Portrait eines glücklichen Menschen: der Gärtner von Versailles André le Nôtre 1613-1700

by Érik Orsenna, Annette Lallemand (Translator)

In dieser charmanten Miniatur über den Lieblingsarchitekten Ludwigs XIV. führt uns der Romancier Érik Orsenna mit großem Einfühlungsvermögen und voller Poesie ein in die atemberaubende Gartenkunst André Le Nôtres, der Versailles zu einem der berühmtesten Gärten der Welt gestaltet hat. In knappen impressionistischen Kapiteln öffnet Orsenna die Augen für subtile und mutwillige Phantasien, die dem ahnungslosen Besucher der Gärten verborgen bleiben. Jeder Spaziergang dort wird so zu einer beschaulichen Suche nach Glück. Fast drei Jahrzehnte lang stand Le Nôtre im Dienst des Königs. Er war ein Mann, der mit beiden Füßen auf der Erde blieb, liebenswürdig und von ausgeglichenem Charakter, aber auch diktatorisch, wenn es um Landschaften ging, und raffiniert, wenn es etwas durchzusetzen galt. »Sie sind ein glücklicher Mensch, Le Nôtre.« (Ludwig XIV.)

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, France, French Literature

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2000

About the author

Érik Orsenna, pseudonyme d'Erik Arnoult est un romancier français. Après des études de philosophie et de sciences politiques, il a fait des études en Angleterre (London School of Economics). Son pseudonyme Orsenna est le nom de la vieille ville du Rivage des Syrtes, de Julien Gracq.

Érik Orsenna, nom de plume of Erik Arnoult is a French novelist. After studying philosophy and political science, he studied economics at the London School of Economics. His pseudonym Orsenna is the name of the old town of The Opposing Shore by Julien Gracq.

Reviews

[Cédric Dessureault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bonne introduction au monde des jardins français et à la vie de Louis XIV.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orsenna's brief biography Andre Le Notre: Gardener to the Sun King is light and airy, but still full of historical depth and complexity. He dramatizes some of the most famous events in landscape design history with short vignettes aimed at showing less the character of the king and his garden and more at revealing the social ramifications that brought about Vaux and Versailles and Chantilly.

One thing is unmistakable, Le Notre's grand design schemes wrought ecological devastation at a greater scale than ever seen before. His draining of swamps and leveling of forests were massive crimes against the natural world before people were thinking in terms of environmental stewardship.

Notes:

Orsenna's ability to bring a historical and somewhat esoteric figure to life in brief, lively episodes is prodigal. Versailles represents a convergence of political, artistic and social factors not just the grand vision of one or two men. Le Notre's genius might be, similar to Olmsted's, his ability as an administrator and navigator of complex bureaucratic arrangements. The ecological devastation of such great landscape designs becomes apparent, especially in the case of Marly. Orsenna is an unabashed fanboy and never once questions the greatness and the "rightness" of Le Notre's very unsustainable designs.

[Natacha Pavlov · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ils marchent dans leur rêve: ce parc qu'ils ont tous deux créé."
(They walk in their dream: this park that they both created.)

Short and sweet glimpse into the person who made the French King Louis XIV's lovely gardens at Versailles a reality: André Le Nôtre. Though there's surely other biographies on the subject, the author has a poetic way with words that seems as fitting a tribute to the loyal gardener as to the reader.

[Linda Straub · Rating 5 out of 5]

En anglais: Andre Le Notre: Gardener to the Sun King

[David Bachmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine wunderbare historische Erzählung an der man die Macht und Grüße Louis XIV und des von ihm geprägten Versailles erahnen kann. Sein Gärtner, André Le Notres, spielt die Hauptrolle.

[Monteiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre poétique, écrit avec douceur et tendresse mais un peu redondant et finalement assez peu informative, juste une douce balade dithyrambique.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

en cour….

[Justine Denuziere · Rating 5 out of 5]

super agréable à lire j’apprécie beaucoup cette époque

[Muneera Salem-Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by Michaila Thorup in 2005, I believe.
"The Gardens at Versailles, the most extravagant and influential gardens in European history, emerged from the long association of Louis XIV and his master gardener, Andre Le Notre." "Born in Paris, the son and grandson of gardeners, Le Notre grew up in the Tuileries Gardens and in the nearby royal workshops of the Louvre. He was recognized as a genius in his time, particularly for his innovative use of perspective and reflective water surfaces. His services were sought by the rich and powerful, and he moved at ease among them. On a trip to Rome, overwhelmed by Pope Innocent XI's interest in his work, he took him in his arms and kissed him, to the later disbelief of the court back at Versailles." In this well-documented and poetic portrait, Erik Orsenna recounts Le Notre's life, friendships, and achievements. He describes a deeply creative man, whose savoir-faire and good nature gained him the King's friendship and allowed him to give free reign to his artistic relent. "You are a happy man, Le Notre," Louis XIV told him. This book abounds with evidence that this was true..."

[Ulrike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein nettes kleines Büchlein.
Die Sprache, der Schreibstil ein wenig gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber im Ganzen sehr gut zu lesen.
Es gibt auch Einblick in sehr interessante Aspekte der Perspektive und Gestaltung dieser riesigen "Gärten".
Jetzt muss ich auf jeden Fall mal Versailles besuchen und alles nachprüfen :-)

[Marine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un très beau livre, très plaisant à lire.

[Mimi Podkrižnik Tukarić · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fina knjiga!
http://www.delo.si/kultura/knjiga/par...