Un rude hiver

by Raymond Queneau

On est en 1916, et au Havre : camps anglais, travailleurs chinois et kabyles, premiers Charlot. Depuis treize ans, toutes les saisons ont été rudes au cour de Bernard Lehameau, encerclé par un malheur qu'il n'a pu dépasser. La guerre offre de nouveaux thèmes à sa haine, dirigée contre tout ce qui l'entoure.

Genres: Fiction, France, French Literature, Novels, Classics, Literary Fiction, 20th Century

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

Novelist, poet, and critic Raymond Queneau, was born in Le Havre in 1903, and went to Paris when he was 17. For some time he joined André Breton's Surrealist group, but after only a brief stint he dissociated himself. Now, seeing Queneau's work in retrospect, it seems inevitable. The Surrealists tried to achieve a sort of pure expression from the unconscious, without mediation of the author's self-aware "persona." Queneau's texts, on the contrary, are quite deliberate products of the author's conscious mind, of his memory, and his intentionality.

Although Queneau's novels give an impression of enormous spontaneity, they were in fact painstakingly conceived in every small detail. He even once remarked that he simply could not leave to hazard the task of determining the number of chapters of a book. Talking about his first novel, Le Chiendent (usually translated as The Bark Tree), he pointed out that it had 91 sections, because 91 was the sum of the first 13 numbers, and also the product of two numbers he was particularly fond of: 7 and 13.

Reviews

[MJ Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

This charming and terminally out of print novella hails from Queneau’s more reflective, personal period: a piece in tandem with Odile and The Last Days. An unrequited love story set in a brutal Havre winter during the First World War, Queneau gives his unique spin on a hoary old tale with his signature witty dialogue, French eccentrics and sharp observations. I put in a request at both NYRB and Dalkey for this to be reprinted—so far no responses—so the future isn’t looking good for this little corker. On a par with his earlier wartime works, with its touching scenes and picturesque dialogues, it deserves a new readership among literate Americans. (Or Brits prepared to fork out P&P).

[George K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Βαρυχειμωνιά", εκδόσεις Γράμματα.

Το μακρινό 2011 διάβασα για πρώτη φορά βιβλίο του Ρεϊμόν Κενό, το καταπληκτικό και ιδιαίτερο "Ασκήσεις ύφους", ένα από τα πιο ξεχωριστά λογοτεχνικά έργα που μπορεί να διαβάσει ένας βιβλιόφιλος. Τόσα χρόνια, όμως, δεν έτυχε να διαβάσω κάτι άλλο δικό του, και ας έχω μαζέψει στο μεταξύ διάφορα βιβλία του. Αλλά είπα να διαβάσω τώρα ένα, επιλέγοντας το συγκεκριμένο μυθιστόρημα μικρής έκτασης: Τι ωραίο που ήταν! Δεν κράτησε πολλή ώρα η ανάγνωσή του, όμως κατάφερε να μου δημιουργήσει ποικίλα συναισθήματα και να με κάνει να ξεχαστώ. Η ιστορία διαδραματίζεται στη Χάβρη, κατά τη διάρκεια του Α' Π.Π., και επικεντρώνεται στην πεζή καθημερινότητα ενός κακόμοιρου τυπάκου, ενός βετεράνου και ήρωα πολέμου, που ζει μετά από χρόνια έναν έρωτα δίχως ανταπόκριση. Η ιστορία είναι μελαγχολική και ευχάριστη συνάμα, η ατμόσφαιρα εξαιρετική, οι χαρακτήρες αρκετά συμπαθητικοί. Η γραφή πολύ ωραία και ζωντανή, με λεπτό χιούμορ και σπιρτόζικους διαλόγους, σίγουρα κάνει τη διαφορά στο βιβλίο και απογειώνει μια κατά τ'άλλα απλή ιστορία. Προτείνεται για συγκεκριμένα γούστα.

[Andreas Selvig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the series read because it's set in Le Havre

[Fionnuala]

Early Queneau. Set in Le Havre during WWII. The main character is a rather tortured Hamlet-like character with a tragic past, a pessimistic present and a bright future with an adolescent called Annette who is like a cross between Zazie from Zazie dans le métro and Sally from Les oeuvres complètes de Sally Mara.

[Chequers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Che peccato non sapere il francese per leggere questo libro in lingua originale, sono sicura che avrei scoperto tanti giochi di parole che in italiano posso solo indovinare...
Malinconico ma non triste,questo romanzo e' molto breve (novella? Non ho mai capito bene la differenza) ma ci si trova tutta la leggiadra profondita' di Queneau, il suo umorismo cinico ma mai amaro e la sua scrittura che ti cattura e ti porta via.

[Agnieszka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5

[zbookami · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

jestem totalnie obojętna co do tej książki

[Justyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastyczne tłumaczenie + wspaniała proza

[Theut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho letto in giro che Bernard Lehameau viene visto come un personaggio antipatico, sgradevole. A me è sembrato un uomo solo, che ha costruito una corazza intorno a sè dopo la tragedia che l'ha colpito. Vuole essere visto come la persona fuori dal coro, irriverente, pessimista, distruttivo, non guardato con pietà.
Sarà che spesso ho trovato questo atteggiamento nelle persone che hanno sofferto.
Soprattutto è un uomo e, dopo 13 anni di gelo, si innamora, vive turbamenti "normali" e, quando incontra una spia, si comporta da buon cittadino.

"Gli sembra che la vettura debba percorrere uno dopo l'altro ogni singolo punto dello spazio e perciò rimanga immobile nel centro del buio."

Qualcosa in lui si sblocca e da' un nuovo impulso alla sua vita, una direzione nuova, attiva.

PS Che strano leggere Queneau in italiano...

[Luc De Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Un rude Hiver" has great literary qualities. Not too much of a story but high intensity: Bernard Lehameau (Hamlet!) is a civil servant coping with personal drama (wife lost in a fire) and historic drama (wounded in World War I battle). Some walks, some family dinners a few visits to the shop and one to the cinema is sufficient to paint his social setting, the tragedy of his life and the renewed awakening of his desires after his decade of widowershood.

The language is rich, concentrated, creative and not always an easy read. Sentences are surprising and playful. There is much much more than just the words, but you cannot really point your finger to it. Is that not a good definition of literature?

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

i got this from ILL, form Annandale on Hudson ny. hah
1st off, this was much easier for me to read and be comfortable with than Children of Clay , though not sure why exactly. but this Hard Winter was the perfect little story for one who always roots for the misanthrope and Lahameau; sneering, haughty, wounded vet, horny as hell, stuck in fucking Havre, gets what all sociopaths hope for, on top and the girl. I like Queneau's pre-oulipo better, bon.
note to Dalkey: you MUST save this book!

[Sara Comuzzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

una storia affollata di personaggi e di uno stile sublime come è quello di Queneau.
un romanzo breve che si legge brevemente ma che non per questo lascia meno.
dà molto.

l'ambientazione è un paese francese, Le Havre, durante gli anni della prima guerra mondiale.
il protagonista, un soldato temporaneamente in congedo a causa di una ferita di guerra, vedovo e orfano a causa di un incendio, rifiuta l'amore. quando poi lo incontra, dopo ben 13 anni di solitudine, si accorge che è qualcosa di non rifiutabile a priori.

[Oğuzhan]

en beğendiğim kitaplardan birinin (iklimler) çevirmeni tahsin yücel. fakat bu kitabın içine girememe sebeplerimden birisi de çeviri gibi geliyor bana.

ayrıca sel yayıncılık bu kitabın arka kapağında kitaba dair hiç söz etmeyip, perec'in övgülerinden söz ediyorsa madem perec'in kitapla ilgili yazdıklarını da önsöz-sonsöz olarak ekleseymiş de ne bulduğunu tam olarak okuyabilseymişiz.

queneau tek kitabıyla gönlümüzde yer edecek yazarlardan.

[Ffiamma · Rating 4 out of 5]

un queneau triste, in fondo, nonostante i giochi linguistici che fanno ridere e che - purtroppo - in italiano spesso si indovinano soltanto.
il rude inverno di guerra vissuto dal disilluso bernard lehameau e dagli altri abitanti di le havre occupata dagli inglesi. quanta malinconia nonostante i sorrisi che strappa.

[Simona F. 'Free Palestine, Stop Genocide' · Rating 3 out of 5]

Che personaggio, Bernard Lehameau! Odia tutti quanti, odia il destino crudele che l'ha privato delle gioie familiari. Odia la guerra, gli inglesi e i francesi, i ricchi e i poveri. In realtà si tratta di un uomo semplicemente e desolatamente solo: dalla morte della moglie avvenuta 13 anni prima, più nessuno è entrato nel suo salotto. E quando il suo cuore si schiude nuovamente all'amore, allora sì che le cose cambiano e il "duro inverno" lascia presagire la prossima primavera della sua vita.

[Jesper Kamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

“en drukte zijn voorhoofd tegen het raam om in de nacht te kijken, en de duisternis hing aan de ramen in lange zwarte flarden waar de wind aan trok”

“De dame in kwestie is een grote, jonge, blinde meid nog maagd denk ik, met het zachte glanzende vel van een anglo-normandische vaars.”

“Twee schelpen vastgehecht aan dezelfde steen, hetzelfde stuk hout, een golf rukt er een weg en zie, de oceaan slokt hem op, zelf al hevht hoj zich aan een andere rots, een ander schip.”

[David Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice little story, really liked the atmosphere, especially in the very last scene. On the whole I’d say I prefer Queneau’s more serious and poetic tone. Curious what Witch Grass will bring.

[Gabin Chapellier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une des premières œuvre de l’auteur, du pur Queneau.

[عمرو العروسي]

مراجعة رواية (شتاء قاسي) لـ (ريمون كنو)

حياة "برنارد ليمنو" هي مآساة حقيقية، فقد فقد عائلته وزوجته في حادثة حريق منذ 13 عاماً مضت، وهو الآن مصاب منذ سنتين في قدمه أثر مشاركته في أحداث الحرب العالمية الأولى عندما حارب في صفوف الجيوش الفرنسية، "برنارد" الآن يعيش في فرنسا وفقاً لروتين محفوظ... فقد تم تعيينه موظفاً بسيطاً رفقاً بإصابته، وكان يذهب من بعد العمل إلى حانوت لبيع الكتب " ليثرثر مع صاحبته العجوز لبعض الوقت مدام ديبلانشيت" وفي العادة يذهب بعدها لزيارة أخيه الأكبر "سيناتور ليمنو" وزوجته "تريز".

في أحد الأيام يلتقي "برنارد" بطفل "بول" 09 عام وطفله "أنيت" 15 عام، وعندما يتكرر اللقاء يلفت الأطفال نظره ويحاول التقرب إليهم مدفوعاً بوحدته وشعوره بالحنين لعائلته الأولى، وبالفعل يصطحب الطفلين مرات إلى السنيما ليروح عنهما، رغم أن حادثة الحريق التي حدثت لعائلته قبل أعوام كانت في السنيما، يلتقي "برنارد" خلال ذلك بـ "ميلينا" الأخت الكبرى "لبول" و"أنيت".

تقع الطفلة "أنيت" في حب "برنارد" الذي بقى بلا زوجه طوال الفترة الماضية، لكنه يقع في حب فتاة انجليزية اسمها "هيلينا" تعمل في أحد المعسكرات الأنجليزية ويوضح لـ "أنيت" أنه يحبها هي و"بول" حباً أبوياً، كانت "هيلينا" تبادل "برنارد" الحب لكنها لم تكن تراه زوجاص، وعندما كانا يمارسان الحب، طلبت منه أن تحتفظ بعذريتها لزوجها القادم، وبعد أشهر... قررت "هيلينا" الرجوع إلى انجلترا مما حط "برنارد" تماماً.

في لحظة يائسة مارس "برنارد" الحب مع "ميلينا" الأخت الكبرى للطفلين، فقد كانت "ميلينا" فتاة ليل وداخلها قدر من الإعجاب ببرنارد، فهل ستعود "هيلينا" إلى فرنسا مرة أخرى؟ من الفتاة التي سيختارها "برنارد" لتكون زوجته؟ وما مصير "برنارد" المتشائم دائماً والذي يشعر بنغص الحياة في كل يوم؟

تدور أحداث الرواية في عام 1916 في أحد المقاطعات الفرنسية خلال شتاء قاتم وقاسي، ونعرف من خلال الأحداث بعض تفاصيل الحرب العالمية الأولى، وكيف كان ينظر الناس لها وكيف كانت العلاقات بين الدول.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens in the story, has an atmosphere of melancholy. It is winter, it is cold, the conversations don’t have a gentle flow, mostly. The relations don’t have souple developments.
The way the story is told has a lighthearted tendency, spiced with wit, which has a source in linguistic twists, sometimes on the plot level, too. And there is a tenderness in the way the main character handles situations, the way he acts and thinks about the people for which he has positive feelings.
Not a masterpiece, but far more than mediocre, a very pleasant read, a special treat. JM

[Lukáš Palán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Útlá knížečka od muže, jehož jméno dokážu vyslovit a napsat jen po dvanácti becherovkách. Tentokrát klasické dilema muže: mám penis a chci klátit anglickou buchtičku, ale ona nechce. THE DRAMA.

Možná anglická buchtička pochopila, že ten francouzský veterán je tak trochu pedofil, protože kdo jinej by se začal v tramvaji bavit s děckama a pak je vodil do kina. Kdo vůbec mluví s dětma? A proč? V sexu jim to moc nejde a v hospodě za ně člověk musí všechno platit, páč nevydělávaj. Otřesný lidi.

Jak to dopadne a jestli je v knize nějaký hip hap hop, to vám samozřejmě neprozradím.

7/10

[Laginestra]

"A che serve odiarlo. Non sono certo uno di quelli che si stupiscono perché in natura ci sono anche scorpioni e pidocchi".
Nulla sembra accadere eppure tutto muta, lentamente celato nelle romanzesche rime di Queneau. E alla conclusione del percorso ci si libera dalla malattia dello spirito, dall'odio per la vita. Si apprende ad affrontare il rude inverno, l'amore, la guerra, la "necessità del dolore".

[Auntie Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

era davvero tanto che non ridavo 5 stelle ad un libro. Se pensate che questo libro è stato scritto nel 1939 vi renderete conto che è davvero futuristico. I pensieri del protagonista sono davvero rivoluzionari per l'epoca. E' un libro che va letto e riletto tra le righe. Qui si possono trovare molti spunti di riflessione sulla guerra, lo spionaggio, l'amore e il perbenismo dell'epoca. Non mancano note piccanti che non avrei mai pensato di torvare!

[CharlieC · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'écriture de Queneau est reconnaissable entre mille et elle amène cette folie à une histoire qui ne semble pas y être propice (la guerre, le Havre, ...). C'est donc cette écriture qui pour moi fait l'intérêt du roman tant il y a de trouvailles stylistiques, un surréalisme qui irrigue une période bien trop souvent réaliste et un amour du non sens et de la non utilité.

[mihusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ciekawy efekt, wrażenie gęstości powieściowej narracji uzyskany został w książce serią zabiegów stylistycznych, fonetycznych, narracyjnych. Niby błaha fabuła z romansem, rekonwalescencją, wojennym życiem miasta, ale po lekturze pozostaje wrażenie intensywności, rozedrgania i trochę neurozy. Książka interesująca i warta polecania, jako próba oddania stylem wojennego "życia na niby".

[Brent Legault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si amer, si malin, si bizarre. Et porquoi Hamlet? Et porquoi toutes les choses?

[Geoff]

Will I have to attempt to read this in French? Because there seems to be zero translations around for me to get my hands on. I think also that reading Queneau in French may be beyond my skill set.

[Smog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man afflicted by a loss distant in time and by the stupidity of his contemporaries holds them in contempt. A mix of solitude, confusion, and desire shakes him, bringing his life to a point akin to a "Hard Winter". I greatly appreciated the elitist-style dialogues, but I wasn't fond of the protagonist's occasionally erratic behavior. Not that i don't appreciated erratic behaviors in general, but i didn't like this one specifically. He who is "normally" somewhat aloof ends up regressing deeply (and abnormally) into worldly affairs.
Anyway, good book.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

La vicenda si svolge a Le Havre nell’inverno del 1916, in piena prima guerra mondiale. Bernard Lehameau è un tenente in congedo temporaneo a causa di una ferita. E’ ormai da 13 anni che vive in solitudine, dopo la tragica morte della moglie, ma qualcosa forse cambierà. Sarebbe una storia grigia in un inverno di pioggia, vento e neve, ma la penna di Queneau l’avvolge di effervescenza con il suo stile unico. Mi è piaciuto moltissimo e lo consiglio.

[Searchingthemeaningoflife Greece · Rating 5 out of 5]

[...]Εγώ την αγαπώ, μουρμούρισε. Σ' ένα μήνα όμως η αγάπη αυτή θα 'χει πεθάνει. Θα 'χει φθαρεί. Θα χωριστούμε, θα χαθούμε ο ένας για τον άλλο. Κι όλα θα 'χουν τελειώσει. Άναψε κάπου μία πυρκαγιά και απλώνεται και δυναμώνει και καίει, και κατακαίει, ό,τι βρει στο δρόμο της. Λιώνει τους αρμούς και εξαρθρώνει ό,τι δεν είναι ακέραιο, το κομματιάζει... Τα φτηνά, ψεύτικα μέταλλα λιώνουν αμέσως, τ'άλλα όμως θ' ατσαλωθούν. Ίσως. Είναι μεγάλη πυρκαγιά, ξέρετε, Τερέζ.[...]