Colette Libri

Exploring the profound emotions tied to love and intimacy, this book captures the essence of desire as a lingering presence in one's life. It delves into the mental and emotional aspects of passion, highlighting the anticipation and hunger that persist long after physical encounters. Through evocative imagery, it conveys how moments of connection can ignite an insatiable longing, emphasizing the deep impact a lover can have on the soul and the relentless desire to relive those experiences.

A poignant first novel steeped in the tradition of the great southern storytellers, Colette weaves past and present, humor and tragedy, to tell the tale of an unlikely friendship between two women as they search to tame their demons. Peace Be Still takes us on a journey filled with colorful prose asking the questions the answers to which most of us fear.

Focusing on the themes of childhood and familial bonds, the narrative explores the life of Sido, a nurturing mother in late-nineteenth-century rural France. Sido is depicted as a vibrant figure, deeply connected to her village, garden, and children, especially her youngest, Minet-Chéri. Unlike Colette's other works that delve into romantic love, this story highlights Sido's profound influence on her community and her daughter, who would become an acclaimed writer. The portrayal emphasizes the richness of maternal relationships and their lasting impact.

Colette, prodded by her first husband, Willy, began her writing career with Claudine at School, which catapulted the young author into instant, sensational success. Among the most autobiographical of Colette's works, these four novels are dominated by the child-woman Claudine, whose strength, humor, and zest for living make her seem almost a symbol for the life force.Janet Flanner described these books as "amazing writing on the almost girlish search for the absolute of happiness in physical love . . . recorded by a literary brain always wide awake on the pillow."

The narrative explores the tragicomic love affair between Léa de Lonval, an aging courtesan, and her young lover, Chéri. Their passionate relationship faces turmoil when Chéri marries the much younger Marie-Laure, highlighting the complexities of love, desire, and societal expectations. Colette's nuanced portrayal of these characters delves into themes of aging, loss, and the bittersweet nature of romance, making it a compelling exploration of human emotions and relationships.

Edited and with an introduction by Robert PhelpsThe hundred short stories collected here include such masterpieces as 'Bella-Vista', 'The Tender Shoot' and 'Le K-pi', Colette's subtle and ruthless rendering of a woman's belated sexual awakening. schovat popis

"One of the first and best feminist novels ever written." — Erica Jong. This vivid portrait of Parisian music hall life was drawn from the personal experiences of the author of Gigi. Colette's 1910 novel reflects her adventures as an itinerant dancer as well as her struggles balancing respectability and artistic freedom.

Chéri, together with The Last of Chéri, is a classic story of a love affair between a very young man and a charming older woman. The amour between Fred Peloux, the beautiful gigolo known as Chéri, and the courtesan Léa de Lonval tenderly depicts the devotion that stems from desire, and is an honest account of the most human preoccupations of youth and middle age. With compassionate insight Colette paints a full-length double portrait using an impressionistic style all her own. "A wonderful subject [treated with] intelligence, mastery, and understanding of the least-admitted secrets of the flesh." ― André Gide