The Loved And The Unloved

by François Mauriac

Barcelona. 20 cm. 296 p. 3 h. Encuadernación en tapa dura de editorial. Mauriac, François 1885-1970. Versión de M. Simón, Antonio Ribera. Simon, M. Ribera, Antonio. 1920-2001 .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario.

Genres: France, Classics

142 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

François Charles Mauriac was a French writer and a member of the Académie française. He was awarded the 1952 Nobel Prize in Literature "for the deep spiritual insight and the artistic intensity with which he has in his novels penetrated the drama of human life." Mauriac is acknowledged to be one of the greatest Roman Catholic writers of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Charles Puskas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could also be entitled "Desire and Disgust." Marie and Gilles are madly in love, Gilles convinces his friend, Nicolas, to succumb to the desires of older Madame Agathe, Marie's governess, who can help Gilles to meet with Marie whose mother, Madame Julia Dubernet, does not approve of Gilles Sloan, the local physician's son. Madame Agathe is Count Comblane's daughter (although the old/ailing count has financial trouble with his Belmonte vineyard). Nicolas reluctantly complies with the wishes of Gilles, but the forceful and manipulative Madame Agathe disgusts him even though he proceed with their engagement (reluctantly and with a desire to end it, somehow). This relationship is dysfunctional as our most in the novel (even Marie and Gilles). Finally, Nicolas breaks off the engagement and also his long friendship with Gilles (whom he admires too much) and enjoys being alone with his thoughts (and his Maker). Shortly after Madame Julia Dubernet dies from a lingering ailment, Marie is free to marry Gilles, because Armond, her father, agrees to it. Armond, then, has aspirations to marry Madame Agathe (soon after his wife's death) with the hopes of gaining the Belmonte, the wine vineyard of Agathe's old/ailing father. The author Mauriac focuses on the fallen humans of this half-dead town of Dorthe (near Bordeaux} with all the guilt and despair that result from bad choices connected to wrong or selfish desires. Working at his craft with skillful artistry, Mauriac provides a gift and service to humanity which (he admits)tell us about Mauriac and his views of life than perhaps it does about "real life" situations as they are lived out in the modern world.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mauriac's writing has this feeling that is so distinctly his. His characters are just average country people, but their circumstances and interactions teach volumes despite the novels' short lengths. I found this one particularly meaty. Mauriac's postscript in the edition I bought is highly instructive about his intent. His comments about being an artist, but religious nonetheless really resonated with me. I'll bet he would have LOVED My Name is Asher Lev. What a pity it was published two years after his death.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Mauriac's best, in my opinion. It is harsh where it should be subtle, and too subtle where it should be obvious. His intention was to show the call of God, but it came off so subtle it was barely recognizable. That is indeed true, that the call is quiet, but in the context of a novel, I don't know if it works.

[Katherine Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a used book that hadn't sold for some years. I picked it up and immediately wanted to read the provincial French story. Mauriac was a Nobel prize winner and he absorbed. The frank love of one young man for the other, the problem of the women in their lives, one for love and the other for money and property, must have been courageous in Mauriac's time. The story is told with lyricism and with strong dialogue, totally convincing. I've enjoyed French literature for its social realism and this satisfied. The author had the ability to draw characters to life.

[Matthew Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learn more from Mauriac than any other author and my love of him grows with every novel.

A story of four lovers: Gilles Salone and Marie Dubernet, a couple in the sweaty and agitated angst of young love; Marie's repulsive governess Agathe, nicknamed Galigaï after the iron-minded witch of the Medici's; and the victim of Agathe's obsessive devotion, Nicholas Plassac, best friend and devoted admirer of Gilles.

Gilles entices Nicholas to suffer Agathe's advances to smooth his own courtship of the young Marie. Unbeknownst to Gilles, Nicholas decides to sacrifice his life upon the altar of a loveless marriage to Agathe. Marie's mother dies, clearing the way for Gilles and Marie to marry. Nicholas, succoured by Gilles, summons the courage to defy Agathe and end their engagement.

The novel ends with Nicholas walking alone at night, "He sat upon the parapet, a stranger to himself, detached from all his fellows. It was as though he had agreed with Somebody to meet him there."

I'm glad for the capital S because it's the only clue of God's Grace Mauriac gives in the whole book. His postscript explains, "The picture I have painted is indeed black. It shows mankind as warped, as showing to the world a mask fixed in a hard and hateful grimace. It shows humanity untouched by Grace."

"It was necessary that Nicholas should be detached from appearances, from his own false image of himself. Galigaï makes him realise that the lusts of the flesh are productive of intense unhappiness, that he is no less capable of cruelty than other men, and that he has never really loved anyone but God. The world I have described is the world as it appears to Nicholas when the scales fall from his eyes."

I struggled to connect with this story. I couldn't understand the character's motivations: Why is Agathe so fanatically in love with Nicholas? And why would Nicholas agree to go along with Gilles's plan?

Nonetheless, Mauriac's writing is always magical. The dimpsy, depressed atmosphere of the town hangs over every scene. The reveal of Marie and Gilles's awkward solution to control their raging lusts by sitting on opposite sides of the river is delightful. And I've never read an author capture hormonal adolescent attractiveness quite like Mauriac's description of the sleeping Marie.

[Adrián · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novela entretenida como para perder el rato, ya que se lee en un par de horas. Nada trascendental ni genial; decente nomás. Me recordó un poco a la tía Tula.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

tome 15

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am confused… somehow i liked it and somehow i am still figuring out what i was reading… the main idea was bänger but I wish it would have been written differently, with more passion, more details…