Stories of the Rhine, by Erckmann-Chatrian

Recently I have been reading Stories of the Rhine, jointly written by French authors Émile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian. Above its unforgettable romantic aesthetics, these stories are a jewel of prose in which the supernatural is present, and in which mysterious characters with cock feathers in their hats chat among wine and beer barrels, in the misty old cities on the Rhine.

In some tales, music is a central theme (“My illustrious friend, Selsam”, “The raven’s requiem”,“The song of the tun”), or has a major role (“Black and White”); similarly, painting acquires relevance in “The miraculous draught of fishes”. A treasure found by supernatural means, the treasure of Gontran the Miser, is the main topic of “The buried treasure”. “The child-stealer” is a peculiar crime tale, quite different from the other stories.

The first-person narrative is often used, as the witness narrator gets involved in the action. The prose combines - in an extraordinary way – agility and attention to detail. A richness of nuances pervades the brief descriptions, fully integrated in the narrative thread. Action is often linked to a thoughtful approach, to the musings of the characters (especially in “My illustrious friend Selsam”, a really notable flight of fantasy); sometimes action is linked to the philosophical (“Hans Wieland the cabalist”).

The stories are set in the late 18th century and in the 19^th century.  The preoccupation with the supernatural is similar to the one in Hoffmann’s Tales, but in Erckmann-Chatrian’s tales, the perfection of their prose makes characters unforgettable: Furbach the bookseller and Nicklausse the coachman; Doctor Adrien Selsam, professor of pathology; Andreusse Cappelmans, the seascape painter; the ghost of Van Marius; Hérode Van Gambrinus the innkeeper and Théodore Blitz the violinist. Certainly this treasure earned a place of honor on my bookshelf.

Lost Illusions

Honoré de Balzac wrote Lost Illusions (Les illusions perdues) between 1837 and 1843. The novel is divided into three parts; in the first one, entitled "The Two Poets", the main character – young Lucien - is introduced in his milieu, a dreary provincial town. In Angoulême, Lucien and his friend David inspire each other to pursue their dreams; David feels more engaged with science, while Lucien decides to become a writer. The society into which he is introduced is led by Madame de Bargeton, a lady who encourages him to pursue a literary career.

Although the hero boasts of his noble origins (changing his name to Rubempré), he represents an impoverished class; Lucien is anxious to recover lost ground by bringing his artistic talent to bear. The will to succeed as a writer in Paris will lead him to go beyond moral bounds to improve his social status. Furthermore, his family is ready to sacrifice everything for Lucien, in whom they have blind faith. Eve and David - his sister and brother-in-law - are very much guided by Lucien’s fantasies, as they want to see him succeed in the task he has taken on.

In Part II (“Un Grand Homme de Province à Paris”), these hopes fade away as Lucien has a first taste of parisian life. His musings about his needs and problems touch on topic of falsehood in human relations: it is a hard lesson for Lucien. Despite all of this, he continues his efforts. He sinks deeper, as he frequents bad company. In a contrast very close to melodrama, actress Coralie represents the fallen woman, while Eve is depicted as an angel.

Journalism, and especially, Parisian Bohemianism are well depicted in the novel; among the intellectuals, D’Arthez is not a fame seeker, but he strives to produce quality work. As for journalism, it is addressed in a very critical way. Intellectuals and writers gather at an unforgettable local tavern, and the depictions of customs of librarians and printers at that time are also very interesting as well. Furthermore, David runs a print shop at Angoulême, so it provides greater details. The last part of the book, entitled “The Travails of an Inventor”, focuses on David’s problems to make his business thrive.

Despite all hope, wasted effort increases Lucien’s moral decay. Sand castle crumbles before his eyes and Lucien plunges into despair. The lives and doings of Balzac’s characters continue in other books: the outcome of the story can be found in The Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans (Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes), written between 1838 and 1846.