Claudine at School

Claudine at School is a captivating tale set in a small rural village in France, where the spirited and rebellious Claudine attends the local girls' school. Full of adventure and mischief, Claudine knows how to fill her days with excitement.

This book is part of the Macmillan Collector's Library, a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in real cloth with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. The edition is translated from French by Janet Flanner, an extraordinary writer and journalist who served as the Paris correspondent for The New Yorker for fifty years.

From gossip to exams, crushes to betrayals, Claudine treats us like her closest friend, sharing her deepest secrets. Through her day-to-day accounts at school, we discover her affectionate relationships: she falls head over heels for Miss Aimee, one of her teachers, leading to a brief affair; she provocatively plays with the affections of a young pupil; and she boldly defies the strict headmistress. Clever, crafty, and fiercely independent, Claudine thrives at the centre of the action.

Immensely witty, utterly charming, and closely reminiscent of Colette's own life, Claudine at School is a love letter to rural France and the joie de vivre of youth.

This Macmillan Collector's Library edition is introduced by the acclaimed writer Paul Bailey.