir köylü kadına tutulan doğaüstü bir varlığın platonik aşkını konu alan, İskoçya’nın muhteşem doğasının da betimlendiği şiirsel bir masal bu. Ancak odakta fantastik öğelerden çok, kadının iç çatışmaları var; bir de Ada’nın Hıristiyanlaştırılmadan önceki geçmişi. 1949’a göre iyi bir çeviri olsa da, çok baskı hatası yapılmış. Masalın orijinal adı olan “Trilby, ou le Lutin d’Argail, conte fantastique”’de geçen “lutin” kelimesinin karşılığı cin veya peri olmalıymış; yani çeviride geçen tüm “şeytan” kelimelerini bu şekilde düşünmek gerek; zaten Trilby’nin bu türden bir yaratık olduğu da daha başlarda anlaşılıyor.

[Lolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opines of Trilby are florid to say the least. Bittersweet ending but still touching and heart felt. ❤️