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Madame X
A woman who has been thrown out into the street without any money by her jealous husband, when he discovers she has been carrying on an affair. She is not even allowed to see their young son. She sinks into depravity.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1908
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131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 12, 2018
10 AUG 2018 - a very good read. Well-written, well-peopled (the bad are not all bad and the good are not entirely good), and the characters carry the storyline to the expected ending.
Interesting fact: (Wikipedia).
In 1892, the first of a Bisson's dozen plays came to New York City's Broadway stage. Of his works, Bisson is best remembered for his play Madame X that was performed in 1910 both in Paris and on Broadway with Sarah Bernhardt in the leading role. Over the years, the play would be revived for Broadway three times and nine Madame X motion pictures in several languages have been filmed. The first silent screen adaptation was in 1916 and the latest in 2000. Better-known versions include a 1929 sound film starring Ruth Chatterton and directed by Lionel Barrymore plus the 1966 film starring Lana Turner. In 2006, a musical based on the original play was produced in Chicago.
P.S. I will soon begin the proofing of Madame X. And, thereafter, Madame X will be available for free download at Project Gutenberg. Thank you, Laura!
Interesting fact: (Wikipedia).
In 1892, the first of a Bisson's dozen plays came to New York City's Broadway stage. Of his works, Bisson is best remembered for his play Madame X that was performed in 1910 both in Paris and on Broadway with Sarah Bernhardt in the leading role. Over the years, the play would be revived for Broadway three times and nine Madame X motion pictures in several languages have been filmed. The first silent screen adaptation was in 1916 and the latest in 2000. Better-known versions include a 1929 sound film starring Ruth Chatterton and directed by Lionel Barrymore plus the 1966 film starring Lana Turner. In 2006, a musical based on the original play was produced in Chicago.
P.S. I will soon begin the proofing of Madame X. And, thereafter, Madame X will be available for free download at Project Gutenberg. Thank you, Laura!
June 19, 2021
I love reading stories after listening to them on old time radio and then comparing. Having recently enjoyed Jimmy Stewart on LUX Radio Theatre, it was fresh in mind. I came away with more sympathy for Jacqueline after reading the story, it was truly heart breaking, there is only so much that a radio version could reveal on air in 1937, and even that is really nothing compared today's explicit novels and other forms of entertainment. Times were different back then, a wife leaving her husband is barely eyebrow lifting today. Paris and affairs back in Balzac's time occurred readily and life would be changed but a question of money was the foremost to how a woman survived. Beatrice was brought back in the fold, after she left her husband. What will happen to Jacqueline? There are many courtesans and affairs in "The Human Comedy", this had a Balzac feel to it.
Story in short- Louis and Jacqueline have a bitter split when he returns home one night early and find his wife with another man.
OTR Lux Radio Theatre June 14, 1937
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ENYlr...
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The difference between radio version and story are not too immense but significant. I enjoyed the radio version but the novel made me cry for poor Jacqueline's fate. She made a grave mistake but her husband who did love her, should have forgiven her.
The radio version had Cartwright as the last name and the husband became a state supreme court judge. Raymond is not engaged and talks to Madame X and tries to help her, finding the man who called the blackmailer. Madame X reason for leaving was only supposed to be brief, not mentioning a lover and she was in some kind of entertainment. Cartwright gave his wife money. She offered him divorce which he refused. She is united with her husband and son, she lives. The doctor knows of the desertion of the wife and knows the circumstances.
The story has the reason she left and wanting to come back. Noel knowing her from youth, his love for her has never wavered, whereas her husband was not as strong. Jacqueline hates her husband as the years go on, Louis loves his wife, he must have felt extreme sorrow hearing her hate and though Noel told of Louis' suffering, I think he must have some satisfaction that he was true to her and she does not hate him. Jacqueline bitterness towards life can be felt so deep, that I feel it too. Raymond is all in her heart. I felt sorry for Louis but if it had not been for Noel, would he have come to forgiving his wife so soon.
Louis Floriot has not told anyone his wife had left 2 years ago after coming home early and finding the two lovers together, they fled. Louis still loves his wife and if it had not been for their son, Raymond, Louis would have killed himself, so leaving Paris and in new surroundings they think he is a widower. Dr. Chennel has just help save the boy's life and his widowed sister are fond of the boy. Chennel seeing Louis over worked, prescribes exercise and marriage, Louis can no longer keep his secret and tells the doctor, he has tried not to have love for his wife but he can not stop. Jacqueline returns home while Louis is talking to the doctor. Jacqueline has written to her husband but he has not read her letters. she finally comes to see her boy who she heard was sick. Louis hearing her story of her loneliness and not having time for her pushing her to his friend, who then became her lover. He was working and never confided in her, she did not think he loved her and tried to get him to go away with her but he was too busy. He sees her and still loves her and is about to forgive when he hears that her lover is dead and he sees that is the only reason she came back. He refuses her begging to see her son and shuts the door on her. He did not hear about her not being in love with her lover and that she wanted to come back and she missed her boy, but felt she could not. Louis' friend Noel thought dead comes back, he had attempted suicide because the girl he loved, he never told of his love, married. Noel finds out about Jacqueline, he had known her too and when he finds out that Louis let Jacqueline go after coming back remorseful, he tells him he will regret this and is very upset. Louis is 35, Jacqueline 22 & Raymond is 4. Noel listens to Louis' story and his wanting to kill his wife and the lover. The lover was someone he knew and defended the innocence from a financial scandal and invite him into the house to amuse Jacqueline while he worked. Noel berates Louis for throwing his wife away to lead a life as a kind of prostitute. Noel had loved a woman who he wanted to marry but found out she was going to marry someone. He tried to kill himself and when Noel said he would offer Jacqueline shelter, Louis found out that Jacqueline was the one he loved. They both go in search of her. 20 years later both Noel and Louis have not found Jacqueline. Jacqueline comes back to France some 20 years later and has been what Noel thought, the profession she would be forced to live, she has tried to live honestly. She has been wIth Fredric Laroque for 6 months and his friend, Perissard, who is a lawyer blackmailer pays for Laroque' s return to France. Jacqueline is a slave to drug and drink. Laroque is discussing business with the blackmailers and he mentions Jacqueline in reminiscing after she has taken drugs/alcohol to forget, talks about her past life, of her son and her rich lawyer husband. He tells his friends he will go back and get the husband's name. Jacqueline reads her cards, she was taught by an old woman, which tell her the same thing over and over, she will kill and see her beloved son and her husband that she hates before she dies. Marie the maid comes to see Jacqueline and sees the cards, wants Jacqueline to read her fortune. She finds out that Marie is about to make the biggest mistake by leaving her baby and her husband for a gentleman, Jacqueline wants to warn her but it seems Marie will not listen. Jacqueline tells how after she left her husband, she almost threw herself in the Seine but an Englishman painter saved her. she stayed with him, trying to find work, they moved to England, finally for his generosity gave herself to him. Staying with him for awhile until he wanted to marry a girl from his past, he offered her money but she refused. She went to another man but the decline started and the men not so nice, moving to another country. She met a man who made her a slave for prostitution, trapped without escape for a time. Drugs and alcohol were given to her and then she took willingly, Marie is not thinking this is her fate because her lover loves her. Laroque comes back to gain information about her dot and her husband's name and when he is unable to find out, he says it will not be hard looking for deputy lawyer. She sees all to clearly what will happen and she must protect her son at all costs, he must not leave the room. She finds his gun and shots him dead. Jacqueline refuses to talk and is deemed Madame X, the prosecution, Valmorin tried to get her to talk but he only knows what she told the police after she killed him, she had to for he would have hurt somebody that I love. Raymond is to be the defense and his first case. Valmorin's daughter, Helene and Raymond are in love, Valmorin hopes Raymond successful. All Raymond's family and friends will be there. Raymond asks permission to marry Helene and his father approves and gives him advice that he wishes he heeded long ago. Louis tells Noel that he will tell his son the whole truth about his mother. Perissard and Merivel, the blackmailers think that Louis knows his wife is Madame X but they find out he does not know this and they look to get her dot for themselves. Louis tells Noel that he will tell his son the whole truth about his mother. Perissard and Merivel think that Louis knows his wife is Madame X but they find out he does not know this and they look to get her dot for themselves. The case is presented and Noel and Louis recognized Jacqueline. On hearing Raymond's name as the defender, she is overcomed. Victor, the hotel worker notice Perissard & Merivel in the courtroom, and states they knew the dead man. Victor tells how his wife had seen Jacqueline before the murder and that his wife left him and their baby. Jacqueline says that they are the cause of the death because there demanding she tell her husband's name which she begged Laroque to not see her son. Louis hears of her miseries. The verdict is not guilty, after Raymond gave a passionate speech about a man brought her down and that she, how low she is loves! Raymond feels drawn to Madame X, in an unexplainable way. Noel talks to Jacqueline and it gives her calmness, telling of his arrival after she left that night, Louis' deep regret and their search for 20 years, and the doctor is telling her of staying at his home in the country with his sister. Noel telling her that she doesn't have to worry any longer, he is there. Louis knows she has not long to live, knowing he must let Raymond know for he will never forgive him if he did not give him a chance to be with his mother, tells Raymond that his mother is Madame X. Raymond is careful when tells his mother, that he loves her and then she holds him to her breast. Raymond looks to have his father see her but she dies before she sees her husband.
How will the son be towards his father? I think he will forgive him but see him in a different light and be cognizant of his great responsibility as a future married man.
Story in short- Louis and Jacqueline have a bitter split when he returns home one night early and find his wife with another man.
OTR Lux Radio Theatre June 14, 1937
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ENYlr...
💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢 spoiler alert💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢💢
The difference between radio version and story are not too immense but significant. I enjoyed the radio version but the novel made me cry for poor Jacqueline's fate. She made a grave mistake but her husband who did love her, should have forgiven her.
The radio version had Cartwright as the last name and the husband became a state supreme court judge. Raymond is not engaged and talks to Madame X and tries to help her, finding the man who called the blackmailer. Madame X reason for leaving was only supposed to be brief, not mentioning a lover and she was in some kind of entertainment. Cartwright gave his wife money. She offered him divorce which he refused. She is united with her husband and son, she lives. The doctor knows of the desertion of the wife and knows the circumstances.
The story has the reason she left and wanting to come back. Noel knowing her from youth, his love for her has never wavered, whereas her husband was not as strong. Jacqueline hates her husband as the years go on, Louis loves his wife, he must have felt extreme sorrow hearing her hate and though Noel told of Louis' suffering, I think he must have some satisfaction that he was true to her and she does not hate him. Jacqueline bitterness towards life can be felt so deep, that I feel it too. Raymond is all in her heart. I felt sorry for Louis but if it had not been for Noel, would he have come to forgiving his wife so soon.
Louis Floriot has not told anyone his wife had left 2 years ago after coming home early and finding the two lovers together, they fled. Louis still loves his wife and if it had not been for their son, Raymond, Louis would have killed himself, so leaving Paris and in new surroundings they think he is a widower. Dr. Chennel has just help save the boy's life and his widowed sister are fond of the boy. Chennel seeing Louis over worked, prescribes exercise and marriage, Louis can no longer keep his secret and tells the doctor, he has tried not to have love for his wife but he can not stop. Jacqueline returns home while Louis is talking to the doctor. Jacqueline has written to her husband but he has not read her letters. she finally comes to see her boy who she heard was sick. Louis hearing her story of her loneliness and not having time for her pushing her to his friend, who then became her lover. He was working and never confided in her, she did not think he loved her and tried to get him to go away with her but he was too busy. He sees her and still loves her and is about to forgive when he hears that her lover is dead and he sees that is the only reason she came back. He refuses her begging to see her son and shuts the door on her. He did not hear about her not being in love with her lover and that she wanted to come back and she missed her boy, but felt she could not. Louis' friend Noel thought dead comes back, he had attempted suicide because the girl he loved, he never told of his love, married. Noel finds out about Jacqueline, he had known her too and when he finds out that Louis let Jacqueline go after coming back remorseful, he tells him he will regret this and is very upset. Louis is 35, Jacqueline 22 & Raymond is 4. Noel listens to Louis' story and his wanting to kill his wife and the lover. The lover was someone he knew and defended the innocence from a financial scandal and invite him into the house to amuse Jacqueline while he worked. Noel berates Louis for throwing his wife away to lead a life as a kind of prostitute. Noel had loved a woman who he wanted to marry but found out she was going to marry someone. He tried to kill himself and when Noel said he would offer Jacqueline shelter, Louis found out that Jacqueline was the one he loved. They both go in search of her. 20 years later both Noel and Louis have not found Jacqueline. Jacqueline comes back to France some 20 years later and has been what Noel thought, the profession she would be forced to live, she has tried to live honestly. She has been wIth Fredric Laroque for 6 months and his friend, Perissard, who is a lawyer blackmailer pays for Laroque' s return to France. Jacqueline is a slave to drug and drink. Laroque is discussing business with the blackmailers and he mentions Jacqueline in reminiscing after she has taken drugs/alcohol to forget, talks about her past life, of her son and her rich lawyer husband. He tells his friends he will go back and get the husband's name. Jacqueline reads her cards, she was taught by an old woman, which tell her the same thing over and over, she will kill and see her beloved son and her husband that she hates before she dies. Marie the maid comes to see Jacqueline and sees the cards, wants Jacqueline to read her fortune. She finds out that Marie is about to make the biggest mistake by leaving her baby and her husband for a gentleman, Jacqueline wants to warn her but it seems Marie will not listen. Jacqueline tells how after she left her husband, she almost threw herself in the Seine but an Englishman painter saved her. she stayed with him, trying to find work, they moved to England, finally for his generosity gave herself to him. Staying with him for awhile until he wanted to marry a girl from his past, he offered her money but she refused. She went to another man but the decline started and the men not so nice, moving to another country. She met a man who made her a slave for prostitution, trapped without escape for a time. Drugs and alcohol were given to her and then she took willingly, Marie is not thinking this is her fate because her lover loves her. Laroque comes back to gain information about her dot and her husband's name and when he is unable to find out, he says it will not be hard looking for deputy lawyer. She sees all to clearly what will happen and she must protect her son at all costs, he must not leave the room. She finds his gun and shots him dead. Jacqueline refuses to talk and is deemed Madame X, the prosecution, Valmorin tried to get her to talk but he only knows what she told the police after she killed him, she had to for he would have hurt somebody that I love. Raymond is to be the defense and his first case. Valmorin's daughter, Helene and Raymond are in love, Valmorin hopes Raymond successful. All Raymond's family and friends will be there. Raymond asks permission to marry Helene and his father approves and gives him advice that he wishes he heeded long ago. Louis tells Noel that he will tell his son the whole truth about his mother. Perissard and Merivel, the blackmailers think that Louis knows his wife is Madame X but they find out he does not know this and they look to get her dot for themselves. Louis tells Noel that he will tell his son the whole truth about his mother. Perissard and Merivel think that Louis knows his wife is Madame X but they find out he does not know this and they look to get her dot for themselves. The case is presented and Noel and Louis recognized Jacqueline. On hearing Raymond's name as the defender, she is overcomed. Victor, the hotel worker notice Perissard & Merivel in the courtroom, and states they knew the dead man. Victor tells how his wife had seen Jacqueline before the murder and that his wife left him and their baby. Jacqueline says that they are the cause of the death because there demanding she tell her husband's name which she begged Laroque to not see her son. Louis hears of her miseries. The verdict is not guilty, after Raymond gave a passionate speech about a man brought her down and that she, how low she is loves! Raymond feels drawn to Madame X, in an unexplainable way. Noel talks to Jacqueline and it gives her calmness, telling of his arrival after she left that night, Louis' deep regret and their search for 20 years, and the doctor is telling her of staying at his home in the country with his sister. Noel telling her that she doesn't have to worry any longer, he is there. Louis knows she has not long to live, knowing he must let Raymond know for he will never forgive him if he did not give him a chance to be with his mother, tells Raymond that his mother is Madame X. Raymond is careful when tells his mother, that he loves her and then she holds him to her breast. Raymond looks to have his father see her but she dies before she sees her husband.
How will the son be towards his father? I think he will forgive him but see him in a different light and be cognizant of his great responsibility as a future married man.
February 15, 2008
Who knew that a turn-of-the-century melodrama would grab my interest after a series of less than riveting contemporary literary novels? I bought this book when I was in high school and used to cruise library books sales in Boston for old, oddball books. I was about to give this book away to the Salvation Army the last time I was home, but when my mom read a paragraph of it aloud it sounded pretty good. And it was!
This is the tragic tale of a young French woman who deceives her husband after he neglects her, and then begs his forgiveness when their son falls ill, asking him for a second chance. He cruelly throws her out of the house and condemns her to the life of a fallen woman. This is an action-packed tale of her desolate life, the attempts of her regretful husband to find her, and the actions of a few blackmailers who also come on the scene. The story proceeds at a breakneck pace worthy of any modern-day thriller, and the twists and turns may not be always completely believable but are certainly page-turny.
This book, based on a play, was also made into numerous movie, and I can really see why.
I'd be happy to loan it (it's long out of print) to any interested party. The cover is great. I wish I could show it to you.
This is the tragic tale of a young French woman who deceives her husband after he neglects her, and then begs his forgiveness when their son falls ill, asking him for a second chance. He cruelly throws her out of the house and condemns her to the life of a fallen woman. This is an action-packed tale of her desolate life, the attempts of her regretful husband to find her, and the actions of a few blackmailers who also come on the scene. The story proceeds at a breakneck pace worthy of any modern-day thriller, and the twists and turns may not be always completely believable but are certainly page-turny.
This book, based on a play, was also made into numerous movie, and I can really see why.
I'd be happy to loan it (it's long out of print) to any interested party. The cover is great. I wish I could show it to you.
November 10, 2020
I’ve read this book twice, and think it is a beautiful story of the depths of a mother’s love for her son. I have the 1910 version by J. W. McConaughy. I could hardly put it down, and it is an easy read. Although, it has been over 25 years since I first read it, i do not regret the time spent reading it again.
January 21, 2018
Sad book.
I chose this rating because I liked the story. It is sad but has a satisfying conclusion. Jacqueline, Raymond and Floriot Sr are well written characters. The story is dated but not boring.
I chose this rating because I liked the story. It is sad but has a satisfying conclusion. Jacqueline, Raymond and Floriot Sr are well written characters. The story is dated but not boring.
August 14, 2019
Wonderfully Beautiful
I have seen the movie with Lana Turner; I think because it's been awhile; and it's a great movie. But this book is the original and evokes so many more emotions. I would highly recommend this story to anyone.
I have seen the movie with Lana Turner; I think because it's been awhile; and it's a great movie. But this book is the original and evokes so many more emotions. I would highly recommend this story to anyone.
February 7, 2021
Madame X is a very moving story of a mothers love for her son. Although the story is riled with sadness the love triumphs and gives closure to all players in this story. It is a great read, and I since that it might have been made into a movie.
July 15, 2020
Ok
I should learn that stories written in 19th century are filled with flowery language. It was a good story, but I am not a fan of that style of writing.
I should learn that stories written in 19th century are filled with flowery language. It was a good story, but I am not a fan of that style of writing.
August 27, 2020
جميلة جدن ومؤثرة
January 21, 2023
An Unforgettable Classic
One of the finest classics I've ever read. From the start, the story captures your imagination and emotions. Highly recommend!
One of the finest classics I've ever read. From the start, the story captures your imagination and emotions. Highly recommend!
March 8, 2023
One of the best books I have read in my life!
October 7, 2019
I'm giving five stars to the story of Madame X itself. It's my understanding that this was originally written as a French play, and translated into English by JW McConaughy. The translation I would give 3-4 stars, since it was little awkward in parts, as though some of the phrases didn't translate well and McConaughy struggles to find appropriate words to substitute, not to mention its peppered with an absurd! amount! of! exclamation points!!!
At times this novel is a not-so-thinly veiled morality tale with dated views, but on the other hand it's a timeless, heartfelt story about redemption and forgiveness and the power of a mother's love. Despite the fact that it was written a hundred years ago, it had me tearing up at the end. I can understand how this story has been made into several films, as it's quite moving.
At times this novel is a not-so-thinly veiled morality tale with dated views, but on the other hand it's a timeless, heartfelt story about redemption and forgiveness and the power of a mother's love. Despite the fact that it was written a hundred years ago, it had me tearing up at the end. I can understand how this story has been made into several films, as it's quite moving.
April 15, 2015
This is a very old edition, 1910 to be exact. It was very refreshing. I enjoyed it because it did not even have the word "damned" in it. The word looked like this d-----d. That was the worst word in the whole book! I also enjoyed the story. Jacqueline was thrown out of her house by her husband. She had previously run away with another man. But she came back to beg forgiveness from her husband. She wanted to be with her son who was ill. Her husband refused to let her come back, and so for 20 years she was forced to find her own way in the world. At the end of the book Jacqueline and her husband and her son, Raymond, meet in the courtroom when she is accused of murdering her present lover. It would make a great play, too.
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