In this short psychological novel of 1816 by Benjamin Constant, the young and hesitant Adolphe describes his relationship with Elléonore, a woman older than himself. Adolphe is of course Benjamin Constant while for the character of Elléonore he mainly drew inspiration from Anna Lindsay, one of his lovers, and from Madame de Staël, writer, thinker and political figure at that time, with whom Benjamin Constant kept a long and fluctuating passion.
«Ellénore obtint dès son arrivée d’être rétablie dans la jouissance des biens qu’on lui disputait, en s’engageant à n’en pas disposer que son procès ne fût décidé. Elle s’établit dans une des possessions de son père. Le mien, qui n’abordait jamais avec moi dans ses lettres aucune question directement, se contenta de les remplir d’insinuations contre mon voyage...»
Keys: amour, coeur, vie, père
Adolphe
I have just completed the small but fascinating book Adolphe by Benjamin Constant. It was so entertaining and insightful. I am now reading The Red Notebook. Both are printed together in a Signet Classics volume, published in 1959. I found this book while browsing through a bookcase at my cottage. I have no idea how the book got there; maybe it was left by a guest. It has obviously been there for some time judging by its appearance. But I can never bring myself to throwing out a book and in this case am very glad I didn’t. I truly am enjoying this writer which is why I Googled him and am now writing this e-mail.
Esther
Adolphe
Hola, he leído a Benjamín Constant (Adolfo), me parece un ser increíblemente excepcional. Me encanta su forma de narrar, su simplicidad, su honestidad al expresar, sencillamente maravilloso. Me gustaría poder leer Céline, pero no sé cómo ubicar esa novela. Gracias por la página.
Victoria
Adolphe
Convindria incloure La llibertat dels antics comparada amb els moderns de Constant a la seva entrada. Felicitats per Badosa.com.
Salvador Giner
Worldwide Classics includes some classical literary texts that are little known outside their linguistic area. If you like, you can suggest a title to publish in this collection.