What do you think?
Rate this book
Claudine #1
Claudine at School
The first book in Colette's enchanting Claudine series.
Colette's enchanting stories of the clever and charming Claudine were first published under her husband's name, and they were an instant sensation in early twentieth-century France. In Claudine at School we meet Claudine as a teenager, wickedly witty, rebellious and effervescent, competing with her new headmistress for the affections of the pretty mistress Miss Aimee. With her first book Colette turned her life into art and a literary icon was
Colette's enchanting stories of the clever and charming Claudine were first published under her husband's name, and they were an instant sensation in early twentieth-century France. In Claudine at School we meet Claudine as a teenager, wickedly witty, rebellious and effervescent, competing with her new headmistress for the affections of the pretty mistress Miss Aimee. With her first book Colette turned her life into art and a literary icon was
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
About the author
Colette Gauthier-Villars
537 books1,562 followersColette was the pen name of the French novelist and actress Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. She is best known, at least in the English-speaking world, for her novella Gigi, which provided the plot for a famous Lerner & Loewe musical film and stage musical. She started her writing career penning the influential Claudine novels of books. The novel Chéri is often cited as her masterpiece.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
August 6, 2018
”My name is Claudine, I live in Montigny; I was born there in 1884; I shall probably not die there.”
Colette as a young girl.
She is, considering the times, a wild child. It is the turn of a new century, and she is well ahead of her contemporaries and far removed from the Flappers of the 1920s, who were trying to be emancipated women. The headmistress of her school, Sergent, finds her nearly intolerable, not only because of her attitude, which is certainly rebellious, but also because she is jealous of her relationship with one Aimee Lanthenay.
”I talk to Mademoiselle Aimee. Our intimacy is progressing very fast. Her nature is like a demonstrative cat’s; she is delicate, acutely sensitive to cold, and incredibly caressing in her ways. I like looking at her nice pink face, like a fair-haired little girl’s, and at her golden eyes with their curled-up lashes. Lovely eyes that only ask to smile! They make the boys turn and look after when she goes out.”
Things have progressed to lingering kisses and some heavy petting when Aimee drops Claudine for Mademoiselle Sergent. It is, after all, in her best interest. What can Claudine offer, except passionate embraces, but the headmistress can litter her future with little presents and not to mention provide her a helping hand with her career.
How scandalous! The ”Heartless Little Thing” has handed Claudine her first taste of unrequited love.
Lanthenay’s little sister, Luce, is also attending the school, and she is head over heels in love with Claudine. Under different circumstances, Claudine might have welcomed the attentions of such a little dove, but given her state of mind over Luce’s sister, she is more interested in applying a steady stream of torture lightened by moments of paying some mild attention to her. She gives her hope and then dashes it unmercifully.
Colette
Claudine is also navigating the treacherous waters of the attentions of older males. Whenever the District Superintendent Dutertre visits, he is very attentive to her. ”Oh, you little thing, you charming little thing, why are you so frightened? You’re so wrong to be frightened of me! Do you think I’m a cad? You’ve absolutely nothing to fear...nothing. Oh, little Claudine, you’re so frightfully attractive with your warm brown eyes and your wild curls!”
How could he help himself? After all, she had ”naughty eyes”. She is just beginning to understand her appeal to men. After all, she may only be 15, but she has the curves of a grown woman. She is ripe for the plucking, as far as Dutertre is concerned. Claudine, in her pride, might have brushed it all off as just part of being an attractive woman, but this scene is a great example of the underlining, cynical theme of the novel that lends some understanding into why an attractive, intelligent girl, like Claudine, might rebel against a corrupt adult system.
At the same time, Claudine is not above using her beauty to get herself out of some tight spots. Like when she is late for her final exams before a panel of men.
”’I was in the garden over there. I was having a siesta.’ A pane of the open window showed me my dim reflection; I had mauve clematis petals in my hair, leaves on my frock, a little green insect and a lady-bird on my shoulder; my hair was in wild disarray...The general effect was not unattractive...At least, I could only presume so, for their Lordships considered me at length and Rouibaud asked me point-blank:
‘You don’t know a picture called Primavera, by Botticelli?’
Aha! I was expecting that.
‘Yes, I do, sir...I’ve been told that already.’
I had cut the compliment off short and he pinched his lips with annoyance.”
The interesting thing is they are so distracted by her appearance that she is forgiven, but she could have gained even more points if she had allowed Rouibaud to believe the compliment was not only well received, but original. In true Claudine fashion, she uses her advantages to titillate the men, but at the same time, she lets them know what a bunch of lecherous idiots they are.
Her father has over 3000 volumes of books in his library, of which Claudine takes full advantage, but he is an indifferent parent, more interested in studying slugs than paying attention to his daughter. She comes home and talks to him about the grand part she is playing in a school festival:
”’Ye gods! Am I going to have to show myself over there?’
‘Certainly not, Papa. You remain in the shadow!’
‘Then you really mean I haven’t got to bother about you?’
‘Really and truly not, Papa. Don’t change your usual ways!’”
I may identify with the father more than I’d like to admit.
I’ve noticed that some reviewers consider Claudine ruthless and are appalled by her behavior, but I had a completely different read on Claudine. She is the smartest girl in the school, and that gives her a wider margin of error with her numerous offenses because the headmistress knows she needs her final exam scores to increase the prestige of the school. Claudine pushs back against those who are impressing morality upon her without living moral lives themselves. Her father is as nice as they come, but knows absolutely nothing about parenting a young girl. Basically, she is raising herself. She is trying to come to terms with her attraction to women and the attention she is receiving from men. She acts like she despises all of her classmates, but in truth she knows she will miss them. Claudine is prideful, willful, and probably doomed once the outside world starts to exert pressure to conform her.
I didn’t like 15 year old girls when I was 15. In fact, I didn’t like myself very much, either. When I first started the book, I was fighting my own reluctance to become mired in the trials and tribulations of a teenage girl, but it wasn’t long before I started to notice aspects that I respected and, dare I say, liked about Claudine. This novel was published in 1900, but feels contemporary in style and theme. It is a strangely compelling and breezy read.
Colette and the lecherous Willie.
Originally, the book was published under Colette’s husband’s name, Henry Gauthier-Villars, known as Willy, who seemed to make a living off publishing other writers’ novels under his name. It was his idea for his wife to mine her experiences at school and mix in some titillating scenes of young girls with burgeoning sexual interests. Those scenes are mild by the standards of today, but at the same time, I could see how they would have been scandalous in the day. Henry was quite the libertine with a steady stream of steamy affairs, and he encouraged Colette to engage in lesbian dalliances, certainly more for his stimulation (my impression) than for any concern for her own pleasure. I plan to read a biography of Colette next, which should provide more insight into her novels as I steadily work my way through her body of work.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Colette as a young girl.
She is, considering the times, a wild child. It is the turn of a new century, and she is well ahead of her contemporaries and far removed from the Flappers of the 1920s, who were trying to be emancipated women. The headmistress of her school, Sergent, finds her nearly intolerable, not only because of her attitude, which is certainly rebellious, but also because she is jealous of her relationship with one Aimee Lanthenay.
”I talk to Mademoiselle Aimee. Our intimacy is progressing very fast. Her nature is like a demonstrative cat’s; she is delicate, acutely sensitive to cold, and incredibly caressing in her ways. I like looking at her nice pink face, like a fair-haired little girl’s, and at her golden eyes with their curled-up lashes. Lovely eyes that only ask to smile! They make the boys turn and look after when she goes out.”
Things have progressed to lingering kisses and some heavy petting when Aimee drops Claudine for Mademoiselle Sergent. It is, after all, in her best interest. What can Claudine offer, except passionate embraces, but the headmistress can litter her future with little presents and not to mention provide her a helping hand with her career.
How scandalous! The ”Heartless Little Thing” has handed Claudine her first taste of unrequited love.
Lanthenay’s little sister, Luce, is also attending the school, and she is head over heels in love with Claudine. Under different circumstances, Claudine might have welcomed the attentions of such a little dove, but given her state of mind over Luce’s sister, she is more interested in applying a steady stream of torture lightened by moments of paying some mild attention to her. She gives her hope and then dashes it unmercifully.
Colette
Claudine is also navigating the treacherous waters of the attentions of older males. Whenever the District Superintendent Dutertre visits, he is very attentive to her. ”Oh, you little thing, you charming little thing, why are you so frightened? You’re so wrong to be frightened of me! Do you think I’m a cad? You’ve absolutely nothing to fear...nothing. Oh, little Claudine, you’re so frightfully attractive with your warm brown eyes and your wild curls!”
How could he help himself? After all, she had ”naughty eyes”. She is just beginning to understand her appeal to men. After all, she may only be 15, but she has the curves of a grown woman. She is ripe for the plucking, as far as Dutertre is concerned. Claudine, in her pride, might have brushed it all off as just part of being an attractive woman, but this scene is a great example of the underlining, cynical theme of the novel that lends some understanding into why an attractive, intelligent girl, like Claudine, might rebel against a corrupt adult system.
At the same time, Claudine is not above using her beauty to get herself out of some tight spots. Like when she is late for her final exams before a panel of men.
”’I was in the garden over there. I was having a siesta.’ A pane of the open window showed me my dim reflection; I had mauve clematis petals in my hair, leaves on my frock, a little green insect and a lady-bird on my shoulder; my hair was in wild disarray...The general effect was not unattractive...At least, I could only presume so, for their Lordships considered me at length and Rouibaud asked me point-blank:
‘You don’t know a picture called Primavera, by Botticelli?’
Aha! I was expecting that.
‘Yes, I do, sir...I’ve been told that already.’
I had cut the compliment off short and he pinched his lips with annoyance.”
The interesting thing is they are so distracted by her appearance that she is forgiven, but she could have gained even more points if she had allowed Rouibaud to believe the compliment was not only well received, but original. In true Claudine fashion, she uses her advantages to titillate the men, but at the same time, she lets them know what a bunch of lecherous idiots they are.
Her father has over 3000 volumes of books in his library, of which Claudine takes full advantage, but he is an indifferent parent, more interested in studying slugs than paying attention to his daughter. She comes home and talks to him about the grand part she is playing in a school festival:
”’Ye gods! Am I going to have to show myself over there?’
‘Certainly not, Papa. You remain in the shadow!’
‘Then you really mean I haven’t got to bother about you?’
‘Really and truly not, Papa. Don’t change your usual ways!’”
I may identify with the father more than I’d like to admit.
I’ve noticed that some reviewers consider Claudine ruthless and are appalled by her behavior, but I had a completely different read on Claudine. She is the smartest girl in the school, and that gives her a wider margin of error with her numerous offenses because the headmistress knows she needs her final exam scores to increase the prestige of the school. Claudine pushs back against those who are impressing morality upon her without living moral lives themselves. Her father is as nice as they come, but knows absolutely nothing about parenting a young girl. Basically, she is raising herself. She is trying to come to terms with her attraction to women and the attention she is receiving from men. She acts like she despises all of her classmates, but in truth she knows she will miss them. Claudine is prideful, willful, and probably doomed once the outside world starts to exert pressure to conform her.
I didn’t like 15 year old girls when I was 15. In fact, I didn’t like myself very much, either. When I first started the book, I was fighting my own reluctance to become mired in the trials and tribulations of a teenage girl, but it wasn’t long before I started to notice aspects that I respected and, dare I say, liked about Claudine. This novel was published in 1900, but feels contemporary in style and theme. It is a strangely compelling and breezy read.
Colette and the lecherous Willie.
Originally, the book was published under Colette’s husband’s name, Henry Gauthier-Villars, known as Willy, who seemed to make a living off publishing other writers’ novels under his name. It was his idea for his wife to mine her experiences at school and mix in some titillating scenes of young girls with burgeoning sexual interests. Those scenes are mild by the standards of today, but at the same time, I could see how they would have been scandalous in the day. Henry was quite the libertine with a steady stream of steamy affairs, and he encouraged Colette to engage in lesbian dalliances, certainly more for his stimulation (my impression) than for any concern for her own pleasure. I plan to read a biography of Colette next, which should provide more insight into her novels as I steadily work my way through her body of work.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
February 10, 2021
Kad bih mogao da odem na odmor u neki roman, onda bi to sigurno bio neki Koletin roman (ovo mi je šesti). Ne zato što u njima ima nešto posebno što mi fali u ovom svetu, već zbog životnog stava - problemi i nevolje nisu bitni, bitna je veština da se iz života iscedi sve što se može iscediti. Recimo da je Koletin roman osoba i da je pitate da li vidi polupunu ili polupraznu čašu, umesto da odgovori, uzela bi čašu, ubacila kocku leda i list mente, izašla na sunce i popila je polagano, osetivši svaku kap. U životu (pa i u čašama) punoća zavisi od uživanja a ne od prevelikog mozganja. Tog životnog elana ima i u ovom romanu, njenom književnom prvencu i prvom delu kvatrologije o Klodini. U središtu je Klodin, petnaestogodišnja šiparica i njene dogodovštine u ženskoj, varoškoj školi u belle epoque, upakovane u mladalački dnevnik, čija je autorka briljantna u svakom smislu: inteligentna, radoznala, pakosna, sujetna, čulna i superiorna u odnosu na svet koji opisuje. Rezultat je jedan poletan joie de vivre o prvoj mladosti, lepršav, duhovit i, kako već biva u tim životnim godinama, više imoralan nego amoralan.
March 23, 2019
I recently watched the movie Colette with the breathtaking Keira Knightley portraying the french author who I hardly knew anything about. The movie told her incredible story well, and made me want to pick up this book. Colette's debut novel.
I've read my fair share of coming-of-age novels written in the beginning of the 20th century. After all, L. M. Montgomery was my idol when I was younger.
But I've never read anything like this.
Claudine is not your typical young heroine; she is perceptive, manipulating and almost cruel in her treatment of those she considers beneath her. She is witty and charming too, but it is her sharp intellect that really makes the book. Her youthful love affairs and flirtations almost reads like caricatures and it's easy to see why this book caused such a riot when it was first published.
It's fun. And it's biting.
While the book on the whole is very unsentimental (as a sharp contrast to L. M. Montgomery's writing), it does contain the most vivid descriptions of the the village of Montigny. I could almost see the village and its surrounding forests before me as I read the book. It was nostalgic. And utterly bittersweet.
I've read my fair share of coming-of-age novels written in the beginning of the 20th century. After all, L. M. Montgomery was my idol when I was younger.
But I've never read anything like this.
Claudine is not your typical young heroine; she is perceptive, manipulating and almost cruel in her treatment of those she considers beneath her. She is witty and charming too, but it is her sharp intellect that really makes the book. Her youthful love affairs and flirtations almost reads like caricatures and it's easy to see why this book caused such a riot when it was first published.
It's fun. And it's biting.
While the book on the whole is very unsentimental (as a sharp contrast to L. M. Montgomery's writing), it does contain the most vivid descriptions of the the village of Montigny. I could almost see the village and its surrounding forests before me as I read the book. It was nostalgic. And utterly bittersweet.
August 12, 2021
"Sé muy bien, desde hace tiempo, que tengo un corazón imprudente, pero el saberlo no me detiene en absoluto"
Brevemente podemos decir que es una historia a lo "Tom Sawyer" pero en versión mujer con algunas inclinaciones lésbicas. La historia narra las aventuras de Claudine en su escuela rural. Ella es una chica de 15 años de posición más o menos acomodada que por motivos de falta de tolerancia al encerramiento (y desde aquí empezamos con el gran parecido desde luego con Colette y ,en general, es una novela bastante autobiográfica) acude a una escuela pequeña de su comunidad, sin embargo, duerme en su casa que queda muy cerca, es decir no es una interna de aquella escuela. La ciudad es una provincia pequeña y humilde: Montigny - en - Fresnois.
Claudine tiene una amiga de su comunión Claire, en la escuela tiene una "pandilla" que la compone Anaïs, una grandulona de buena memoria y bastante socarrona y grosera pero que suele ser por momentos cobarde, las hermanas Jaubert muy aplicadas y Marie Belhomme quizás la más ingenua de todas.
La novela empieza presentándonos a las nuevas profesoras: por un lado la Sta. Sergent (sargento literalmente) y luego la más joven Sta. Aimée Lanthenay. Ambas están bajo la autoridad del Dr. Dutertre y además están los profesores Antonin Rabastens y Armand Duplessis.
Es una novela simple, de cronología lineal y que te presenta los hechos de manera muy amena y jocosa. El relato prácticamente está en primera persona. Claudine es la que nos narra los episodios que le sucede a ella y a las chicas durante su estancia del último año en la escuela. Hay en mi opinión una gran originalidad en la trama de la historia, desde luego escandalosa para la época. La manera de contar las peripecias de Claudine es de una forma muy desenfadada, liberada y hasta maliciosa. La protagonista describe todas las relaciones lésbicas que presencia y que por momentos vive que no solo van por ese tema sino incluso por relaciones entre personas menores de edad o de subordinación. Se podría decir que son relatos picantes dependiendo del contexto por donde lo veas. Pero algunas desde luego muy censurables toman aquí un tinte a lo más anecdótico que hace reír al lector o escandalizarse a la población que la vive. Y en esto se puede ver lo que posteriormente Colette desarrolla en "Chéri" el aspecto sensual muy importante en toda su obra. Con descripciones precisas del cuerpo de las alumnas, profesoras, de sus hábitos, maniobras de seducción, mentiras, infidelidades y un largo etcétera.
"El amable Antonin me dedica una graciosa sonrisa extremadamente gentil; no creo tener que responderle, a causa de mis compañeras, pero doblo mi cintura y sacudo mis rizos. Hay que darle diversión al muchacho"
Claudine por su parte es una joven "muy despierta" para su edad, que sabe llamar la atención, seducir y muchas veces manipular tanto a sus profesoras como a sus compañeras de clase. Tiene algo de maldad en el sentido que disfruta con el sufrimiento ajeno o tiene placer en ocasionar problemas. Se entromete en pleitos ajenos y trata siempre de tener las noticias pecaminosas antes que nadie para luego poder usarlo a su favor.
Al lado de todo este contenido sensual también está desde luego las anécdotas de la escuela, los exámenes, las actividades, lo terrible de los cursos, las tonterías que hay que aprender y un largo etcétera. La "amistad" también es ampliamente tratada pero una de tipo especial, la de jóvenes despiertas, inteligentes pero muchas veces más aburridas y ansiosas de experiencias peligrosas. Todo ello lleva a Colette a poder hacer muchas bromas y mantener una ironía pero inmadura, como la protagonista.
"Anais, que por supuesto también lo ha visto, corre golpeando con las rodillas su falda, para dejar ver sus piernas - muy poco atractivas, la verdad - y ríe, y suelta grititos de pájaro. Esta chica coquetearía hasta con un buey"
Este libro fue el primero que escribió Colette aunque fue publicado bajo el nombre de su esposo Willy. De hecho, me animé a leer este libro luego de haber visto por primera vez la película de "Colette", una que me gustó mucho desde todo punto de vista. Ahí se muestra que Willy ayudó a Colette en algunas cosas, el porcentaje real no lo sé y espero investigar, pero intuía que el estilo sería algo diferente a "Chéri" y que me gustaría más. Sinsabores y anécdotas de la literatura que hicieron nacer la carrera de Colette de la mano de este libro que fue un fenómeno editorial en su momento. Me encontré con un libro más divertido y gracioso que "Chéri". Recuerdo que hay algo de gracia en "Chéri" sin embargo está a cuenta de gotas. Tal vez es por la etapa de madurez de la autora, de hecho "Chéri" es más profundo pero al final puedo decir que me gustó más "Claudine en la escuela". Leeré desde luego los demás libros de la serie de Claudine.
Brevemente podemos decir que es una historia a lo "Tom Sawyer" pero en versión mujer con algunas inclinaciones lésbicas. La historia narra las aventuras de Claudine en su escuela rural. Ella es una chica de 15 años de posición más o menos acomodada que por motivos de falta de tolerancia al encerramiento (y desde aquí empezamos con el gran parecido desde luego con Colette y ,en general, es una novela bastante autobiográfica) acude a una escuela pequeña de su comunidad, sin embargo, duerme en su casa que queda muy cerca, es decir no es una interna de aquella escuela. La ciudad es una provincia pequeña y humilde: Montigny - en - Fresnois.
Claudine tiene una amiga de su comunión Claire, en la escuela tiene una "pandilla" que la compone Anaïs, una grandulona de buena memoria y bastante socarrona y grosera pero que suele ser por momentos cobarde, las hermanas Jaubert muy aplicadas y Marie Belhomme quizás la más ingenua de todas.
La novela empieza presentándonos a las nuevas profesoras: por un lado la Sta. Sergent (sargento literalmente) y luego la más joven Sta. Aimée Lanthenay. Ambas están bajo la autoridad del Dr. Dutertre y además están los profesores Antonin Rabastens y Armand Duplessis.
Es una novela simple, de cronología lineal y que te presenta los hechos de manera muy amena y jocosa. El relato prácticamente está en primera persona. Claudine es la que nos narra los episodios que le sucede a ella y a las chicas durante su estancia del último año en la escuela. Hay en mi opinión una gran originalidad en la trama de la historia, desde luego escandalosa para la época. La manera de contar las peripecias de Claudine es de una forma muy desenfadada, liberada y hasta maliciosa. La protagonista describe todas las relaciones lésbicas que presencia y que por momentos vive que no solo van por ese tema sino incluso por relaciones entre personas menores de edad o de subordinación. Se podría decir que son relatos picantes dependiendo del contexto por donde lo veas. Pero algunas desde luego muy censurables toman aquí un tinte a lo más anecdótico que hace reír al lector o escandalizarse a la población que la vive. Y en esto se puede ver lo que posteriormente Colette desarrolla en "Chéri" el aspecto sensual muy importante en toda su obra. Con descripciones precisas del cuerpo de las alumnas, profesoras, de sus hábitos, maniobras de seducción, mentiras, infidelidades y un largo etcétera.
"El amable Antonin me dedica una graciosa sonrisa extremadamente gentil; no creo tener que responderle, a causa de mis compañeras, pero doblo mi cintura y sacudo mis rizos. Hay que darle diversión al muchacho"
Claudine por su parte es una joven "muy despierta" para su edad, que sabe llamar la atención, seducir y muchas veces manipular tanto a sus profesoras como a sus compañeras de clase. Tiene algo de maldad en el sentido que disfruta con el sufrimiento ajeno o tiene placer en ocasionar problemas. Se entromete en pleitos ajenos y trata siempre de tener las noticias pecaminosas antes que nadie para luego poder usarlo a su favor.
Al lado de todo este contenido sensual también está desde luego las anécdotas de la escuela, los exámenes, las actividades, lo terrible de los cursos, las tonterías que hay que aprender y un largo etcétera. La "amistad" también es ampliamente tratada pero una de tipo especial, la de jóvenes despiertas, inteligentes pero muchas veces más aburridas y ansiosas de experiencias peligrosas. Todo ello lleva a Colette a poder hacer muchas bromas y mantener una ironía pero inmadura, como la protagonista.
"Anais, que por supuesto también lo ha visto, corre golpeando con las rodillas su falda, para dejar ver sus piernas - muy poco atractivas, la verdad - y ríe, y suelta grititos de pájaro. Esta chica coquetearía hasta con un buey"
Este libro fue el primero que escribió Colette aunque fue publicado bajo el nombre de su esposo Willy. De hecho, me animé a leer este libro luego de haber visto por primera vez la película de "Colette", una que me gustó mucho desde todo punto de vista. Ahí se muestra que Willy ayudó a Colette en algunas cosas, el porcentaje real no lo sé y espero investigar, pero intuía que el estilo sería algo diferente a "Chéri" y que me gustaría más. Sinsabores y anécdotas de la literatura que hicieron nacer la carrera de Colette de la mano de este libro que fue un fenómeno editorial en su momento. Me encontré con un libro más divertido y gracioso que "Chéri". Recuerdo que hay algo de gracia en "Chéri" sin embargo está a cuenta de gotas. Tal vez es por la etapa de madurez de la autora, de hecho "Chéri" es más profundo pero al final puedo decir que me gustó más "Claudine en la escuela". Leeré desde luego los demás libros de la serie de Claudine.
December 31, 2018
“Lord, how idiotic women are! (Little girls, women, it’s all one.)”
Um, no. Not only are there often big differences between women and little girls, all little girls are, thankfully, not like Claudine.
I can imagine this being an enjoyable read in France in the early 1900’s. It’s probably better in French, and at the time it was written it might have been seen as risqué, even scandalous. But here and now I don’t find Claudine exciting at all. I find her obnoxious.
I’m giving this two stars because it wasn’t just boring, it was annoyingly boring. Sorry to be so negative, but I’ve read so many good books lately and this one is just … not.
Scattered around in here were some quirky and well-drawn descriptions that made me decide not to give up totally on Colette. I will try another. Someday.
Um, no. Not only are there often big differences between women and little girls, all little girls are, thankfully, not like Claudine.
I can imagine this being an enjoyable read in France in the early 1900’s. It’s probably better in French, and at the time it was written it might have been seen as risqué, even scandalous. But here and now I don’t find Claudine exciting at all. I find her obnoxious.
I’m giving this two stars because it wasn’t just boring, it was annoyingly boring. Sorry to be so negative, but I’ve read so many good books lately and this one is just … not.
Scattered around in here were some quirky and well-drawn descriptions that made me decide not to give up totally on Colette. I will try another. Someday.
January 17, 2015
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954), was a French writer, best known for her novel Gigi, which has been adapted into a movie and several stage plays. She also wrote a series of novels of her character Cheri that critics consider her masterpiece. But she started out writing about Claudine. The four Claudine novels are partly autobiographical and Claudine at School is the stoty of a precocious, 15 year old girl who delights in tormenting her headmistress and her fellow students. Set in a small village in the countryside of France at the end of the 19th century, Claudine at School is filled with humor and was very entertaining. Colette was an excellent writer but I think overlooked by most of today's readers, even the one's who tend to read classics.
November 13, 2014
I aways found snippy little bitches so charming and easily forgave them when they made me the victim of the their mocking. Claudine is the sauciest of all school girls in Western literature. You should love this tale of a horrid little brat.
December 29, 2019
Claudine is the embodiment of Colette as a teenager: intelligent, observant, mean, yet also consoling, outgoing yet private, gossipy but keeping secrets, a sexual rebel but conservative; annoying, cheeky, flippant, funny, attractive but difficult; full of contradictions; lost and found; charming but overbearing... strong and lost. So hard to get a feel for her in this young-adultish but not quite school story.
This was Colette’s first book, based on her own school years, instigated by her husband and published under his pen name as Willy. Willy was a purveyor of semi-titillating romantic pulp fiction and he inserted erotic details to make it suit his audience. I was wondering how many of the fondlings and kisses were added by Willie as they often did nit quite suit the descriptions of school activities, exams and Claudine’s teen girl shenanigans.
My favorite part was the opening, where Claudine describes her village and the surrounding nature with both fondness and snark, the same going for her classmates. The love affair between the two school mistresses was probably a scandalous detail for the time, and I found it way overdone, just as other semi-erotic details - perhaps Willy’s hand?
Nevertheless, the book is worth reading just for Claudine’s persona and Colette’s language. I also found the details of a country school in end of 19th century France, and the fact that teenage girls have not changed since then, really fun.
This was Colette’s first book, based on her own school years, instigated by her husband and published under his pen name as Willy. Willy was a purveyor of semi-titillating romantic pulp fiction and he inserted erotic details to make it suit his audience. I was wondering how many of the fondlings and kisses were added by Willie as they often did nit quite suit the descriptions of school activities, exams and Claudine’s teen girl shenanigans.
My favorite part was the opening, where Claudine describes her village and the surrounding nature with both fondness and snark, the same going for her classmates. The love affair between the two school mistresses was probably a scandalous detail for the time, and I found it way overdone, just as other semi-erotic details - perhaps Willy’s hand?
Nevertheless, the book is worth reading just for Claudine’s persona and Colette’s language. I also found the details of a country school in end of 19th century France, and the fact that teenage girls have not changed since then, really fun.
August 15, 2011
I am going to cheat a bit because I'm reading The Complete Claudine but I only want to review Claudine at School for now. I dislike long reviews and most long books, so, whereas I have reservations about The Complete Claudine, I like Claudine at School.
The first dozen pages are brilliant. The description of Montigny is as good as anything I've ever read. Even in English the descriptions roll off the tongue and create luxuriant images in your mind's eye. You can tell the author is very sensual and thinks about sex all the time.
The way Claudine establishes an immediate intimacy with her English teacher, Aimée, is also brilliantly conceived and executed. This is wonderful, wonderful writing and I was melting with pleasure reading it.
But, shortly after this, the author introduces several ludicrous plot twists that stretch credulity. They are charming and funny in their way but the situations become caricatures of reality and Claudine loses her charm and becomes cruel, spiteful and selfish.
I lost patience with her but fortunately the book is short. And I have not lost patience with Colette, whose works I am continuing to explore. I will eventually read the other Claudine novels but for now I might take the Complete Claudine off my shelf and dip into something else.
The first dozen pages are brilliant. The description of Montigny is as good as anything I've ever read. Even in English the descriptions roll off the tongue and create luxuriant images in your mind's eye. You can tell the author is very sensual and thinks about sex all the time.
The way Claudine establishes an immediate intimacy with her English teacher, Aimée, is also brilliantly conceived and executed. This is wonderful, wonderful writing and I was melting with pleasure reading it.
But, shortly after this, the author introduces several ludicrous plot twists that stretch credulity. They are charming and funny in their way but the situations become caricatures of reality and Claudine loses her charm and becomes cruel, spiteful and selfish.
I lost patience with her but fortunately the book is short. And I have not lost patience with Colette, whose works I am continuing to explore. I will eventually read the other Claudine novels but for now I might take the Complete Claudine off my shelf and dip into something else.
Read
August 23, 2024Rolala, qu'est ce que j'ai aimé ! C'est subversif, si grinçant et avant-gardiste pour l'époque. Claudine est insupportable et tellement attachante. Le ton est parfait, on y sent tout l'humour et la critique de l'autrice.
Cette lecture était un vrai petit bonbon !
Cette lecture était un vrai petit bonbon !
June 16, 2022
Déconcertant. Récit au nom d'une petite fille délurée avec le langage d'une adulte au-dessus des lois du milieu scolaire de ce début du XXe siécle. Satire, moquerie? Amusant. Mais beaucoup de longueurs, de répétitions, dans cette critique d'une gamine peu ordinaire. Envie de choquer, en descriptions d'amours homosexuelles affichées difficiles à amaginer en cette époque, d'abus d'édiles lubriques envers des gamines elles-mêmes délibérément provocantes. Mais envie de poursuivre la découverte de cette auteure célébrisimme que je ne connais pas du tout, sinon de nom, évidemment.
February 27, 2019
В усіх у школі була язиката і самовпевнена подруга на кшталт Клодін. Це роман про дівчаток у випускному класі школи, але не ніжних романтичних лілей, а радше маленьких зміючок, що беруть на кпини весь світ. У романі немає якогось конфлікту чи динамічного сюжету, дівчата вчаться, здають іспити, підбирають сукенку на випускний і злословлять як тільки можна. Вони висміюють чоловіків, що на них витріщаються, дівчат з інших шкіл, злиденних вчительок, що втішаються лесбійськими стосунками і одна одну також. Вони бачать проблеми суспільства навколо себе, але не мають жодних амбіцій їх вирішувати.
Колетт зробила великий крок у літературі, врізавши правду-матку про життя підлітків в той момент, коли вони ще не бояться бути щирими, голосно реготати і вірити в свою майбутню звитягу над світом. Не впевнена що це завжди приємно читати, часом трігерить, бо Клодін розумна, красива і заможна та відповідно ставиться до всіх, кому чогось з цього бракує. Вона роздає направо і наліво ляпаси подружкам та грубіянить вчителькам. Спойлер - моралі і навернення не буде, взагалі, головна героїня не є негативним персонажем, просто кмітливим підлітком, в якого ще не прокинулася емпатія.
Колетт зробила великий крок у літературі, врізавши правду-матку про життя підлітків в той момент, коли вони ще не бояться бути щирими, голосно реготати і вірити в свою майбутню звитягу над світом. Не впевнена що це завжди приємно читати, часом трігерить, бо Клодін розумна, красива і заможна та відповідно ставиться до всіх, кому чогось з цього бракує. Вона роздає направо і наліво ляпаси подружкам та грубіянить вчителькам. Спойлер - моралі і навернення не буде, взагалі, головна героїня не є негативним персонажем, просто кмітливим підлітком, в якого ще не прокинулася емпатія.
April 7, 2020
Delightfully sensual French classic with LGBT+ representation. Claudine is exactly the kind of girl I wouldn't like to have been friends with at school but that only makes her more interesting character to follow. I can imagine what kind of buzz this caused when it was first published in 1900 as it feels very contemporary at parts. After this I'm definitely hoping to read more French classics as this was an absolute pleasure to read.
June 25, 2019
Una serie de sucesos entre filtreos de chicas quinceañeras en una escuela rural de Francia. Libertinaje, travesuras y mucho salseo divierte a Claudine, la alumna estrella, desvergonzada e inteligente, se burla de todo cuanto sufren sus compañeras y maestras. Es un libro sencillo pero muy divertido, perfecto para empezar con la obra de Colette.
October 12, 2018
Who started reading the complete Claudine after watching Keira Knightley flounce around in Colette, hiiii yep it's me. This fin-de-siecle school story about noisy, wild and untamed Claudine was a lot of fun and I loved it - gimme a girl who is extremely gay and extremely spoilt and give her to me now! Even the teacher-student intrigues (which you normally probably couldn't get me to touch with a ten-foot pole) were made extremely palatable by Claudine's complete disregard for the rules and the fact that she always comes out on top. Think Anne of Green Gables in the novel's love of nature and its depiction of intense female friendship, but 100% more gay and naughty. Be gay and do crimes, indeed.
July 19, 2023
Mi primer acercamiento a Colette ha sido muy bueno. Es su primer libro y nos narra la vida de Claudine durante el último curso del colegio.
Aunque tiene sólo 15 años parece que estás ante una mujer hecha y derecha por cómo habla y se relaciona con el sexo opuesto. No hay que olvidar que se publicó en 1900 y parece que estás ante una historia ambientada en pleno siglo XXI.
Ya tengo ganas de continuar con su siguiente historia en París.
Aunque tiene sólo 15 años parece que estás ante una mujer hecha y derecha por cómo habla y se relaciona con el sexo opuesto. No hay que olvidar que se publicó en 1900 y parece que estás ante una historia ambientada en pleno siglo XXI.
Ya tengo ganas de continuar con su siguiente historia en París.
October 9, 2019
Vicious, violent and vindictive, Claudine is a manipulative little hellcat with little regard for anyone and a profound belief in her own inherent virtues.
I love her.
Told under the guise of her journal, from her final year of school in the French countryside (not, as I expected a boarding school; well, it is one, but not for Claudine, who is what Enid Blyton would have called a “day girl” in her school books, Claudine details the tempestuous love lives of the school’s staff and visiting dignitaries, many of whom make advances on Claudine, fifteen and winsome, with such eyes and oft-tossed curls.
This book could not be further from Blyton’s Malory Towers (a firm favourite with me, from ages 8 – 11) and its ilk, especially in the frankness with which it treats with sex, and most especially with lesbian relationships. Claudine’s own inclinations run mostly in that direction, and much of the book is taken up with the open secret of two schoolmistresses living in connubial bliss and the neglected schoolgirl who’s crush on Claudine both annoys and gratifies her. (She pinches and slaps her way too often for my liking, I have to say.)
The book’s brilliant pace lessens somewhat in the second half, especially when Claudine and her classmates take exacting final examinations that will lead some of them to go onto careers as teachers themselves—though Claudine’s wealthy, far too indulgent, rather absent father means she can avoid such a fate, which she describes as among the most dire that could befall her. But it is nevertheless a masterpiece, and has me eager indeed to explore more of Colette’s body of work, most especially the three further volumes dealing with the tempestuous, troublesome, wholly captivating Claudine.
I love her.
Told under the guise of her journal, from her final year of school in the French countryside (not, as I expected a boarding school; well, it is one, but not for Claudine, who is what Enid Blyton would have called a “day girl” in her school books, Claudine details the tempestuous love lives of the school’s staff and visiting dignitaries, many of whom make advances on Claudine, fifteen and winsome, with such eyes and oft-tossed curls.
This book could not be further from Blyton’s Malory Towers (a firm favourite with me, from ages 8 – 11) and its ilk, especially in the frankness with which it treats with sex, and most especially with lesbian relationships. Claudine’s own inclinations run mostly in that direction, and much of the book is taken up with the open secret of two schoolmistresses living in connubial bliss and the neglected schoolgirl who’s crush on Claudine both annoys and gratifies her. (She pinches and slaps her way too often for my liking, I have to say.)
The book’s brilliant pace lessens somewhat in the second half, especially when Claudine and her classmates take exacting final examinations that will lead some of them to go onto careers as teachers themselves—though Claudine’s wealthy, far too indulgent, rather absent father means she can avoid such a fate, which she describes as among the most dire that could befall her. But it is nevertheless a masterpiece, and has me eager indeed to explore more of Colette’s body of work, most especially the three further volumes dealing with the tempestuous, troublesome, wholly captivating Claudine.
August 18, 2020
Never has a 270 page book taken me so long to read. I did enjoy it enough to finish it but it was too uneventful for me. Would recommended to keen eng lit students.
July 18, 2024
it's giving Ania z Zielonego Wzgórza w wersji dla starszych... love it 🌷
January 14, 2012
I feel like I'm missing something...everybody else loves these books from Colette, especially Claudine at School. I felt...fine. Not astounded. Not blown away. Just...fine. And I didn't love Claudine? Everybody else talks about how she's a fresh, feminine, feminist voice, and I felt a bit bored with her sometimes, sometimes annoyed, maybe just entertained by her a third of the time. Claudine creates a lot of unnecessary drama, which I guess she needs to because her small town school is a bit dull. I liked Claudine best when she was put under some pressure but her plucky, spunky self came through--when she was taking final exams, during the last town celebration. I'm definitely going to read the other books in the complete Claudine series I have. I feel like the next book set in Paris might get more interesting!
August 18, 2017
Claudine at School is a young adult, coming-of-age, LGBTQ+ novel. Although Claudine is clearly an unlikable, spoiled character, she is an also extremely entertaining figure. She is full of spirit and ideas which lead to one of the most interesting stories I read lately. An added plus is Colette’s wonderful writing style; she’s written this novel in a way that’s just delightfully pleasant. What’s more suspiring is that while it’s a novel published in 1900, it’s clearly far ahead of it’s time and extremely relatable for the modern reader. I would recommend it to everyone willing to try something a little different but enjoyable.
July 21, 2014
My favourite thing is how all the adults in the novel tell Claudine that they've heard that she is mad. And she is, because she's so much smarter than everyone around her, but instead of being a daydreamer, she becomes overly engaged and focusses her attention on events that are beneath her. Anyways it's nice to have a female narrator who's so comfortable in her own skin. (Especially since Colette's husband locked her in a room until she wrote this book & he published it under his own name.)
August 19, 2024
Claudine is de originele mean girl
September 3, 2019
4/5 stars
I would probably LOATHE Claudine and most of her friends if I met them due to Claudine's highkey holier (well, better at least) than thou mindset and how they're all weirdly mean to each other at times, but they were so utterly charming to read about nevertheless.
It follows Claudine's adventures in school (shocking), where she competes for the affection of her (female) teacher, takes her exams even though she's not planning on going back to school the next year, and everything in between as she navigates the life of a young student with independency just in reach. The student-teacher aspect of it all was... well, not something I would normally read, but this whole book was supposed to be shocking, and how can you not adore Claudine's untamed and risque nature? Everything she does, she does it well, which could be both annoying and admirable. I wouldn't want to be her friend, but reading about her was fun indeed. I definitely want to read the rest of the books!
I would probably LOATHE Claudine and most of her friends if I met them due to Claudine's highkey holier (well, better at least) than thou mindset and how they're all weirdly mean to each other at times, but they were so utterly charming to read about nevertheless.
It follows Claudine's adventures in school (shocking), where she competes for the affection of her (female) teacher, takes her exams even though she's not planning on going back to school the next year, and everything in between as she navigates the life of a young student with independency just in reach. The student-teacher aspect of it all was... well, not something I would normally read, but this whole book was supposed to be shocking, and how can you not adore Claudine's untamed and risque nature? Everything she does, she does it well, which could be both annoying and admirable. I wouldn't want to be her friend, but reading about her was fun indeed. I definitely want to read the rest of the books!
June 26, 2017
Bello acercamiento a la literatura feminista de principios del siglo XX. En este libro no solo se narra la vida, los problemas, los amoríos y decepciones de una mujer joven, también se narra el descontento con el rol que la sociedad machista ha dado a la mujer, se alza un grito de protesta contra lo que mal se ha entendido como natural o normal. Un grito maravilloso en favor de la liberación, de la libertad y en contra de las estructuras machistas tan venenosas y nocivas que , lamentablemente, aún nos limitan.
Nota 4.5
Nota 4.5
September 19, 2018
Much of Colette's later spark and crackle is here in this early novel, a school story bustling with passionate, romantic friendships, biting pranks, and stylish frippery and flounce. Claudine and her school fellows explore the boundaries between friends and lovers, or the lack thereof, and Colette instills great heart and beauty into the often painful process of growing up. Practically bursting with life.
December 30, 2023
Fifteen years after my Enid Blyton phase, I’m very happy to have read a homoerotic version of Malory Towers.
August 9, 2020
After reading Colette's 'Chéri', I decided to read her first book in the Claudine series, 'Claudine at School'.
Claudine is a fifteen year old girl. She lives in a village and is in high school. She is the narrator of the story. In the story Claudine tells us about her adventures in school, her friends, her teacher, her love for nature, events that happen in her school and how it impacts her and her friends, her love for her dad, her love for books – these and other things are narrated in the book.
When I first heard of Claudine's story, I thought it would be the story of a girl at school and the adventures and fun she has. I thought it would be Colette's French version of a Judy Blume book. Part of the book is that, but there is more to the book than that. Claudine falls in love with her teacher, but her headmistress is also in love with her teacher, and there is a three-way lesbian love story there. It is amazing because Colette wrote this book in 1900, and I don't know anyone else who wrote a lesbian love story in 1900. Even if there was, things would have been described in vague language, so that it could be open to different interpretations. Colette will have none of that nonsense and she describes things as they are. Colette was brave and she was a pioneer. After reading more of her work, I am able to understand why she has been revered by readers and writers of her time and since.
Claudine is a charming narrator and from the first lines – "My name is Claudine, I live in Montigny; I was born there in 1884; I shall probably not die there" – she grabs our attention and never lets go. Claudine's voice is somewhere between that of a child and a grown-up and she describes the hypocrisies of the grown-up world as she sees it. There are no bad characters in the book, atleast I didn't feel there were any. There were just imperfect human beings with flaws, and Claudine describes them perceptively through her fifteen year old voice. There are people she likes and people she doesn't like, and she herself is not nice sometimes, but she doesn't shy away from describing things as she sees them. One of the things I loved about the book is the way it beautifully describes the real world of children and teenagers – how they are nasty and fight one day and exhibit kindness towards each other the next, sometimes even in the next moment. Claudine keeps treating with contempt, one of the girls in the class who likes her, but fights for her when she is in trouble, and helps her when she needs that. Reading that took me back to my schooldays. My favourite part of the book is the one in which Claudine tells us what happens when she and her classmates go to write their final exams. Claudine takes on one of the tough professors during the oral exam and she has her own opinion on history based on her wide reading and he disagrees with her strongly, though he respects her for holding on to her opinion and standing up to him. At one point when Claudine's headmistress tries to intervene and cool things down he says – "Let her alone, Mademoiselle, there’s no harm done. I hold to my own opinions, but I’m all in favour of others holding to theirs. This young person has false ideas and bad reading-habits, but she is not lacking in personality – one sees so many dull ones." I smiled when I read that :)
The book has an introduction in which Colette describes how she wrote the book – her husband asked her to write the book and then published it in his name. It was one more case where the husband took credit for the wife's work, and it makes us angry when we read it, and we are glad to read how Colette came out of that situation and how the books were later published in her own name.
I loved 'Claudine at School'. It was almost as if Colette's was speaking in Claudine's voice. I don't know how much of the book is autobiographical, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. Claudine is one of the great charming heroines and one of my favourites. She made me remember Ronja and Pippi, Astrid Lindgren's great heroines. I can't wait to read the second part of the series now, 'Claudine in Paris'.
Have you read 'Claudine at School' or other books in the Claudine series? What do you think about this book?
Claudine is a fifteen year old girl. She lives in a village and is in high school. She is the narrator of the story. In the story Claudine tells us about her adventures in school, her friends, her teacher, her love for nature, events that happen in her school and how it impacts her and her friends, her love for her dad, her love for books – these and other things are narrated in the book.
When I first heard of Claudine's story, I thought it would be the story of a girl at school and the adventures and fun she has. I thought it would be Colette's French version of a Judy Blume book. Part of the book is that, but there is more to the book than that. Claudine falls in love with her teacher, but her headmistress is also in love with her teacher, and there is a three-way lesbian love story there. It is amazing because Colette wrote this book in 1900, and I don't know anyone else who wrote a lesbian love story in 1900. Even if there was, things would have been described in vague language, so that it could be open to different interpretations. Colette will have none of that nonsense and she describes things as they are. Colette was brave and she was a pioneer. After reading more of her work, I am able to understand why she has been revered by readers and writers of her time and since.
Claudine is a charming narrator and from the first lines – "My name is Claudine, I live in Montigny; I was born there in 1884; I shall probably not die there" – she grabs our attention and never lets go. Claudine's voice is somewhere between that of a child and a grown-up and she describes the hypocrisies of the grown-up world as she sees it. There are no bad characters in the book, atleast I didn't feel there were any. There were just imperfect human beings with flaws, and Claudine describes them perceptively through her fifteen year old voice. There are people she likes and people she doesn't like, and she herself is not nice sometimes, but she doesn't shy away from describing things as she sees them. One of the things I loved about the book is the way it beautifully describes the real world of children and teenagers – how they are nasty and fight one day and exhibit kindness towards each other the next, sometimes even in the next moment. Claudine keeps treating with contempt, one of the girls in the class who likes her, but fights for her when she is in trouble, and helps her when she needs that. Reading that took me back to my schooldays. My favourite part of the book is the one in which Claudine tells us what happens when she and her classmates go to write their final exams. Claudine takes on one of the tough professors during the oral exam and she has her own opinion on history based on her wide reading and he disagrees with her strongly, though he respects her for holding on to her opinion and standing up to him. At one point when Claudine's headmistress tries to intervene and cool things down he says – "Let her alone, Mademoiselle, there’s no harm done. I hold to my own opinions, but I’m all in favour of others holding to theirs. This young person has false ideas and bad reading-habits, but she is not lacking in personality – one sees so many dull ones." I smiled when I read that :)
The book has an introduction in which Colette describes how she wrote the book – her husband asked her to write the book and then published it in his name. It was one more case where the husband took credit for the wife's work, and it makes us angry when we read it, and we are glad to read how Colette came out of that situation and how the books were later published in her own name.
I loved 'Claudine at School'. It was almost as if Colette's was speaking in Claudine's voice. I don't know how much of the book is autobiographical, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. Claudine is one of the great charming heroines and one of my favourites. She made me remember Ronja and Pippi, Astrid Lindgren's great heroines. I can't wait to read the second part of the series now, 'Claudine in Paris'.
Have you read 'Claudine at School' or other books in the Claudine series? What do you think about this book?
May 19, 2016
Kladyna na półce stała od dawna, kurzyła się w zacnym towarzystwie innych książek, które chciałam mieć w bibliotece, chociaż nie koniecznie miałam czas je czytać. Wzięłam się za powieści Colette po części w ramach prokrastynacji, po części ze względu na reaserch, albowiem dobrze jest łączyć przyjemne z pożytecznym.
Wiedziałam, że mam do czynienia z serią owianą atmosferą skandalu, na poły pornograficzną. To nie stawia wysoko poprzeczki, prawda? Zwłaszcza, kiedy sobie przypomnieć, jak łatwo zszokować francuską opinię publiczną. Virginie Despentes współcześnie robi to bez większych problemów. Byłam więc przyjemnie zaskoczona, kiedy w połowie lektury pierwszego tomu dotarło do mnie, że mam do czynienia z serią, która się nie zestarzeje, ponieważ nie jest wyłącznie reliktem swoich czasów i obowiązującej w nich moralności seksualnej. Klaudyna to szczery, zabawny, cholernie inteligentny i bezpretensjonalny zapis doświadczeń, ubarwiony literacko dokładnie tak, aby bawić się z czytelnikiem w kotka i myszkę – puszczanie oka do odbiorcy nie przysłania bowiem szczerości wyznań. Byłam zachwycona. Połknęłam wszystkie tomy w ostatni deszczowy i ponury weekend. Za recenzję z premedytacją wzięłam się dopiero po przeczytaniu ostatniego tomu. Po części to kwestia formalnej strony serii – poszczególne tomy są tak krótkie, że czyta się je wszystkie jednym tchem, poza tym układają się w zamkniętą całość. To bardziej jak pocięta jedna powieść w odcinkach niż seria powiązanych z sobą powieści.
Klaudyna w szkole współcześnie może szokować z innych powodów niż te, które ją rozsławiły po wydaniu. Szczegóły o erotycznych zadurzeniach i relacjach dziewcząt, dotknięcia i muśnięcia, lesbijski związek nauczycielek, biedna Klaudyna próbująca uwieść swoją psorkę, to w rzeczy samej drobiazgi. Chociaż, uhm, mamy w kulturze jakiś inny zapis doświadczeń nastoletnich lesbijek? O pewnym okropnym filmie wolę nie wspominać. Coś nie zniszczonego male gaze? No właśnie nie za bardzo. Zachwyty Klaudyny nad urodą koleżanek wciąż pozostają najbliższe temu, czego doświadcza dorastająca lesbijka. W przeciwieństwie do większości z nas jednak Klaudyna miała szczęście żyć przed kulturą NO HOMO, więc jej zauroczenia mogły być odwzajemnione bez większego stresu i nikt jeszcze nie słyszał o tożsamości seksualnej, Krafft-Ebing jeszcze nie wywarł takiego wpływu na postrzeganie ludzkiej seksualności. Ciężko więc Klaudynie pewnych rzeczy nie zazdrościć, nie tylko dzikiej swobody, jakiej doświadczała jako nastolatka dorastająca pod opieką ekscentrycznego ojca.
Saficzne wątki Klaudyny szokować nie mogą, chociaż dalej urzekają. Co w Klaudynie pozostało szokującego? Swobodne rozmowy o seksualności kobiet. Stwierdzenie, że młode kobiety, dziewczynki wręcz posiadają własne pragnienia seksualne. Całkowite skupienie się na nich w oderwaniu od obowiązującego modelu męskocentrycznej seksualności. Coś cudownego, bo unikatowego. Zachwyca mnie to, jak Colette, pisząc pod męskiego odbiorcę (bo kto czytał porno na początku XX wieku?), sprzedała więcej informacji o kobiecej seksualności niż współczesna prasa kobieca. Nie bez znaczenia jest też, że to seksualność nastoletnia, pełna sprzeczności, wahań, nie do końca świadoma i pewna siebie, nawet u tak wyszczekanej dziewczyny jak Klaudyna, która przecież wie, że chce, ale nie wie, co konkretnie chce. Bardzo żałuję, że nie miałam okazji czytać jej książek jako ta 14-15 latka, żeby poczuć wspólnotę doświadczenia.
Poza tym wydanie WABu jest przepiękne i grzechu warte za sam projekt okładki i już tylko dlatego cieszę się bardzo, że mam moje Klaudyny na półce.
Wiedziałam, że mam do czynienia z serią owianą atmosferą skandalu, na poły pornograficzną. To nie stawia wysoko poprzeczki, prawda? Zwłaszcza, kiedy sobie przypomnieć, jak łatwo zszokować francuską opinię publiczną. Virginie Despentes współcześnie robi to bez większych problemów. Byłam więc przyjemnie zaskoczona, kiedy w połowie lektury pierwszego tomu dotarło do mnie, że mam do czynienia z serią, która się nie zestarzeje, ponieważ nie jest wyłącznie reliktem swoich czasów i obowiązującej w nich moralności seksualnej. Klaudyna to szczery, zabawny, cholernie inteligentny i bezpretensjonalny zapis doświadczeń, ubarwiony literacko dokładnie tak, aby bawić się z czytelnikiem w kotka i myszkę – puszczanie oka do odbiorcy nie przysłania bowiem szczerości wyznań. Byłam zachwycona. Połknęłam wszystkie tomy w ostatni deszczowy i ponury weekend. Za recenzję z premedytacją wzięłam się dopiero po przeczytaniu ostatniego tomu. Po części to kwestia formalnej strony serii – poszczególne tomy są tak krótkie, że czyta się je wszystkie jednym tchem, poza tym układają się w zamkniętą całość. To bardziej jak pocięta jedna powieść w odcinkach niż seria powiązanych z sobą powieści.
Klaudyna w szkole współcześnie może szokować z innych powodów niż te, które ją rozsławiły po wydaniu. Szczegóły o erotycznych zadurzeniach i relacjach dziewcząt, dotknięcia i muśnięcia, lesbijski związek nauczycielek, biedna Klaudyna próbująca uwieść swoją psorkę, to w rzeczy samej drobiazgi. Chociaż, uhm, mamy w kulturze jakiś inny zapis doświadczeń nastoletnich lesbijek? O pewnym okropnym filmie wolę nie wspominać. Coś nie zniszczonego male gaze? No właśnie nie za bardzo. Zachwyty Klaudyny nad urodą koleżanek wciąż pozostają najbliższe temu, czego doświadcza dorastająca lesbijka. W przeciwieństwie do większości z nas jednak Klaudyna miała szczęście żyć przed kulturą NO HOMO, więc jej zauroczenia mogły być odwzajemnione bez większego stresu i nikt jeszcze nie słyszał o tożsamości seksualnej, Krafft-Ebing jeszcze nie wywarł takiego wpływu na postrzeganie ludzkiej seksualności. Ciężko więc Klaudynie pewnych rzeczy nie zazdrościć, nie tylko dzikiej swobody, jakiej doświadczała jako nastolatka dorastająca pod opieką ekscentrycznego ojca.
Saficzne wątki Klaudyny szokować nie mogą, chociaż dalej urzekają. Co w Klaudynie pozostało szokującego? Swobodne rozmowy o seksualności kobiet. Stwierdzenie, że młode kobiety, dziewczynki wręcz posiadają własne pragnienia seksualne. Całkowite skupienie się na nich w oderwaniu od obowiązującego modelu męskocentrycznej seksualności. Coś cudownego, bo unikatowego. Zachwyca mnie to, jak Colette, pisząc pod męskiego odbiorcę (bo kto czytał porno na początku XX wieku?), sprzedała więcej informacji o kobiecej seksualności niż współczesna prasa kobieca. Nie bez znaczenia jest też, że to seksualność nastoletnia, pełna sprzeczności, wahań, nie do końca świadoma i pewna siebie, nawet u tak wyszczekanej dziewczyny jak Klaudyna, która przecież wie, że chce, ale nie wie, co konkretnie chce. Bardzo żałuję, że nie miałam okazji czytać jej książek jako ta 14-15 latka, żeby poczuć wspólnotę doświadczenia.
Poza tym wydanie WABu jest przepiękne i grzechu warte za sam projekt okładki i już tylko dlatego cieszę się bardzo, że mam moje Klaudyny na półce.
December 29, 2020
Ya se va acabando este distópico 2020 que, entre otras muchísimas cosas, me ha traído el placer de descubrir a la que se ha convertido en mi autora preferida de todos los tiempos: Colette. Para cerrar el año, no se me ocurrió nada mejor que leer su primera novela “Claudine en la escuela”. ¡Ay! ¡Claudine! ¡Qué caprichosa y entrometida eres! ¡Qué difícil es quererte! Y cuando se te mete algo en la cabeza, ¡no hay forma de sacártelo! Pero eres muy divertida, a tu lado no hay forma de aburrirse.
“Claudine en la escuela” es el primero de los cinco libros que componen la saga “Claudine”. Primer libro y éxito de Colette, editado en el año 1900 en París por la editorial para la que trabajaba el que por aquel entonces era su marido, Willy. Y es que originalmente se publicó a nombre de él, aunque no era un secreto de estado que la brillante escritora, en realidad, era Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Claudine es un alter ego de Colette, pero más exagerado. Es como coger a “Emma” de Jane Austen y darle mucho azúcar, removerla e inyectarle muchas hormonas. Un poco así. Y es que Claudine se encapricha de una de las profesoras del internado donde estudia. Pero la directora del centro también está enamorada de esa profesora. Pero en realidad, quizá, la profesora no sabe lo que quiere, o sí. Tal vez se quiere casar con otro de los profesores. O no, tal vez quiera besarse con la directora. Y quizá a Claudine esto no le parece ni remotamente bien. Y ella, claro, no se va a quedar de brazos cruzados. Incluso puede que discurra planes con sus compañeras de estudios, o puede que las atormente un poco. Quién sabe. Al lado de Claudine, lo que menos habrá, será tranquilidad.
“Claudine en la escuela” es un libro que aún no despunta con en esas descripciones tan elaboradas, bellas y especiales que están siempre presentes en la escritura de Colette; sin embargo, algo que sí encontramos es esa ironía tan característica suya. Otra de las cosas a destacar es la clara denuncia hacia el personaje del concejal, que ejerce de médico en el internado y del que Claudine siempre nos advierte sobre sus manos largas y sus dobles intenciones. En fin, ¡qué decir! Tenía muchas ganas de leer la primera novela de Colette, y no me ha decepcionado lo más mínimo. Una lectura llena de salseos, muy entretenida, que me ha venido estupendamente. Si podéis acceder a ella, a través de una biblioteca o en alguna tienda de segunda mano, os la recomiendo mucho.
“Claudine en la escuela” es el primero de los cinco libros que componen la saga “Claudine”. Primer libro y éxito de Colette, editado en el año 1900 en París por la editorial para la que trabajaba el que por aquel entonces era su marido, Willy. Y es que originalmente se publicó a nombre de él, aunque no era un secreto de estado que la brillante escritora, en realidad, era Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Claudine es un alter ego de Colette, pero más exagerado. Es como coger a “Emma” de Jane Austen y darle mucho azúcar, removerla e inyectarle muchas hormonas. Un poco así. Y es que Claudine se encapricha de una de las profesoras del internado donde estudia. Pero la directora del centro también está enamorada de esa profesora. Pero en realidad, quizá, la profesora no sabe lo que quiere, o sí. Tal vez se quiere casar con otro de los profesores. O no, tal vez quiera besarse con la directora. Y quizá a Claudine esto no le parece ni remotamente bien. Y ella, claro, no se va a quedar de brazos cruzados. Incluso puede que discurra planes con sus compañeras de estudios, o puede que las atormente un poco. Quién sabe. Al lado de Claudine, lo que menos habrá, será tranquilidad.
“Claudine en la escuela” es un libro que aún no despunta con en esas descripciones tan elaboradas, bellas y especiales que están siempre presentes en la escritura de Colette; sin embargo, algo que sí encontramos es esa ironía tan característica suya. Otra de las cosas a destacar es la clara denuncia hacia el personaje del concejal, que ejerce de médico en el internado y del que Claudine siempre nos advierte sobre sus manos largas y sus dobles intenciones. En fin, ¡qué decir! Tenía muchas ganas de leer la primera novela de Colette, y no me ha decepcionado lo más mínimo. Una lectura llena de salseos, muy entretenida, que me ha venido estupendamente. Si podéis acceder a ella, a través de una biblioteca o en alguna tienda de segunda mano, os la recomiendo mucho.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews