Napoleon

BalzacFrench Literature, History and Culture

Balzac's "Eugenie Grande" Synopsis and Impressions - The story of a defensive father and his simple love for his virtuous daughter.

This work is very closely associated with Dostoevsky; in 1843, when he was 22 years old, this was the work he was about to translate into Russian for publication.

Dostoevsky was devoted to Balzac from a young age and was strongly influenced by him.

It was this "Eugenie Grande" that he had his eye on as a work to be translated into Russian.

The story centers around the intense miser, Old Felix, and his daughter, Eugenie, and their battle between material greed, symbolized by money, and spiritual integrity.
ninety-three yearsFrench Literature, History and Culture

Hugo's "Ninety-Three Years" Synopsis and Impressions - Does human love conquer all? Hugo's longest masterpiece depicting the turmoil during the French Revolution!

The year 1793 was the year that the French Revolution, which began in 1789, progressed, King Louis XVI of France was guillotined, and the reign of terror by Robespierre, Marat, Danton, and others began.

It was a fearful time when a revolution that had stood for liberty, equality, and fraternity was now plunging into a period of terror, when people ratted each other out as enemies and sent each other to the guillotine in order to defend their revolution.

Hugo begins this novel about 1793, the year of such tragic civil strife
Les Miserables Part 5To enjoy "Les Miserables" even more

Part V: Jean Valjean Synopsis and Impressions - The emotional climax! I'm glad Dostoevsky liked Remisée!

Now, at last, "Les Miserables" is in its final volume.

It is a pleasant feeling of fullness, of having tasted the most delicious food to one's heart's content.

I am filled with a feeling of wanting to congratulate Jean Valjean for all the hard work he has been fighting for all these years.

There is salvation in this story. I feel better after reading it.

I am glad Dostoevsky liked this work!

The world has a strong image of Dostoevsky as a dark writer who portrays the blackness of human beings.

But his favorite work is "Les Miserables," which is full of light.
Les Miserables Part 3To enjoy "Les Miserables" even more

Part III: Marijus" Synopsis and Impressions - The Key Player in the Story, Marijus.

In this volume, the young man Mariyus' upbringing and his character will be depicted over the course of almost an entire book.

The third volume ends with a hand-to-hand confrontation between the Thénardier family, Jean Valjean, and Javert. This is also not to be missed.

We, the readers, witness the scene through the eyes of Mariyus, who peeks through a hole in the wall to see what happened.

This scene is really great as well. Amazing sense of realism!

One can only tip one's hat to Hugo's ability to describe such a scene using only words.
Javert.To enjoy "Les Miserables" even more

Part I: "Fancine" Synopsis and Comments - Who is Jean Valjean, the great protagonist?

Jean Valjean, a man who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for stealing a small piece of bread.

If you hear the name Jean Valjean, most people will probably say, "Oh! I've heard of him!" I am sure that most of you have heard of him. There may be few protagonists in the world as famous as Jean Valjean.

Jean Valjean's past and what his emotional support is will be revealed in this first part, "Fancine".

So I immediately started reading this book and was surprised to find a surprise.
Dostoevsky and RemiseTo enjoy "Les Miserables" even more

Les Misérables," which Dostoevsky also loved Deep relationship between Les Misérables and Dostoevsky

Dostoevsky had been a fan of Hugo since he was a teenager.

Since it was common for the Russian upper class and cultured people to speak French, Dostoevsky was also familiar with Hugo's works in the original.

Major Japanese works read at that time were novels such as "Notre-Dame de Paris" and "The Last Day on Death Row.

Les Misérables, the much-talked-about new novel by this favorite author, Hugo, will be released in Brussels and Paris in 1862.

How delighted Dostoevsky must have been when he came to Europe at that very moment and found the work!
Zola and DostoevskyEmile Zola, the blog author's favorite author.

Emile Zola and Dostoevsky Summary - Reading the "Lugon McCall Series

This article summarizes our findings about Zola and Dostoevsky.

I myself never thought I would go this far with France, so I am very satisfied with the unexpected harvest, even though I feel that I have come a long way.

To be honest, I never really liked France, but now I find myself rather liking it. I am ashamed to say that I now have an itch to go to Paris.

It is not that I did not like to eat, but the experience reminded me that when you get to know a person well, you can see unexpected good points.
Emile Zola, the blog author's favorite author.

What is Emile Zola's Novel Style and Naturalistic Literature - What makes Zola so great?

The terms "00ism" and "~~ism" are often used to determine what group a writer belongs to or what tendencies he or she has.

However, the word itself may be difficult to understand, and it may be even more complicated than it needs to be.

In such a situation, Zola explains his own novel style, "naturalistic literature," in his own words. It was very easy to understand, so this article will consider the characteristics of Zola's novel style with reference to Zola's words.