The first from Renée Vivien, who was a British poet ( real name Pauline Mary Tarn)writing in the French language and can boast of being part of Colette’s circle is an esoteric collection of short stories that have a kind of timeless quality about them as they delve into the realms of fairy tales, myths and Biblical stories. The emphasis is very much on strong, independent women and shows men as, perhaps,lesser beings! However the writing style is poetic in its execution and offers a lyrical flow to the narratives that I feel contribute to the timelessness of them. However I would perhaps add that there are elements in these stories that indicate that they were written in an age that predates our politically correct world so there may be attitudes expressed that are at odds with today’s thinking. Many of the stories have a male narrator which I found amusing although I’m not sure if I was supposed to. The vitriol was relentless! The hapless souls just didn’t ‘get it’!
As in any short story collections there are favourites. I enjoyed Prince Charming with it’s neat little twist that I didn’t see coming. I also enjoyed The Nut Brown Maid for its bold conclusion which I doubt was typical of its age. In a sense they aren’t easy stories, no matter that some are very short indeed, as there is a macabre and sometimes louche feel to the content. I find I want to use the word bizarre’ but not in a critical way. There’s a defiance to conventional reasoning which by a stretch might be a precursor to today’s psychological thriller? Part of the charm perhaps is the collection’s refusal to be pigeonholed too easily.
The second book from Marie-Louise Gagneur, a French writer and activist who wrote more than 20 novels, presents us with two stories; the titular Three Rival Sisters and An Atonement. Thematically, both stories deal with subject of love. The first reminded me of Jane Austen with an understated wit but with plenty to say regarding the attitudes of nineteenth century society towards women and marriage. Gagneur’s work is less opposed to men than Vivien’s and shows how they were almost as much victims of the age’s attitudes as women. The second story Atonement sees a man marrying for love but existing under a mantle of guilt that he may have killed his first wife. All parties suffer. Both stories have a pleasing narrative style that flows easily allowing both stories to unfold at a balanced pace with satisfying conclusions leaving the reader room to reflect afterwards.
My thanks to Gallic Books for the gift of advance copies. I anxiously await the publication of the third in the suite Violette Leduc’s Asphyxia which will be published in December.
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