Οι επτά γυναίκες του Κυανοπώγωνα

by Anatole France, Έφη Κορομηλά (Translator)

[...] Ο Μπερνάρ ντε Μοντραγκού ήταν ένας πολύ όμορφος άντρας, ψηλός, με φαρδιές πλάτες, ευτραφής και με καλοφτιαγμένη όψη· χωριάτης ωστόσο, και μυρίζοντας περισσότερο δάσος παρά μπουντουάρ και σαλόνια. Παρ' όλα αυτά, η αλήθεια είναι ότι δεν άρεσε στις κυρίες όσο θα έπρεπε να τους αρέσει, έτσι ομορφάντρας και πλούσιος που ήταν. Και ο λόγος ήταν η ντροπαλοσύνη του, η ντροπαλοσύνη και όχι η γενειάδα του. Οι κυρίες ασκούσαν επάνω του μια ακαταμάχητη έλξη και του προκαλούσαν αξεπέραστο φόβο. Όσο του άρεσαν, άλλο τόσο τις φοβόταν. Ιδού η προέλευση και η γενεσιουργός αιτία του κακού του ριζικού. Όταν έβλεπε μία κυρία για πρώτη φορά, προτιμούσε να πεθάνει παρά να της απευθύνει τον λόγο και, όσο κι αν την έβρισκε του γούστου του, έμενε μπροστά της βυθισμένος σε σκυθρωπή σιωπή" τα αισθήματα του φανερώνονταν μόνο μέσα από τα μάτια του, που τα γούρλωνε μ' έναν τρομακτικό τρόπο. Αυτή η δειλία τον εξέθεσε σε κάθε λογής ατυχίες, και προπαντός τον εμπόδισε να ενωθεί μέσα από μια τίμια σχέση με ταπεινές και συγκρατημένες γυναίκες και τον παρέδωσε ανυπεράσπιστο στις πιο τολμηρές και θρασείες περιπέτειες. Να ποια ήταν η δυστυχία της ζωή ς του. [...]

Κι αν ο Κυανοπώγωνας δεν ήταν αυτός που όλοι ξέρουμε από το παραμύθι του Σαρλ Περώ; Ένας τρομακτικός στην όψη, τυραννικός και αιμοβόρος σύζυγος, που εξαφάνιζε τη μία μετά την άλλη τις γυναίκες του; Αν, αντίθετα, ήταν ένας γενναιόδωρος άρχοντας, άπειρος στη ζωή, ντροπαλός και αδέξιος με τις κυρίες, και τόσο εύπιστος, ώστε να πέφτει διαρκώς θύμα τους, ώσπου να βρει ένα τραγικό τέλος;

Αυτή την εκδοχή μας διηγείται με χιούμορ ο Ανατόλ Φρανς, επιθυμώντας να "αποκαταστήσει το όνομα" του θρυλικού αυτού προσώπου.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, French Literature, Fairy Tales, France, Fantasy, Retellings

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1909

About the author

French critic Anatole France, pen name of Jacques Anatole François Thibault wrote sophisticated, often satirical short stories and novels, including Penguin Island (1908), and won the Nobel Prize of 1921 for literature.

Anatole France began his career as a poet and a journalist. From 1867, he as a journalist composed articles and notices.

In 1869, Le Parnasse Contemporain published La Part de Madeleine of his poems. In 1875, he sat on the committee in charge of the third such compilation. He moved Paul Verlaine and Stéphane Mallarmé aside.

Skeptical old scholar Sylvester Bonnard, protagonist of famous Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard (1881), embodied own personality of the author. The academy praised its elegant prose.

Anatole France in La Rotisserie de la Reine Pedauque (1893) ridiculed belief in the occult and in Les Opinions de Jerome Coignard (1893) captured the atmosphere of the fin de siècle.

People elected him to the Académie française in 1896.
People falsely convicted Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army officer, of espionage. Anatole France took an important part in the affair, signed manifesto of Émile Zola to support Dreyfus, and authored Monsieur Bergeret in 1901.

After the nearsighted Abbot Mael baptized the animals in error, France in later work depicts the transformation into human nature in 1908.

People considered most profound La Revolte des Anges (1914). It tells of Arcade, the guardian angel of Maurice d'Esparvieu. Arcade falls in love, joins the revolutionary movement of angels, and towards the end recognizes the meaningless overthrow of God unless "in ourselves and in ourselves alone we attack and destroy Ialdabaoth."

People awarded him "in recognition of his brilliant literary achievements, characterized as they are by a nobility of style, a profound human sympathy, grace, and a true Gallic temperament" in 1921.

In 1922, the Catholic Church put entire works of France on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Prohibited Books).

He died, and people buried his body in the Neuilly-sur-Seine community cemetery near Paris.

Reviews

[Luís · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anatole France takes us from the most famous legends while trying to find a more logical approach; with erudition in support, he makes us experience events as if we were in front of a documentary searching for some truth. Between The Seven Women of Bluebeard, a rich gentleman who will share six unhappy unions, it must say that he has known all the whims of women. From the one who is bored in wealth to the one who prefers to remain chaste than she agreed to the marriage, it is at the seventh union that will endanger the life of Bluebeard. and the History of the Duchess of Cicogne and Mr Boulingrin. They slept a hundred years in the company of Sleeping Beauty. He is passing by The miracle of the great Saint Anthony, who resuscitates three children while cut in pieces and kept in a salting tub. In this story, the real fight is not this great miracle of the resurrection but rather how to shape these poor children into real men without losing their humanity's bearings. Finally, it is the long history of The Shirt, which fascinated me a lot in this collection. A king finds himself seriously ill; once he calls upon the great doctor Rodrigue, the latter asks him to look for the shirt of a happy man. Once the king wore it, he would heal him. Where to find a happy man? The whole kingdom routed, between laughter and heroic glory, the creative passion and the scholar's eloquence - the tranquillity of the soul or religious and the riches of this world. The gap is too significant between all these popular considerations and happiness.

[Nikos Tsentemeidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένα ευχάριστο παραμύθι.

[Cláudia Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite compelling retelling of the folktale of Bluebeard and his ill-fated wives.
France really makes you feel for this gentle and caring man who keeps trying to marry for love, with what is ultimately a series of wicked women, who end up either abandoning him, betraying him, or at last plotting his demise.

[Riley G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been searching for some short stories to read, and on top of that, I’ve been dying to find and read the old folktale that is Bluebeard. So I decided to read this version, as it was free on Apple Books (because as of late I’ve been semi-“forfraid” of spending money, due to wanting to save up for such things as a new laptop and going to a writer’s conference…). This one tells the tale of what history says really happened with Bluebeard and his unfortunate experience with women.

Even though it was more history-based than imagination-based, it was still an interesting story that had some interesting lines and such. I did like it.

I will mention, however, that the last girl he married, who was the one the plotted and had him killed, is just about the worst of all the wives he took. She’s a bratty little… Yes, I’ll say it: hoe. She’s a hoe. I feel bad for gullible old Bluebeard.

Also, for some reason, I could have sworn that Apple Books said it was 32 pages, but it was actually 55. Maybe I’m just going bonkers.

[Antonio Papadourakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πρόκειται για το αντι-παραμύθι του Α.Φράνς, σε αντίθεση με το γαλλικό λαογραφικό παραμύθι, που η πιο δημοφιλής έκδοση γράφτηκε από τον Σαρλ Περώ το 1697.
Το αυθεντικό παραμύθι μιλάει για την ιστορία ενός πλούσιου βίαιου άνδρα με συνήθειο να δολοφονεί τις συζύγους του μέχρι την δολοφονία του από την 7η σύζυγο στην προσπάθεια της να αποφύγει τη μοίρα των προκατόχων.
Στο παραμύθι του Α.Φράνς ο Κυανοπώγωνας είναι ένας αγαθός και καλόβουλος ευγενής της γαλλικής επαρχίας συνεχώς θύμα των συζύγων του και τελικά δολοφονημένος από τον εραστή και τα αδέλφια της 7ης συζύγου του.
"Η γιαγιά μου έλεγε ότι η πείρα στη ζωή δεν χρησιμεύει σε τίποτα και ότι όλοι μας μένουμε για πάντα αυτό που είμαστε."

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma interessante reflexão sobre o homem por detrás do horror que fizeram de Barba Azul.
Para quem cresceu com a história do homem que matou cada uma das suas mulheres, este livrinho dá-nos uma perspetiva totalmente diferente da história.

[Bettie]

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25411

[Wei Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you remember the story of bluebeard where each wife represented a fatal flaw and corresponding virtue that resulted in her death by the terrible and evil bluebeard. For example, one wife symbolised blind obedience to authority, another one intellectual hubris, another one religious piety… now what if we flipped the script and blamed it all on the wives and made Bluebeard the good guy? This story is basically making bluebeard the good guy of the story, and pinning the blame for each marriage’s failure on the women. Bluebeard was this really kind and sweet, rich and handsome guy that loved too deeply, trusted too much, was too understanding and overall a real fantastic guy. His main flaw, was that he was too shy, so he only ended up with women that pursued him, often for their own vain selfish reasons. The first wife, left because he loved her so much she felt suffocated. The second wife was an alcoholic. The third wife so materialistic she was never content with him. The fourth wife kept cheating on him. The fifth wife was so stupid she ended up accidentally cheating on him. The sixth wife didn’t want to have sex at all. The seventh wife was so cunning she plotted to kill him. Instead of it being a commentary on various virtues, France just makes each wife embody a type of girl that would make you miserable. Appreciation of this work requires knowledge of the Bluebeard story. It is actually quite a good piece of satire, effectively challenging fairytales and subverting narratives in a clever way. You only need to get over the fact that the whole story is making Bluebeard the good guy and blaming women for everything. Alternatively you can see the satire as even more empowering for women because they are now active assholes and not merely passive victims.

[Prativa]

'Saat khoon maaf' brought me here. The narrative is subtle, thrilling and quite opposite in contrast to the movie. Only, the length is unfair!

[Old Man JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read is titled "The Seven Wives of Bluebeard & Other Marvellous Tales" and includes four short novellas. They are titled "The Seven Wives of Bluebeard", "The Miracles of the Great St. Nicolas", "The Story of the Duchess of Cicogne and of Monsieur De Boulingrin" and "The Shirt". The Bluebeard story and the Duchess story are obvious parodies of Charles Perrault's fairy tales Bluebeard and Sleeping Beauty and I suspect the other two may also be parodies but I'm not familiar enough with Perrault's work to really know. I had already read the St. Nicolas story before and thought it was sensational. It's about three children who are chopped up and put into a pickling jar for seven years before being resurrected. That has a sort of fairy tale quality to it so may be based on a Perrault story but, again, I'm not familiar enough to say for sure. Anatole France's writing is absolutely marvelous and I really enjoy his humor which is very subtle and dry. His humor is usually set in the premise of the story and is written in a very serious manner that only becomes funny when seen in the overall picture.

[Yesteryear · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ironic adaption of the old folktale of Bluebeard, playing with gender roles and literary realism. It really only makes sense to read this after having read the 'original' (in a purely chronological sense) fairy tale by Perrault, or else the wit of the story is lost, making the potential audience of this story rather narrow. When read with the 'original' in mind though, you will find in this narrative a very creative and self-conscious interpretation, giving lots of room for interpretation. Other versions of the Bluebeard plot to compare it to are "Mr. Fox" by Joseph Jacobs or the three (more modern) tales by the Grimm Brothers: Bluebeard, The Robber Bridegroom and Fitcher's Bird.

[Rana Adham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of Bluebeard before this tiny story, and so I had to read the original fable in order to understand the moral behind this one. I was also confused whether or not it is a true story; the way France talks about his "research" into Bluebeard's persona lends the Seven Wives of Bluebeard an air of truth which I doubt is actually realistic.

One quote struck me as deeply profound:

"In life, experience is worthless...one remains the same as when one begins."

[Diogo Jesus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Short, irrelevant (if zou alreadz know the famous Blue beard or seen the Chaplin film) and written in an outdated stile

[Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very delightful short story. It is as if Fox News were doing a profile on Bluebeard.

[Ricardo Munguia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al parecer este libro es una reinterpretación de la historia escrita por el autor Charles Perrault (el mismo que escribió historias como "La Cenicienta", "El gato con botas" y "La bella durmiente"). Desconozco la historia original pero al parecer trata de un noble francés con una prominente barba azul que desposo a siete mujeres que el asesinó y escondió dentro de su casa (esta premisa no parece sorprendente tomando en cuenta que los cuentos "infantiles" del autor tienen esas tonalidades obscuras). El libro comienza con un prólogo del autor en el que nos dice que la historia de Barba Azul no solo esta basada en una persona real, si no que también este personaje a sido incomprendido y difamado por Perrault, pues no solo no era el asesino de sus esposas, si no que era un hombre noble y mas bien tímido y que encontró documentos históricos que sostienen su hipótesis. La premisa es interesante, pero no se si es verídica pues la narración que nos presenta se encuentra tapizada de algunos elementos que son dignos de un cuento fantástico.

La narración prosigue a contarnos la relación de Barba Azul con sus esposas, dedicando un capítulo por esposa y reinterpretando la historia original con respecto a los datos que fue encontrando en su investigación. No es una novela muy larga y se puede leer de corrido, y más allá de que sea real o no lo que el autor nos narra, creo que la premisa es fantástica, de alguna marea es una metanovela en donde se toma una historia preexistente y se le da un giro a la perspectiva. Lectura corta, recomendada si has leído la historia original, pero si no, como es mi caso, la historia que cuenta es bastante interesante. Una muestra de que las novelas y las historias deben de tomarse con cierto grado de escepticismo, y que realmente uno no sabe hasta que punto termina la realidad y empieza la ficcón.

[Sandra Kambouri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Διάλειμμα μ' ένα παραμύθι. Παραμύθι που λέγεται ότι βασίζεται σε πραγματικό χαρακτήρα κι έχουν ακουστεί διάφορες εκδοχές για τον Κυανοπώγωνα και ποιος πραγματικά ήταν. Κι έχουν γυριστεί κι αρκετές ταινίες απ' τις οποίες εγώ είχα δει παλιά το Bluebeard του 1972 με πρωταγωνιστή τον Richard Burton κι ακόμα την θυμάμαι.

Ουσιαστικά Κυανοπώγων σημαίνει μπλε μούσι, εξ ου και το Bluebeard. Είχε μουστάκι και ένα μικρό μούσι τα οποία ήταν τόσο πολύ μαύρα που φαίνονταν μπλε.

Η κλασσική ιστορία, κατά Σαρλ Περώ, λέει ότι ο Κυανοπώγων ήταν ένας τρομακτικός, τυραννικός, ζηλιάρης κι αιμοβόρος σύζυγος που σκότωσε με φρικτό τρόπο και τις 7 γυναίκες του και με τα πτώματά τους είχε διακοσμήσει ένα δωμάτιο στο κάστρο του.

Σ' αυτό το βιβλιαράκι παρουσιάζεται μια άλλη μορφή του Κυανοπώγωνα βασισμένη, όπως λέει ο συγγραφέας, σε ντοκουμέντα που ο ίδιος συνέλεξε. Εδώ ο Κυανοπώγων είναι ένας καλός, αγαθός και ντροπαλός άρχοντας που όμως έμεινε γνωστός μετά τον θάνατό του μόνο από τις αφηγήσεις των εχθρών του (της τελευταίας γυναίκας, της μάνας της, της αδερφής και των δύο αδερφών της και του εραστή της που τον σκότωσαν για να τον κληρονομήσει).

Γρήγορο κι ευχάριστο διάλειμμα.

[Mollie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The actual style of writing is beautiful, but the substance itself is more than a little questionable. Think Disney's 'Cruella' - much like Anatole France, they take an inarguably cruel and wretched antagonist and portray them as not just sympathetic but a victim in their own right.

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth to imagine someone hearing the original fable, and asking the question 'Well, what if it was the wives' fault?' It's a thought process that doesn't necessarily strike me as sexist, just incredibly baffling.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining listening 🎶🔰

Another will written French 🗼Victorian relationship family adventure thriller short story by Anatole France about Bluebeard a estate owner whose wives keep running away or dying until the number reaches seven. I would recommend this novella to readers looking for something a little different. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚. 2022 👒😊💑🏡

[techeriez · Rating 4 out of 5]

one seated this book. the portrayal of every horrendous murder is severely unique. i never thought the bodies would be hang just like that in that room. not truly gore/thriller but good enough for a classic.

[Дмитрий · Rating 5 out of 5]

Альтернативная история Синей Бороды (написана смешно, но выживет мало кто)

[Munaza Kazmi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too short, it could be written well.

[As You Wish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book only because it was referenced by "Charming Blue". Interesting in the way of French books translated to English 100 years ago.

[Dorka]

not the serial killer being a lovely person and women being the cunning monsters lol okay

[Kerra Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Bluebeard story!!!

This book was a great short read!!!! It's one of the many books about Bluebeard!!!! Would definitely recommend this book!!

[Katerina Koltsida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Φαντάζομαι ότι στα Γαλλικά, όπου γίνονται κατανοητά τα λογοπαίγνια θα είναι πολύ πιο χαριτωμένο

[Azaghedi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't consider this review to have any spoilers that will ruin your enjoyment of the story, but I do mention some things that may be considered spoilers by some. Read at your own discretion!

On the nature of history:
"Once he was dead the good King Macbeth was known only by the statements of his enemies."

On our preference for romanticized lies:
"How can the cold, naked Truth fight against the glittering enchantment of Falsehood?"

I think that anyone who is wont to engage in amateur (or professional) philosophizing has considered the problem of historical truth at some time in their life. Eventually a curious person is sure to question the veracity of the stories of the past. With this in mind, Anatole France's "The Seven Wives of Bluebeard" is not exactly probing uncharted territory here, but rather reminding you to once again consider the problem of history.

The premise of this story--which he tries to tell us he has based on documents found in a French village that were filed in the time of Bluebeard but (rather conspiratorially) never acted upon by the authorities--is that the infamous Bluebeard was actually not the ruthless killer we've been led to believe, but rather a gentle and somewhat naive nobleman who was the victim of an avaricious wife and mother-in-law who succeeded in brutally murdering him both in body and in reputation. The Bluebeard myth is nothing more but an ingrained slander, France, claims, and throughout the next few dozen pages retells what he has pieced together to be the true story.

There are two interpretations that jump out at me right away: Firstly, and the one that he explicitly developed in his introduction, there is the fairly straightforward "history is wrriten by the victors" cliché. Yesterday's lie becomes tomorrow's truth, so to speak. Bluebeard was the victim of a smear campaign, and since his killers outlived him, they used their newfound power and influence--and the simple fact that he wasn't around to refute them--to craft a lie that would eventually become established as truth.

The second interpretation, which I think is a bit more nuanced and is less optimistic, is that truth, at least when passed down through a human mouthpiece, is an impossibility. If Bluebeard's murderers could so easily convince us, with the help of their literary successors, that Bluebeard was a beast, what is to prevent Anatole France from deceiving with equal but opposite intentions? France goes to great lengths to convince us that Bluebeard was an angel, not a devil, and he uses his eloquence to do so, just like the murdered man's wife used her rhetoricians to France's condemnation. If I couldn't trust her, if she so easily misled me, why do I have any good reason to trust him?

I think this warning to be aware of the dangers of historical sophistry is a much more interesting, albeit troubling, interpretation to take from "The Seven Wives of Bluebeard." You'd think I'd give a story that provoked so much thought a higher rating than 3-stars, but as I mentioned in my first few sentences, these really aren't groundbreaking ideas; I'm sure every thinking person has already contemplated these problems before. France's story is just a reminder. And unfortunately, the end was far too abrupt. He so deftly paced the story up until the last page, which made it all the more strange and disappointing that he ended it as quickly as if he had dropped a guillotine blade onto its neck.

[Ishaal Ramroop · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest I'm not sure who Bluebeard is and am still not sure, I wanted to read this book because I thought it was a pirate a adventure but it wasn't anything like that intact it feels like I was reading a history book which is odd because I would never rate a history book over 2 stars, but this was surprisingly good and I'm not sure if it's non fiction but hey I do love interesting books non fiction or not, as long as I enjoy it, I shall finish it to the end.

[LeeAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interestingly written book that sees Bluebread as a nice man, whom is the victim of evil people's desire to make him look bad.

[Cristi Zani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the Bluebeard problem.
Subversive theme and fluid style made the perfect christmas read.

[Cati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing, great mastery of language