The Lost Estate (Le Grand Meaulnes)

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( 15,125 ratings, 1,394 reviews)
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The Lost Estate (Le Grand Meaulnes) by Henri Alain-Fournier is a tale of adventure and mystery centred around a schoolboy named Augustin Meaulnes, who stumbles upon an enchanting, secluded estate while lost in the countryside. Entranced by its ethereal atmosphere and a captivating young woman he meets there, Meaulnes becomes obsessed with finding the estate again. The story interweaves themes of romantic longing and the bittersweet nature of lost innocence.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you appreciate a nostalgic coming-of-age story rich with themes of adventure, mystery, and first love. Set in the French countryside, it captures the yearning for a lost past and the pursuit of unattainable dreams, making it perfect for those drawn to evocative, poetic narratives and timeless tales of youthful longing and transformation.

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The Lost Estate (Le Grand Meaulnes)

When Meaulnes first arrives at the local school in Sologne, everyone is captivated by his good looks, daring and charisma. But when Meaulnes disappears for several days, and returns with tales of a strange party at a mysterious house - and his love for the beautiful girl hidden within it, Yvonne de Galais - his life has been changed forever.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

First new English translation since 1959 by acclaimed translator Robin Buss.

When Meaulnes first arrives at the local school in Sologne, everyone is captivated by his good looks, daring and charisma. But when Meaulnes disappears for several days, and returns with tales of a strange party at a mysterious house and a beautiful girl hidden within it, he has been changed forever.

In his restless search for his Lost Estate and the happiness he found there, Meaulnes, observed by his loyal friend Francois, may risk losing everything he ever had. Poised between youthful admiration and adult resignation, Alain-Fournier's compelling narrator carries the reader through this evocative and unbearably poignant portrayal of desperate friendship and vanished adolescence.

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?

The Lost Estate (Le Grand Meaulnes) receives praise for its evocative depiction of a nostalgic and golden era. Readers describe it as both beautiful and mysterious, capturing the poignant transition from childhood to adulthood.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141441894

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 May 2007

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Adam Gopnik
  • Translated by Robin Buss

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 192g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Alain-Fournier, christened Henri Alban, was born in La Chapelle d'Angillon (Cher) in 1886, the son of a country school-master. He was educated at Brest and in Paris, where he met and fell in love with the original Yvonne, who influenced his whole life and work. The Lost Estate (Le Grand Meaulnes) was published in 1912. Les Miracles appeared posthumously in 1924. Alain-Fournier's important correspondence with Jacques Rivi re and his letters to his family were published in 1926 and 1930 respectively. Alain-Fournier was killed in action on the Meuse in 1914. Robin Buss is a writer and translator who works for the Independent on Sunday and as television critic for The Times Educational Supplement. He is part-author of the article 'French Literature' in Encyclopaedia Britannica and has published critical studies of works by Vigny and Cocteau, and three books on European cinema, The French Through Their Films (1988), Italian Films (1989) and French Film Noir (1994). He has also translated a number of volumes for Penguin Classics. Adam Gopnik is a New Yorker staff writer and author of the recently published Paris To The Moon.

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