The Confession of a Child of the Century

Name: The Confession of a Child of the Century
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9780141391854
Price: 33.0 NZD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Alfred de Musset

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3.69

( 2,122 ratings, 172 reviews)

Summary

In The Confession of a Child of the Century, Alfred de Musset explores themes of love, betrayal, and existential despair through the eyes of Octave, a young Parisian man disillusioned by society and personal turmoil. After experiencing the heartbreak of infidelity, Octave spirals into a struggle for meaning, reflecting the tumultuous spirit of 19th-century France. The novel delves into the complexities of passion and the search for redemption in a morally ambiguous world.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to introspective tales of existential angst and the complexities of youthful despair set against the backdrop of the 19th century. It explores themes of love, betrayal, and self-discovery in a richly poetic style, appealing to those who appreciate elegant prose and psychological depth.

The Confession of a Child of the Century

Offering a vivid, opulent portrayal of obsession and despair, this title is also a philosophical portrait of a man and his times, expressing the failed idealism of the Romantic generation of the early nineteenth century. It presents a honest, passionate account of a young man's rite of passage.

David Coward's vibrant translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing de Musset's affair with Sand, how 'les Amants de Venise' became a source of both artistic inspiration and satire, and his work's place in the confessional genre. This edition contains a chronology and further reading.

Description

A new translation of the French classic—the first in a hundred years—by David Coward.

The Napoleonic Wars are over. Octave, a young Parisian, loves his mistress Elise—until he witnesses her being unfaithful. His despair leads to decadence, and he becomes the perfect libertine. However, the death of his father takes Octave to the countryside where he falls in love with Brigitte, a young widow who spends most of her time caring for others. At first, Brigitte tries to resist his advances, but eventually they become lovers. Octave, however, is quickly overcome by suspicion. Will Brigitte remain true to him? Doesn't every woman betray her lover sooner or later?

The Confession of a Child of the Century by Alfred de Musset explores these themes in a richly detailed narrative of love, suspicion, and the inevitability of betrayal.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Confession of a Child of the Century offers an unflinching self-examination that extends to its contemporary society, portraying the struggles between lofty ideals and flawed realities. This self-critical memoir is both a personal and generational reflection, underlining the author's enduring human and spiritual aspirations despite his acknowledged failings.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141391854

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 May 2013

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 236g

Pages: 320

Collections

Alfred de Musset Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics

About the Author

Alfred de Musset was born in 1810 in Paris. He attempted careers in medicine, law and drawing before publishing his first collection of poems, Contes d'Espagne et d'Italie (1829). He subsequently wrote numerous plays, and the erotic novel Gamiani, or Two Nights of Excess (1833) is sometimes attributed to him. From 1833 to 1835, he had an affair with the novelist George Sand, which became the basis for his most famous novel La Confession d'un Enfant du Si cle (1836). Sand herself also fictionalized the affair in her novel Elle et lui. Musset died in 1857 and was buried in P re Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. David Coward is Emeritus Professor of French at the University of Leeds. He won a Scott-Moncrieff prize for his edition of Albert Cohen's Belle du Seigneur, and has also translated Moli re for Penguin Classics.