La ville noire

by George Sand

Dans une ville de forges et de papeteries, se joue le destin de plusieurs ouvriers et ouvrières. Leur sort est-il tout tracé, ouvrier un jour, ouvrier toujours? Peuvent-ils espérer s’établir à leur compte, voire s’enrichir et devenir patrons? Mais à quel prix?Sept-Épées, un jeune ouvrier talentueux, rêve d’ascension sociale. Tonine, au contraire, s’attache aux siens, les aide, les aime, et ne voudrait pour rien au monde les quitter. En dépeignant leurs amours et leurs errances, Sand compose l’un des premiers romans dédié au monde du travail et interroge les aspirations ouvriè contre l’ascension individuelle qui perpétue la domination, elle défend l’utopie d’une élévation de la classe ouvrière par la solidarité.

Genres: Fiction, French Literature, Classics, France, Adult Fiction, Literature

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1860

About the author

Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, best known by her pen name George Sand, was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist. One of the most popular writers in Europe in her lifetime, being more renowned than either Victor Hugo or Honoré de Balzac in England in the 1830s and 1840s, Sand is recognised as one of the most notable writers of the European Romantic era. She wrote more than 50 volumes of various works to her credit, including tales, plays and political texts, alongside her 70 novels.
Like her great-grandmother, Louise Dupin, whom she admired, George Sand advocated for women's rights and passion, criticized the institution of marriage, and fought against the prejudices of a conservative society. She was considered scandalous because of her turbulent love life, her adoption of masculine clothing, and her masculine pseudonym.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I loved Sand's simple, concrete, and human writing style immensely, I cannot forgive her the last quarter of this book. The ending devolved into serendipitous conveniences and clichéd parlor tricks for testing a man's love through deception. In bringing her two love interests together in order to share their 19th century happily ever after (a wedding), Sand forsakes all the subtlety of their proceeding characterization.

I will be reading George Sand again, but I hope in the next book I read, she does not undermine her nuanced reflections of human nature in order to force a happy ending.

[Edwige Pitchoune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un joli roman industriel à la fois court et plein de leçons de vie. J'ai eu l'impression d'y trouver une morale : la bonté, la patience et la persévérance semblent y être louées. Ce fut mon premier ouvrage de la célèbre G. Sand et même si je ne peux comparer avec ses autres livres plus connus, je pense que celui-ci gagne lui aussi à l'être !

La note exacte serait 3,5 :)

[sleepyhelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

LbW selection, May, 2008. Enjoyed this introduction to George Sand, but found the writing, at least the translation, wooden. Would still like to read her Consuelo (1842).

[Ce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it for 1.90 dollars new...a tribute to George Sand and her dreams of a more equitable society. Despite her powerful opinion, her books reflects that in the end she is a woman...in love of life. One more for her!

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally gave this book 4 stars, but after thinking about it I've changed the rating to a 3. This is by far my least favorite book by Sand. I enjoyed "Horace" much more and it only received a 4, so I really couldn't justify a 4 star rating for this book, too.

[Steve Gordon]

A somewhat simple tale of utopian socialist tint - though I did enjoy the class consciousness of the characters.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sand is more fascinating in her actual life than in her works. Her prose is bland and her themes tired.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember a lot of symbolism going on, which is always helpful, but the actual story was super bland.

[Rhonda Hankins]

Enjoyed the writing and the story enough to be curious to read more George Sand.

[Evane Psqr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originaire de la région thiernoise, j’ai beaucoup apprécié lire ce roman qui souligne la dureté du travail dans la ville noire, le courage ainsi que la persévérance de ses travailleurs. L’histoire est un peu romancé mais bien agréable tant c’est bien écrit, de plus on en tire une bonne leçon.