Colette's France: Her Lives, Her Loves

by Jane Gilmour

A lavishly illustrated biography of the lively and often controversial life of Colette, the French writer, artist, and intellectual. Colette’s France is a beautifully illustrated biography of French writer Colette, a key figure in French radical, artistic, and intellectual life in the early twentieth century. Told through the locations in France where she lived, worked, and loved, her lively life story moves along through her many different relationships and homes—from Burgundy to Paris to Brittany to St. Tropez and more—revealing her deep and personal love of France and the natural world. Colette’s life and writing spans a special time in French literary history, the renowned artistic period of Belle Époque Paris. Her companions were the great French writers, artists, actors, and intellectuals, and her life plays out against a backdrop of great creativity and style, liberation and rebellion. Colette wrote about love and experienced love in the most independent, sometimes outrageous, sense—numerous lovers, several marriages, a lesbian affair, and an affair with her seventeen-year-old stepson. Told through the authoritative voice of Jane Gilmour and complimented by stunning, rarely seen photographs and illustrations, Colette’s France brings Colette’s story to life and evokes the style and fashion of the times.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, France, Memoir, Travel, Literature, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Greyson | Use Your Words]

I don't wanna talk about it.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely an overview of Colette's life rather than an in-depth biography, but I knew very little about Colette so this was a perfect introduction. The author does also talk a little bit about her experiences visiting the significant places in Colette's life and the time she spent in Paris as a student writing about Colette, but I didn't think it interfered with the main narrative of the book. The book's also formatted very prettily with lots of pictures.

[Dana Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Gilmour worked in Paris on a doctoral thesis about Colette and was much taken with this historic figure. She headed back to Australia and pursued her career but upon retirement, she returned to Europe to renew her research of Colette. With numerous photos and decoration in the belle époque manner, this book is beautiful and reflects Gilmour's personal interest and approach to her subject. The author shares with the reader her travels throughout France, visiting and reflecting upon the many spots that were of significance to Colette.

Beyond her unique approach to the subject and its lovely presentation, Gilmour captures the depth of Colette in her many guises. Like many women artists, Colette carefully curated her personal myths - provincial young woman, thrice married, scandalous lesbian, novelist, theatre reviewer, beautician, cat-lover and seducer among others. This is not an dry academic review of Colette's life. Clearly Gilmour is intrigued and in awe of this remarkable woman and that caring shows in her portrayal.

[Sunflowergurl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed a more in-depth discussion about Colette's life from her childhood all the way through her death. She really lived a very fulfilling life where she followed the beat of her own drum. This book though, I noticed, had quite a few typos. I'm not really sure what made you interested in reading more about Colette. My first exposure to her was because of the film Gigi. I really enjoyed that movie and then I watched the biopic with Keira Knightley playing as Colette and I enjoyed that as well. I would say that if you're a fan of Colette, the Belle Epoque era or that time frame, you'll probably enjoy this as well.

[MaureenAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew very little about Colette's life and writing before picking up this book. I enjoyed following along with the author's visits to the various places in France that are associated with Colette.

The author gave much insight into Colette's character. She comes across as a beautiful woman, an extremely talented writer and performer, with immense charm but with a ruthless self-centred attitude in some of her tangled relationships.

The illustrations and layout of this book are amazing and I intend to keep it on my bookshelf to look at from time to time. It has the feel of a vintage photo album or scrapbook with its images of old postcards and pressed flowers.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book. Having read a LOT about Colette lately I wish I could say I loved it but like is better.
Gives a nice visual of the places in Colette's life BUT other books give more detail on the LIFE itself.
I did DISCOVER one thing and that was the book Colette wrote about plants which was interesting--and I do NOT have a green thumb.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very happy that I accepted Jane Gilmour's invitation (p.9) to take a journey with her in search of Colette. I'm curious to learn more about Colette, to read her novels and watch film adaptations of her novels.

[Kylie Hannant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book - felt like reading an adults information book. The addition of photographs added to the mystique of Colette's life. Such an interesting lady, well researched and presented in a thoughtful and respectful manner.

[Fiona · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no. It's real bad.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5?

[Mary Refalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. I didn't really know that much about Colette before reading, but through the voice of Jane Gilmour, author of this biography, developed and shared a love of this interesting, eccentric and intelligent woman. Gilmour's writing is consistently engaging: whilst she tells Colette's story through her own experience of study and life in France, she paints a beautiful picture of this acclaimed French author. To add to the joy, the book is beautifully presented in hard cover with photographs and floral motifs decorating it throughout. This is another good read for Francophiles.

[Peggy Kopman-Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully well-told story of one of France's most intriguing women. From the first chapter the reader is tantalizingly invited to witness some of the most intimate moments of Colette's life. Yet, Ms. Gilmour artfully balances some of the most daring aspects of Colette's life with an appreciation for the hardship, war, and despair that Colette must endure. In the end, the author bestows upon her subject a hard-earned dignity and inspires the reader with respect for her subject. Kudos for a well-researched biography by a talented story-teller.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully decorated book. Here with photographs and the time lapse we are never far from Colette's France no matter how much time has past and how much continually changes in Paris. But the sphere of the woman writer (artist) is at times fraught with difficulty. Should she be the devoted daughter, the adoring mother and the free little wife? Colette was none of these things, however, there is a touch of recrimination for not being that kind of woman. But as the author here points out Colette was not just any kind of woman.

[Robyn Canny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully presented and well written non-fiction book about Colette. Long story, but I revisited Palais Royale in Paris just to see the sign that says she used to live there and also to enjoy the beautiful garden in the middle of the square. I took the time to sit and enjoy the roses and wondered how many times Colette had looked out of her apartment window at the very same garden. Only in Paris!

[Ruby Noise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with photos and images of Paris and the life of Colette in her surrounds. Yet I couldn't manage to get through the text. Maybe I'm just easily distracted.

[Anne Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It doesn't break any new biographical ground, but the photos, illustrations and book design are marvelous.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading Colette's France. The pictures of Colette and the fact that the author Jane Gilmour followed in her steps.

[Floortje Zwigtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Colette herself, this book is very beautiful... and very seductive!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written and organized. As someone who has read some of Colette's work, it was really interesting.

[Vee Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only just started reading this well-written biography, written by a friend of ours.

[Svetlana Ru · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a fascinating investigation of an amazing personality's life. Her loves, her passions, her fragility, her feminine strength and beauty, Bel Epoque epicurean lifestyle - I read it in one day, recommend it to everyone who is interested in developing of the feminine identity in literature and philosophy in beginning of the 20th century. Loved it!

[Prudence Debates]

This biography of Colette was very interesting. I especially liked how she incorporated old postcards & photos into the beautiful hardcover book. Knowing next to nothing about Colette, I learned about this woman's unusual life. Very complicated in her sexuality & views of women. Although she didn't consider herself a "feminist", her life would appear otherwise. Although she cared deeply about people in her life, she was a negligent mother & daughter. Married 3 times & had multiple affairs, many with women. I have never read any of her books, and plan to check out what's at the library to see more of her actual writing. (excerpts were in this book).