A Brief Guide to the Life and Work of George Sand

5/5 ( ratings)

This Kindle edition, equivalent in length to a physical book of approximately 16 pages, consists of two parts. Part I, a biography of George Sand, was originally published in 1906 in “French Authors: A Handbook of French Literature.” Part II, descriptions of five of Sand’s most important novels, originally appeared in 1910 in “Warner’s Synopsis of Books, Ancient and Modern.”

Sample passages:
Chopin, having heard of George Sand’s power, feared to meet her, and at first refused to be presented to her. She persisted and Chopin’s fate was sealed. From the very first he was infatuated beyond recall. In 1837, having a severe illness, his physician ordered him to a warmer climate. George Sand accompanied him to the Island of Majorca, and there nursed him back to life. When he was restored to health they returned to Paris and their devotion continued for eight years, then she severed her connection with him. Liszt said that Chopin could never speak of George Sand without tears coming to his eyes. He did not long survive this sundering of their relations, and died in Paris, 1849, deeply deplored by all admirers of his genius.

“La Mare au Diable” has for its central figure Germain, a widower of twenty-eight, handsome, honorable, and living and working on the farm of his father-in-law, Maurice by name. The latter urges his son-in-law to marry again, both for his own good and for that of his three children. Germain demurs, largely because he cherishes so fondly the memory of his wife. But at last he consents to go to the neighboring village of Fourche, to see the widow Catherine Guérin, daughter of Farmer Leonard, who is well off, and according to Maurice, of suitable age to marry Germain. Before he starts on his journey, a neighbor of Germain, the poor widow Guillette, asks him to take in his care her sixteen-year-old daughter Mary, who has engaged to go as a shepherdess to a farmer at Fourche.

About the Authors:
Mildred Lewis Rutherford was an American historian, educator, and author; other works include “English Authors: A Handbook of English Literature” and “American Authors: A Handbook of American Literature.” Charles Dudley Warner was an American author, editor, and lecturer. Other works include “The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today” , “My Summer in a Garden,” and “As We Were Saying.”