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Το έγκλημα του Συλβέστρου Μποννάρ
"Βρισκόμαστε στη γη για να απολαμβάνουμε το ωραίο και το καλό και να κάνουμε τα κέφια μας όταν είναι ευγενικά, πνευματικά και γόνιμα", διακήρυσσε με έμφαση ο Συλβέστρος Μποννάρ. Η ανιδιοτελής στοργή του ήρωα ενός ιδιότυπου "εγκλήματος", το οποίο αποκαλύπτει στον αναγνώστη τις πιο ευγενικές πτυχές της ανθρώπινης συνείδησης.
Στο έγκλημα του Συλβέστρου Μποννάρ, ο Ανατόλ Φρανς αποκαλύπτει την τέχνη του και προσφέρει ό,τι σε μεταγενέστερα έργα του αγαπήθηκε και αγαπιέται: τη γοητεία, η οποία γεννιέται από τ αδέλφωμα του χιούμορ, της ευαισθησίας, της φωτεινής απλότητας και της οξύτατης αίσθησης της ζωής.
Στο έγκλημα του Συλβέστρου Μποννάρ, ο Ανατόλ Φρανς αποκαλύπτει την τέχνη του και προσφέρει ό,τι σε μεταγενέστερα έργα του αγαπήθηκε και αγαπιέται: τη γοητεία, η οποία γεννιέται από τ αδέλφωμα του χιούμορ, της ευαισθησίας, της φωτεινής απλότητας και της οξύτατης αίσθησης της ζωής.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1881
56 people are currently reading
1372 people want to read
About the author
Anatole France
1,624 books558 followersFrench 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 1, 2025
I needed this kind of therapy - reading a book like 'The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard'.
It is a gentle, ironic, and deeply humane story told by a famous aging philologist and member of the Institute in his diary. It reveals a kind, simple, and humble man detached from worldly ambition yet profoundly aware of human frailty. One day Bonnard's quiet devotion to books, learning and philosophical reflection are disturbed by an unexpected call to action. So he has to commit 'a crime', in other words, an act of moral courage.
I think most of us would like to have one or two 'Sylvestre Bonnards' around us.
'I live surrounded by my books, which are more agreeable than most people. They speak only when I desire it, and they keep silence when I wish them to.'
------------------------------------------------------------------
'To be kind is sometimes more difficult than to be wise, but it is always better.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Books are the mirror of the soul: we find in them only what we already possess within ourselves.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Her eyes were bright with the trust of one who has suffered. I felt that to protect her would be to repair all the injustices of my long inaction.'
----------------------------------------------------------------
'To laugh at oneself is the beginning of wisdom; to laugh kindly at others is the end of it.'
It is a gentle, ironic, and deeply humane story told by a famous aging philologist and member of the Institute in his diary. It reveals a kind, simple, and humble man detached from worldly ambition yet profoundly aware of human frailty. One day Bonnard's quiet devotion to books, learning and philosophical reflection are disturbed by an unexpected call to action. So he has to commit 'a crime', in other words, an act of moral courage.
I think most of us would like to have one or two 'Sylvestre Bonnards' around us.
'I live surrounded by my books, which are more agreeable than most people. They speak only when I desire it, and they keep silence when I wish them to.'
------------------------------------------------------------------
'To be kind is sometimes more difficult than to be wise, but it is always better.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Books are the mirror of the soul: we find in them only what we already possess within ourselves.'
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'Her eyes were bright with the trust of one who has suffered. I felt that to protect her would be to repair all the injustices of my long inaction.'
----------------------------------------------------------------
'To laugh at oneself is the beginning of wisdom; to laugh kindly at others is the end of it.'
May 30, 2014
Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard, a member of The Institute, a philologist who in the twilight of his years lives in a City of Books accompanied by his condescending cat, Hamilcar, and Therese, his adroit and remarkably annoying house help, finds himself committing a crime. And you wonder, what crime he did commit? He commits two actually, both of which stems from love. The former impelled by the haunting quest for redemption of a failed unrequited love, the latter, inevitably constrained by a passion unmatched. Of the two, he was not indicted for the former, and I am sure you will understand and forgive the latter, as I did.
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard is divided into two stories, The Log and Daughter of Clementine, both presented as Bonnard's diary entries. The entries are intermittently recorded, sometimes years apart. In both stories, Bonnard is the central character, and the connection in the stories are subtly and beautifully formed.
Of all of France's works I've had the pleasure of reading so far, I've come to appreciateThe Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard the most. The differences were readily apparent. Bonnard is a warm and gentle kind man. He was not cynical, only true and honest. He wore his heart on his sleeves. "Then he said to her that the troubles in which we often involve ourselves, by trying to act according to our conscience and to do the best we can, are never of the sort that totally dishearten and weary us, but are, on the contrary wholesome trials."(148) The profound human sympathy and grace France is known for defines this book. It was poignant and beautiful, down from the vivid imagery he employed up to the ruminations in life, but still remaining to be critical without any hint of naivety just as he did on his later works. France's development as an author and a person is evident in this work too. Written earlier in his career in 1881 compared to Penguin Island and The Revolt of the Angels written in 1908 and 1912 respectively, both books the majority of which are criticisms on the church and of faith in the divine, The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard professes however a faith in the church, and France even goes so far as ending this work by leaving a blessing in the name of God! It is so evident that what faith he had lost through those intervening years was still there. And it is interesting and amazing to experience a writer change and develop, and at times contradict himself, almost like how the young Nietzsche is so different to the old Nietzsche. And I like this kind and warm story, it makes you appreciate life.
Other Books by Anatole France:
Revolt of the Angels(4 Stars)
Penguin Island (3 Stars)
This book forms part of my remarkably extensive reading list on Nobel Prize for Literature Awardees
This review along with my other reviews has been cross-posted at
imbookedindefinitely
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard is divided into two stories, The Log and Daughter of Clementine, both presented as Bonnard's diary entries. The entries are intermittently recorded, sometimes years apart. In both stories, Bonnard is the central character, and the connection in the stories are subtly and beautifully formed.
Of all of France's works I've had the pleasure of reading so far, I've come to appreciateThe Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard the most. The differences were readily apparent. Bonnard is a warm and gentle kind man. He was not cynical, only true and honest. He wore his heart on his sleeves. "Then he said to her that the troubles in which we often involve ourselves, by trying to act according to our conscience and to do the best we can, are never of the sort that totally dishearten and weary us, but are, on the contrary wholesome trials."(148) The profound human sympathy and grace France is known for defines this book. It was poignant and beautiful, down from the vivid imagery he employed up to the ruminations in life, but still remaining to be critical without any hint of naivety just as he did on his later works. France's development as an author and a person is evident in this work too. Written earlier in his career in 1881 compared to Penguin Island and The Revolt of the Angels written in 1908 and 1912 respectively, both books the majority of which are criticisms on the church and of faith in the divine, The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard professes however a faith in the church, and France even goes so far as ending this work by leaving a blessing in the name of God! It is so evident that what faith he had lost through those intervening years was still there. And it is interesting and amazing to experience a writer change and develop, and at times contradict himself, almost like how the young Nietzsche is so different to the old Nietzsche. And I like this kind and warm story, it makes you appreciate life.
Other Books by Anatole France:
Revolt of the Angels(4 Stars)
Penguin Island (3 Stars)
This book forms part of my remarkably extensive reading list on Nobel Prize for Literature Awardees
This review along with my other reviews has been cross-posted at
imbookedindefinitely
July 14, 2007
I remember picking this book at random from my local library. I can still see it on the shelf. I wasn't much of a reader at the time, but I liked the paper and font. It was old and felt good in my hands. It was the first American edition. I began to read and was instantly swept up in France's description of the protagonist's "City of Books" (his living room) and the second-hand booksellers on the quay. It was a beautiful story, visually evocative. I am sure it lit some sort of fire for me, a love of books that has never left. I was a late starter. Ever since, I feel I've been playing catch-up: there are so many books to read - so many I want to read - I'll never read them all.
This book changed my life, although I didn't know it at the time. It led me on a path to my current profession and to this moment right here, right now, writing this review. It did it subtly, not like a bolt of lightning.
If you read this book, be sure to get a nice old edition from the library or a used book dealer, not a modern paperback or reprint. Make sure the copy you read is from the 19th century. You'll be transported back in time.
This book changed my life, although I didn't know it at the time. It led me on a path to my current profession and to this moment right here, right now, writing this review. It did it subtly, not like a bolt of lightning.
If you read this book, be sure to get a nice old edition from the library or a used book dealer, not a modern paperback or reprint. Make sure the copy you read is from the 19th century. You'll be transported back in time.
December 16, 2021
I don't remember when the last time was that I enjoyed a book as much as this. This is the story of a gentle old man who has devoted his life to the study of books until circumstances disrupt his non-eventful life. This was evidently Anatole France's first novel. He, up to this point, was known only as a poet, but he didn't leave poetry far behind. His prose was written in an absolutely beautiful elegant poetic style. There were numerous memorable passages but one I particularly liked was:
"What a lot of books!" she acreamed. "And have you really read them all, Monsieur Bonnard?"
"Alas! I have," I replied, "and that is just the reason that I do not know anything; for there is not a single one of those books which does not contradict some other book; so that by the time one has read them all one does not know what to think about anything. That is just my condition, Madame."
Truly a sentiment that any bookworm can identify with.
"What a lot of books!" she acreamed. "And have you really read them all, Monsieur Bonnard?"
"Alas! I have," I replied, "and that is just the reason that I do not know anything; for there is not a single one of those books which does not contradict some other book; so that by the time one has read them all one does not know what to think about anything. That is just my condition, Madame."
Truly a sentiment that any bookworm can identify with.
December 17, 2016
"Όλες οι αλλαγές, ακόμα κι αυτές που τις ποθούμε τόσο πολύ, έχουνε την μελαγχολία τους. Γιατί ό,τι αφήνουμε πίσω μας είναι ένα κομμάτι του εαυτού μας. Πρέπει να πεθάνουμε στη μια ζωή για να μπούμε σε μια άλλη."
Ένα μικρό, ευχάριστο και γλυκό βιβλίο!
Ένα μικρό, ευχάριστο και γλυκό βιβλίο!
December 6, 2018
B.R.A.CE. 2018 4 βιβλία με όνομα στον τίτλο
(2/4)
Αυτό το βιβλίο μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί γλυκό κι ευχάριστο!
Οι σκέψεις ενός ηλικιωμένου λόγιου σχετικά με το έργο του, τους ανθρώπους και την Ιωάννα, εγγονή της αγαπημένης Κλημεντίνης που ποτέ δεν προχώρησε μαζί της.
Όλοι οι χαρακτήρες εμφανίζονται μπροστά σου και οι σκέψεις του Συλβέστρου σου αφήνουν ένα χαμόγελο καθώς διαβάζεις.
Ηλικιωμένος και "σκονισμένος", αλλά τόσο μπροστά και τόσο ενεργητικός!
Αυτό το βιβλίο μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί γλυκό κι ευχάριστο!
Οι σκέψεις ενός ηλικιωμένου λόγιου σχετικά με το έργο του, τους ανθρώπους και την Ιωάννα, εγγονή της αγαπημένης Κλημεντίνης που ποτέ δεν προχώρησε μαζί της.
Όλοι οι χαρακτήρες εμφανίζονται μπροστά σου και οι σκέψεις του Συλβέστρου σου αφήνουν ένα χαμόγελο καθώς διαβάζεις.
Ηλικιωμένος και "σκονισμένος", αλλά τόσο μπροστά και τόσο ενεργητικός!
October 30, 2020
Rögtön avval, hogy kiknek is ajánlanám: ún. eszképista olvasóknak.
Az élet mondatja ezt velem, mit tagadjam, magam is menekülőre fogtam, ezért olvastam el. Leemeltem a kiskönyvtár kis polcáról egy könyvet, mert meglepett, nem tudtam, mi lehet az, holott minden könyvről tudok a kiskönyvtárban, a kék gerincen nem látszott a szerző és a cím. De már eleve ezek a kötések! 1969-es kiadás, keményfedeles, abba a jellegzetes vászonba, vagy mibe bújtatva, Európa, Anatole France válogatott regényei, valami sorozat ez. Ez az első benn', Bonnard Szilveszter vétke, nem Sylvetre Bonnard-é.
Miért nyúlok ilyen könyvekhez? France igen jegyzett szerző, kíváncsiság. Aztán meg, zaklatott a lét, Höss emlékiratai, Beckett posztmodern-posztapokaliptikus látomásai, kortárs francia drámák, a 19. századi Oroszország leírása – és ezekhez a Fb kommentjei – mármint nem ezekről, de akár ezekről is szólhatnának – vagy szólnak is. Ebből a pokolból kellett menekülnöm, a mozdulat, ahogy levettem a polcról tk. nem is egy könyv leemelése, hanem egy könyvbe kapaszkodás.
Észrevette-e olvasóm, hogy ha elcsemegézhet egy-egy sokadik generációs polgárcsalád könyvtárában, azt találja, hogy a könyvek zöme a hatvanas és hetvenes évekből való? Vannak persze korábbiak is, de, nekem úgy tűnik, nem vásárolhattak olyan mennyiségben könyveket a háború előtt, mint egy kevéssel utána. És ezek a könyvek sokszor még hordozzák a könyvek korábbi eleganciáját, ugyanakkor a betűtípus, a szedés és tán a nyelvezet is már modern, átvezet a mába. Alapos okom van feltételezni, hogy a könyvnyomtatás csúcsidőszaka mennyiségi és minőségi téren az ötvenes és hatvanas évekre esik nálunk.
Megnyugtató volt olvasni. Mikszáthot ilyen olvasni, legalábbis nekem. Hangulatra Mikszáth és Jókai közé teszem, békebeli még a rossz is. Itt meg a rossz konkrétan angyali, és ez a rossz a legrafináltabb az egészben – az egészben, ami egy öregember naplója, és valójában két történet egymás mellé téve. Bonnard Sziveszter kissé elgyengül, kissé enged az érzelmeinek, nem vallja be magának sem, miről van szó, édes egy pofa, árad belőle az a valami, amit humanizmusnak neveznek, de, lehet, France-ból árad, hozzá kedves humor – a jelek szerint ezekre lehetett szükségem.
Az élet mondatja ezt velem, mit tagadjam, magam is menekülőre fogtam, ezért olvastam el. Leemeltem a kiskönyvtár kis polcáról egy könyvet, mert meglepett, nem tudtam, mi lehet az, holott minden könyvről tudok a kiskönyvtárban, a kék gerincen nem látszott a szerző és a cím. De már eleve ezek a kötések! 1969-es kiadás, keményfedeles, abba a jellegzetes vászonba, vagy mibe bújtatva, Európa, Anatole France válogatott regényei, valami sorozat ez. Ez az első benn', Bonnard Szilveszter vétke, nem Sylvetre Bonnard-é.
Miért nyúlok ilyen könyvekhez? France igen jegyzett szerző, kíváncsiság. Aztán meg, zaklatott a lét, Höss emlékiratai, Beckett posztmodern-posztapokaliptikus látomásai, kortárs francia drámák, a 19. századi Oroszország leírása – és ezekhez a Fb kommentjei – mármint nem ezekről, de akár ezekről is szólhatnának – vagy szólnak is. Ebből a pokolból kellett menekülnöm, a mozdulat, ahogy levettem a polcról tk. nem is egy könyv leemelése, hanem egy könyvbe kapaszkodás.
Észrevette-e olvasóm, hogy ha elcsemegézhet egy-egy sokadik generációs polgárcsalád könyvtárában, azt találja, hogy a könyvek zöme a hatvanas és hetvenes évekből való? Vannak persze korábbiak is, de, nekem úgy tűnik, nem vásárolhattak olyan mennyiségben könyveket a háború előtt, mint egy kevéssel utána. És ezek a könyvek sokszor még hordozzák a könyvek korábbi eleganciáját, ugyanakkor a betűtípus, a szedés és tán a nyelvezet is már modern, átvezet a mába. Alapos okom van feltételezni, hogy a könyvnyomtatás csúcsidőszaka mennyiségi és minőségi téren az ötvenes és hatvanas évekre esik nálunk.
Megnyugtató volt olvasni. Mikszáthot ilyen olvasni, legalábbis nekem. Hangulatra Mikszáth és Jókai közé teszem, békebeli még a rossz is. Itt meg a rossz konkrétan angyali, és ez a rossz a legrafináltabb az egészben – az egészben, ami egy öregember naplója, és valójában két történet egymás mellé téve. Bonnard Sziveszter kissé elgyengül, kissé enged az érzelmeinek, nem vallja be magának sem, miről van szó, édes egy pofa, árad belőle az a valami, amit humanizmusnak neveznek, de, lehet, France-ból árad, hozzá kedves humor – a jelek szerint ezekre lehetett szükségem.
August 4, 2020
3,5* Viết theo lối classic thôi câu chuyện không có gì đặc biệt thú vị cả. Anw kiến thức của tác giả sâu sắc (nhưng khác nền văn hóa nên đọc cũng không thấy hấp dẫn lắm). Có vài ý tưởng hay (nhưng đã biết cả rồi). Ban đầu đọc hơi chán nhưng về sau cũng ngộ. Viết hơi giống Hesse nhưng xấu tính hơn =))) Bản dịch (hoặc do làm ebook) rất lởm, đọc bực mình. Tóm lại là Anatole France nên đọc cho biết, không đến nỗi mất thời gian.
January 9, 2016
19 AUG 2014 -- I will be reading this from Project Gutenberg; however, I like this cover better.
Anyway, please find a free Project Gutenberg download here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2123/2...
Or, Manybooks.net download here:
http://manybooks.net/titles/franceane...
4 JAN 2016 - Therese to Monsieur upon his announcement he will be travelling to Sicily:
"By the way, Theresa, I am going to Sicily."
***
"Well, then go, Monsieur," she answered at last, "only be back here by six o'clock! There is a dish for dinner today which will not wait for anybody."
9 JAN 2016 - Gosh; I enjoyed this story a lit! It was sweet and sentimental without being overly so. Mr Bonnard is a gem. And, the "crime" in the title is left for the reader to decide.
Anyway, please find a free Project Gutenberg download here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2123/2...
Or, Manybooks.net download here:
http://manybooks.net/titles/franceane...
4 JAN 2016 - Therese to Monsieur upon his announcement he will be travelling to Sicily:
"By the way, Theresa, I am going to Sicily."
***
"Well, then go, Monsieur," she answered at last, "only be back here by six o'clock! There is a dish for dinner today which will not wait for anybody."
9 JAN 2016 - Gosh; I enjoyed this story a lit! It was sweet and sentimental without being overly so. Mr Bonnard is a gem. And, the "crime" in the title is left for the reader to decide.
February 6, 2015
Great writing! I loved the title character, Sylvestre Bonnard.
February 6, 2015
This book is characterized by a certain sweetness. Its author, Anatole France, was only in his thirties when he undertook to write The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard about an old bachelor who is a philologist and an honored member of the Academie Francaise.
What we have here are two stories, both about Bonnard's sentimental attempts to help much younger damsels in distress. The first is the widow of an impoverished bookseller, who later marries a Russian nobleman and helps Bonnard obtain a treasured manuscript he had been searching for. In the second, he finds the daughter of the girl whom he had loved as a child, and who is cruelly suppressed by an evil guardian and one Mlle Prefere, who persecutes the young girl at her school as a charity case.
At one point, the young girl and her schoolmistress are invited to M Bonnard's flat:
What we have here are two stories, both about Bonnard's sentimental attempts to help much younger damsels in distress. The first is the widow of an impoverished bookseller, who later marries a Russian nobleman and helps Bonnard obtain a treasured manuscript he had been searching for. In the second, he finds the daughter of the girl whom he had loved as a child, and who is cruelly suppressed by an evil guardian and one Mlle Prefere, who persecutes the young girl at her school as a charity case.
At one point, the young girl and her schoolmistress are invited to M Bonnard's flat:
"What a lot of books!" [Mlle Prefere] screamed. "And have you really read them all, Monsieur Bonnard?"The novel's sentimentality is laid on a bit thick at times, but the old man's sincerity and goodness makes it come out all right in the end.
"Alas! I have," I replied, "and that is just the reason that I do not know anything; for there is not a single one of those books which does not contradict some other book; so that by the time one has read them all one does not know what to think about anything."
Want to read
February 18, 2015
Read HereOpening: PART I—THE LOG: December 24, 1849: I had put on my slippers and my dressing-gown. I wiped away a tear with which the north wind blowing over the quay had obscured my vision. A bright fire was leaping in the chimney of my study. Ice-crystals, shaped like fern-leaves, were sprouting over the windowpanes and concealed from me the Seine with its bridges and the Louvre of the Valois.
I drew up my easy-chair to the hearth, and my table-volante, and took up so much of my place by the fire as Hamilcar deigned to allow me. Hamilcar was lying in front of the andirons, curled up on a cushion, with his nose between his paws. His think find fur rose and fell with his regular breathing. At my coming, he slowly slipped a glance of his agate eyes at me from between his half-opened lids, which he closed again almost at once, thinking to himself, "It is nothing; it is only my friend."
Is 'think find fur' supposed to be: 'thick, fine fur'? Looks as if this Gutenberg file needs some work.
April 13, 2009
I haven't met a fictional character more gentle since dear Miss Matty in Cranford. The chief pleasure of the book's title is to speculate on what sort of crime such a kindly old gentleman could commit. It will not spoil your pleasure in guessing to tell you that he actually commits two: one act that is a crime in the eyes of the world and another self-confessed crime, which I am sure you will understand and forgive. You will forgive, I think, because just reading about the possibility of such a good nature is bound to inspire your own better feelings.
June 13, 2017
Thanks Aida, for recommending this book to me. It was an enjoyable read!
Want to read
May 21, 2014Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
March 17, 2025
An older man who devoted his life to books experiences some events which bring him much unexpected joy and a sense of purpose to his life.
It's so twee I want to puke. Terrifying till the end. Do not read in the dark or when alone or have a history of heart problems.
It's so twee I want to puke. Terrifying till the end. Do not read in the dark or when alone or have a history of heart problems.
Want to read
January 8, 2026Unannotated Book in F. Scott Fitzgerald's College of One
November 13, 2022
My comments in video: https://youtu.be/oQJLNP-x_3w
Contrast of life and books. Quixote of history.
The book presents us with the intimate thoughts of an academic, scholar of history, who opens his heart to us through his diary. The two parts show us the kind heart of the scholar, and his relationship with magic and imagination, despite his serious profession. This Quixote, knight-lover of history is going to criticize history books with reflections very similar to those I have previously made in "What is history?" by Edward Carr, and also other relationships with other readings, such as "When life begins" by Bunin, and "Barry Lyndon" by Thackeray, where we recognize the existence of fictional characters with greater importance than the innumerable real anonymous ones, the great metaphor of furniture, and philanthropy that is often not valued because in human justice we stick more to juridical and legal forms than to intentions. I hope you leave me your comments.
Contraste de la vida y los libros. Quijote de la historia.
El libro nos presenta los pensamientos íntimos de un académico, erudito de la historia, que nos abre su corazón a través de su diario. Las dos partes nos muestran el corazón bondadoso del académico, y su relación con la magia y la imaginación, a pesar de su profesión tan seria. Este Quijote, caballero-amante de la historia va a realizar críticas a los libros de historia con reflexiones muy similares a las que he realizado anteriormente en "Qué es la historia?" de Edward Carr, y también otras relaciones con otras lecturas, como "Cuando la vida empieza" de Bunin, y "Barry Lyndon" de Thackeray, donde reconocemos la existencia de los personajes ficticios con mayor trascendencia que los innumerables anónimos reales, la gran metáfora de los muebles, y la filantropía que muchas veces no se valora pues en la justicia humana nos apegamos más a las formas jurídicas y legales que a las intenciones. Espero que me dejen sus comentarios.
Contrast of life and books. Quixote of history.
The book presents us with the intimate thoughts of an academic, scholar of history, who opens his heart to us through his diary. The two parts show us the kind heart of the scholar, and his relationship with magic and imagination, despite his serious profession. This Quixote, knight-lover of history is going to criticize history books with reflections very similar to those I have previously made in "What is history?" by Edward Carr, and also other relationships with other readings, such as "When life begins" by Bunin, and "Barry Lyndon" by Thackeray, where we recognize the existence of fictional characters with greater importance than the innumerable real anonymous ones, the great metaphor of furniture, and philanthropy that is often not valued because in human justice we stick more to juridical and legal forms than to intentions. I hope you leave me your comments.
Contraste de la vida y los libros. Quijote de la historia.
El libro nos presenta los pensamientos íntimos de un académico, erudito de la historia, que nos abre su corazón a través de su diario. Las dos partes nos muestran el corazón bondadoso del académico, y su relación con la magia y la imaginación, a pesar de su profesión tan seria. Este Quijote, caballero-amante de la historia va a realizar críticas a los libros de historia con reflexiones muy similares a las que he realizado anteriormente en "Qué es la historia?" de Edward Carr, y también otras relaciones con otras lecturas, como "Cuando la vida empieza" de Bunin, y "Barry Lyndon" de Thackeray, donde reconocemos la existencia de los personajes ficticios con mayor trascendencia que los innumerables anónimos reales, la gran metáfora de los muebles, y la filantropía que muchas veces no se valora pues en la justicia humana nos apegamos más a las formas jurídicas y legales que a las intenciones. Espero que me dejen sus comentarios.
March 11, 2020
Αυτή είναι λογοτεχνία.!! Κρίμα που είναι εξαντλημένο. Θα το ήθελα στη βιβλιοθήκη μου.Το διάβασα από τη δημοτική μας βιβλιοθήκη κ ήταν έκδοση του 1984 από τον Ψυχογιό.....
December 12, 2020
Ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα. Σε κάποια σημεία (στην αρχή κυρίως) λίγο βαρετό, σε άλλα σημεία στα όρια του ποιητικού. Μία όμορφη ματιά στη Γαλλία - και όχι μόνο - του 2ου μισού του 19ου αιώνα.
December 3, 2021
هذا ما اسميه تحفة فنية
و رغم ما فعلته النسخة العربية بهذه التحفة الفنية -الاخطاء المطبعية التي تكاد لا تخلوا منها صفحة و الاخطاء التحريرية- ففصول الكتاب مقسمة على ايام مسيو بورنارد من العام ١٨٥٩ الى العام ١٨٧٩- و كثيرا ما تجد خطأ في كتابة الاعوام فتقفز للامام ثم تعود للوراء و هكذا- اقول رغم هذه المذبحة المطبعية العربية الا انها لم تفقد الكتاب جوهره و ظل كتابا اخاذا
يغزل اناتول فرانس تابلوة من دانتيل و ساتان و شيفون و قطيفة و حرير و و خيوط ذهب و فضة و ما ان ينتهي و تنظر اليه من بعيد حتى تقر عيناك و يذوب قلبك من الجمال
الكتاب مليئ بالموسيقا العذبة و العطور المنعشة و الزهور الجميلة و زقزقة الطيور المبهجة و رائحة الكتب و خفة الظل الطبيعية جدا غير المتكلفة -علاقة بورنار بمديرة منزلة تريز و بقطه و تعليقاته على بعض من يقابلهم لاول مرة الخ مع فقرات كاملة غاية في الطرافة و الانسيابية بطريقة مدهشة -فقرة الخلاف الطريف جدا الذي حاول سلفستر منعه بين خاله النابليوني للنخاع و والد الفتاة التي يهيم بها الملكي البوربوني الكارة لنابليون للنخاع ايضا و هو مما اختبرنا مثله في ظل ظروف اخرى بالطبع جميعا في اسرنا و بين معارفنا و لم يكن غالبا بهذه الطرافة المدهشة -
و فقرات تقطر عمق و شجن و حكمة كمشهد حديقة لوكسمبرج و تنصت بورنارد بدون قصد و استماعه لحديث طالبي التاريخ وطالب الطب
اناتول فرانس كتب كتابه هذا في شرخ الشباب و هو لم يكن كتابا عنه -كما فهم احد مترجمي الكتاب للعربية في مقدمته المتكلفة جدا للنسخة العربية - لم يكن متحدتا عن نفسه الاحرى متخيلا نفسه شيخا كبيرا و ما يتمنى ان يكون عليه في كبره حيث مدينة الكتب و السلام و المغامرات الصغيرة و جوائز السماء -و هو ما لم يحدثا في الواقع و الحقيقة في ظني !!!!
هذه الطبعة الاولى و يجب على مؤسسة النشر ان تصحح الاخطاء المطبعية و تظبط تحريره و ��اصة ان تاريخ الترجمة العربية -معقولة لحد ما-يعود لثلاثينيات القرن الماضي- !!!!
سابحث عن النسخة الانجليزية و اظن انه لو قدر لي قرائتها سيقفز التقييم حينئذ من ٣ الى ٥ نجوم
و رغم ما فعلته النسخة العربية بهذه التحفة الفنية -الاخطاء المطبعية التي تكاد لا تخلوا منها صفحة و الاخطاء التحريرية- ففصول الكتاب مقسمة على ايام مسيو بورنارد من العام ١٨٥٩ الى العام ١٨٧٩- و كثيرا ما تجد خطأ في كتابة الاعوام فتقفز للامام ثم تعود للوراء و هكذا- اقول رغم هذه المذبحة المطبعية العربية الا انها لم تفقد الكتاب جوهره و ظل كتابا اخاذا
يغزل اناتول فرانس تابلوة من دانتيل و ساتان و شيفون و قطيفة و حرير و و خيوط ذهب و فضة و ما ان ينتهي و تنظر اليه من بعيد حتى تقر عيناك و يذوب قلبك من الجمال
الكتاب مليئ بالموسيقا العذبة و العطور المنعشة و الزهور الجميلة و زقزقة الطيور المبهجة و رائحة الكتب و خفة الظل الطبيعية جدا غير المتكلفة -علاقة بورنار بمديرة منزلة تريز و بقطه و تعليقاته على بعض من يقابلهم لاول مرة الخ مع فقرات كاملة غاية في الطرافة و الانسيابية بطريقة مدهشة -فقرة الخلاف الطريف جدا الذي حاول سلفستر منعه بين خاله النابليوني للنخاع و والد الفتاة التي يهيم بها الملكي البوربوني الكارة لنابليون للنخاع ايضا و هو مما اختبرنا مثله في ظل ظروف اخرى بالطبع جميعا في اسرنا و بين معارفنا و لم يكن غالبا بهذه الطرافة المدهشة -
و فقرات تقطر عمق و شجن و حكمة كمشهد حديقة لوكسمبرج و تنصت بورنارد بدون قصد و استماعه لحديث طالبي التاريخ وطالب الطب
اناتول فرانس كتب كتابه هذا في شرخ الشباب و هو لم يكن كتابا عنه -كما فهم احد مترجمي الكتاب للعربية في مقدمته المتكلفة جدا للنسخة العربية - لم يكن متحدتا عن نفسه الاحرى متخيلا نفسه شيخا كبيرا و ما يتمنى ان يكون عليه في كبره حيث مدينة الكتب و السلام و المغامرات الصغيرة و جوائز السماء -و هو ما لم يحدثا في الواقع و الحقيقة في ظني !!!!
هذه الطبعة الاولى و يجب على مؤسسة النشر ان تصحح الاخطاء المطبعية و تظبط تحريره و ��اصة ان تاريخ الترجمة العربية -معقولة لحد ما-يعود لثلاثينيات القرن الماضي- !!!!
سابحث عن النسخة الانجليزية و اظن انه لو قدر لي قرائتها سيقفز التقييم حينئذ من ٣ الى ٥ نجوم
February 9, 2015
It is such a joy to read a work of the nineteenth century after a streak of current works. I admired the writing of Anatole France, his wit and his humour. I didn't care much about the story itself, yet I highlighted paragraphs which I am sure I will be revisiting to enjoy their humour and their brilliance
February 9, 2020
Ένα κείμενο γεμάτο συναίσθημα, πνεύμα και ψυχή. Ο ήρωας Συλβέστερ Μπονάρ μου θύμισε τον άνθρωπο Ουμπέρτο Έκο απλά σε μία άλλη εποχή, σε ένα άλλο κράτος, σε μικρότερο πιο ταπεινό σπίτι, με λιγότερες βιβλιοθήκες αλλά με το ίδιο πάθος για τα βιβλία. Ο Ανατόλ Φρανς είναι "τριφερός" συγγραφέας. Όχι ρομαντικός, τρυφερός. Έτσι ένιωσα.
October 23, 2013
Warm and fuzzy while somehow being simultaneously classical and austere. I probably missed something. The copy I read was old and pleasantly floppy and smelled really good.
September 18, 2022
Klassisk. Från flydda dar ...
April 5, 2021
Tytułowy bohater jest bibliofilem w podeszłym wieku, mieszkającym tylko ze służącą i kotem. W formie dziennika opisuje swoje perypetie w poszukiwaniu rzadkich średniowiecznych manuskryptów. Sylwester nigdy się nie ożenił. Jego miłość, Klementyna, zniknęła z jego życia gdy ojciec dziewczyny i jego wuj poróżnili się w kwestii oceny Napoleona Bonaparte. Po latach Sylwester poznaje niepełnoletnią wnuczkę Klementyny, która jest sierotą. Postanawia łożyć na jej wychowanie. Chęć zabezpieczenia dziewczyny oraz nieprzezwyciężalna pasja do ksiąg, doprowadzą go do tytułowej zbrodni. Nie jest to żadne przekroczenie prawa (chociaż tego też się dopuszcza dla dobra Joasi), tylko zbrodnia wyimaginowana. Zresztą większą część książki wypełniają przemyślenia i wewnętrzne monologi Sylwestra. Bardzo sympatyczna lektura.
February 12, 2025
لا تستحق الشهرة في رأيي.
الرواية (من ترجمة دار تبارك) ملييييئة بالأخطاء المطبعية و الإملائية من أول جملة إلى آخر جملة.
الرواية (من ترجمة دار تبارك) ملييييئة بالأخطاء المطبعية و الإملائية من أول جملة إلى آخر جملة.
December 27, 2022
I really loved this book, it's filled with so many valuable lessons and wise things said by Sylvestre Bonnard! The title of this book -THE CRIME OF SYLVESTRE BONNARD-, offers insight into the human condition, despite its remarkable portrait of the gentle bibliophile. The work continues to live primarily because it is a pleasant exploration of how to deal with life. It celebrates humanity with an amused tolerance of, and genial sympathy for, the pettiness to which people are all gullible. It suggests, above all, a belief in the human heart, which can, if properly exercised, transcend that crime of which Bonnard was truly guilty—of which all of us are guilty—the crime of being human.
Summary: *spoiler alert*
Bonnard was a retiring philologist, a Member of the Institute, and a bachelor living in Paris with his maid Therese. One day a sick bookseller tried to sell Bonnard some cheap book editions. Although he bought no books, Bonnard was moved by the thin man. When he asked Therese about this man, she told him that the bookseller, Monsieur Coccoz, lived up in the attic under a leaky roof with his wife who had just had a baby. Moved to pity, Bonnard sent up some logs for the disadvantaged couple to burn. Shortly afterward, he heard that the husband had died. Bonnard saw the beautiful Madame Coccoz only once on the stairs. She showed him her healthy baby and remarked on his kindness in sending firewood. Ten years later, Bonnard read in a catalog of a manuscript of the "GOLDEN LEGEND", a work he wished very much to own. He finally tracked it down, discovering that it was owned by Signor Polizzi, who lived in Sicily. The Italian refused to lend the manuscript, but he invited Bonnard to Sicily to read it at his leisure. Although it was a long, arduous trip for a shy man of letters, Bonnard set out for Sicily. On the island, he met Prince Trepof, a Russian, and his beautiful wife, whom Bonnard never associated with the young widow he had met once on the stairs years before. They were rich travelers who had nothing to do but look for matchboxes for the prince’s collection.
When he, at last, arrived at Signor Polizzi's house, he found that he was a slippery jack-of-all-trades, and had given the "GOLDEN LEGEND" to his son, who had opened a shop in Paris. While Bonnard was making the long trip to Sicily, the manuscript had all time been in a bookshop not far from his apartment. Furious at the unkindness done him, Bonnard poured out his bitter story to the sympathetic princess. Back in Paris, Bonnard went to the son’s shop; there was the manuscript. The son refused to quote a price on it because he was putting it up at auction. When the sale took place, Bonnard hopefully bid up to six thousand francs, but someone always outbid him. To his alarm, he found that it was Polizzi who had successfully bid on the manuscript. The dealer was acting as an agent for a client who had instructed him to buy back the manuscript at any cost. Back in his apartment, while Bonnard was gloomily thinking of his troubles, a young boy was shown in. The youngster gave him a package from his mother and disappeared, but not before Therese had seen the carriage. The package contained a make-believe log. Inside was a card from Princess Trepof and a profusion of violets. Under the flowers, Bonnard found the manuscript. Just then, Therese lumbered in to ask what Madame Coccoz was doing in such a rich carriage and why she had stopped at their door.
Monsieur de Gabry, a loyal friend of Bonnard, invited him to come to his country estate to catalog the library he had inherited. Bonnard found the estate in run-down condition, but the library was extensive. He happily settled down to his long task. He was very tired and dreamt about seeing a tiny fairy in front of him. He told Madame de Gabry the story and she listened with much interest. A few days later, Bonnard came back from a walk to find his dream fairy perched on a console in the hall. As he stared in astonishment, Madame de Gabry came up to introduce Jeanne Alexandre. After Madame de Gabry had described the fairy to her, she made a statuette to surprise Bonnard. The old man was pleased by the gift, and when he heard something of Jeanne’s story, he was moved by emotions he had not felt for years. Jeanne was the granddaughter of Clementine, a girl whom he had loved long ago. Now Jeanne’s relatives were dead, and she was staying a few days with Madame de Gabry. Bonnard resolved to look after the girl for the sake of his dead Clementine. In Paris Madame de Gabry went with him to Clementine’s grave and there listened to his nostalgic tale. When Bonnard, a young man, had loved her, Clementine’s mother was dead, and she lived with her choleric father, who was a mapmaker. They were renting rooms temporarily from Bonnard’s father. Bonnard was afraid to disclose his love for Clementine, but she seemed to know how he felt. One evening a great quarrel arose between Clementine’s father, a Royalist, and Bonnard’s uncle, a Bonapartist. After the quarrel, Clementine was taken away, and Bonnard never saw her again. After telling his story, Bonnard asked Madame de Gabry how he could best help the orphan Jeanne. She reminded him that Jeanne had a guardian, Maitre Mouche the notary, who would have to be consulted.
Maitre Mouche gave him permission to visit Jeanne each Thursday afternoon. Jeanne was in Mademoiselle Prefere’s select school, where at first Bonnard was received with suspicion. As soon as Mademoiselle Prefere learned, however, that Bonnard was a Member of the Institute, she was effusive. Immediately, Jeanne began to receive better treatment than she had as a charity student. During the vacation period, Mademoiselle Prefere frequently brought Jeanne to Bonnard’s apartment. The schoolmistress quickly made herself at home and soon had her favorite rocker and her shelf for her knitting. One afternoon, while Jeanne was in the kitchen, Mademoiselle Prefere proposed marriage to Bonnard, who was thunderstruck at the idea. The next time he went to the school to see Jeanne, Mademoiselle Prefere received him coldly and forbade him to have anything to do with the girl. Bonnard complained to Maitre Mouche, who upheld Mademoiselle Prefere. Then on a rainy day, Bonnard waited outside the school wall until he saw Jeanne and passed her through the gate by a ruse. Amazed at his own daring in kidnapping a minor, he took her to the de Gabry house. And that was his crime, the crime of Sylvestre Bonnard was kidnapping a minor, kidnapping Jeanne. Madame de Gabry embarked to settle the affair with Maitre Mouche, but that man had disappeared after stealing his clients’ funds. Bonnard was legally appointed Jeanne’s guardian and took her home with him. A young student, Henri Gelis, called on Bonnard for help with his thesis. He soon had eyes only for Jeanne, and eventually, he proposed to marry her, even though she had no dowry. Bonnard made arrangements to sell his library so that his ward could have a respectable financial start in her married life. One evening, just before the books were sold, he guiltily took a book and hid it. He would have one volume left, at any rate. After Jeanne and Gelis were married, Bonnard went to live in a small village. There Jeanne and her husband visited him twice each year, and also kept the cradle of little Sylvestre, their child who had died.
Summary: *spoiler alert*
Bonnard was a retiring philologist, a Member of the Institute, and a bachelor living in Paris with his maid Therese. One day a sick bookseller tried to sell Bonnard some cheap book editions. Although he bought no books, Bonnard was moved by the thin man. When he asked Therese about this man, she told him that the bookseller, Monsieur Coccoz, lived up in the attic under a leaky roof with his wife who had just had a baby. Moved to pity, Bonnard sent up some logs for the disadvantaged couple to burn. Shortly afterward, he heard that the husband had died. Bonnard saw the beautiful Madame Coccoz only once on the stairs. She showed him her healthy baby and remarked on his kindness in sending firewood. Ten years later, Bonnard read in a catalog of a manuscript of the "GOLDEN LEGEND", a work he wished very much to own. He finally tracked it down, discovering that it was owned by Signor Polizzi, who lived in Sicily. The Italian refused to lend the manuscript, but he invited Bonnard to Sicily to read it at his leisure. Although it was a long, arduous trip for a shy man of letters, Bonnard set out for Sicily. On the island, he met Prince Trepof, a Russian, and his beautiful wife, whom Bonnard never associated with the young widow he had met once on the stairs years before. They were rich travelers who had nothing to do but look for matchboxes for the prince’s collection.
When he, at last, arrived at Signor Polizzi's house, he found that he was a slippery jack-of-all-trades, and had given the "GOLDEN LEGEND" to his son, who had opened a shop in Paris. While Bonnard was making the long trip to Sicily, the manuscript had all time been in a bookshop not far from his apartment. Furious at the unkindness done him, Bonnard poured out his bitter story to the sympathetic princess. Back in Paris, Bonnard went to the son’s shop; there was the manuscript. The son refused to quote a price on it because he was putting it up at auction. When the sale took place, Bonnard hopefully bid up to six thousand francs, but someone always outbid him. To his alarm, he found that it was Polizzi who had successfully bid on the manuscript. The dealer was acting as an agent for a client who had instructed him to buy back the manuscript at any cost. Back in his apartment, while Bonnard was gloomily thinking of his troubles, a young boy was shown in. The youngster gave him a package from his mother and disappeared, but not before Therese had seen the carriage. The package contained a make-believe log. Inside was a card from Princess Trepof and a profusion of violets. Under the flowers, Bonnard found the manuscript. Just then, Therese lumbered in to ask what Madame Coccoz was doing in such a rich carriage and why she had stopped at their door.
Monsieur de Gabry, a loyal friend of Bonnard, invited him to come to his country estate to catalog the library he had inherited. Bonnard found the estate in run-down condition, but the library was extensive. He happily settled down to his long task. He was very tired and dreamt about seeing a tiny fairy in front of him. He told Madame de Gabry the story and she listened with much interest. A few days later, Bonnard came back from a walk to find his dream fairy perched on a console in the hall. As he stared in astonishment, Madame de Gabry came up to introduce Jeanne Alexandre. After Madame de Gabry had described the fairy to her, she made a statuette to surprise Bonnard. The old man was pleased by the gift, and when he heard something of Jeanne’s story, he was moved by emotions he had not felt for years. Jeanne was the granddaughter of Clementine, a girl whom he had loved long ago. Now Jeanne’s relatives were dead, and she was staying a few days with Madame de Gabry. Bonnard resolved to look after the girl for the sake of his dead Clementine. In Paris Madame de Gabry went with him to Clementine’s grave and there listened to his nostalgic tale. When Bonnard, a young man, had loved her, Clementine’s mother was dead, and she lived with her choleric father, who was a mapmaker. They were renting rooms temporarily from Bonnard’s father. Bonnard was afraid to disclose his love for Clementine, but she seemed to know how he felt. One evening a great quarrel arose between Clementine’s father, a Royalist, and Bonnard’s uncle, a Bonapartist. After the quarrel, Clementine was taken away, and Bonnard never saw her again. After telling his story, Bonnard asked Madame de Gabry how he could best help the orphan Jeanne. She reminded him that Jeanne had a guardian, Maitre Mouche the notary, who would have to be consulted.
Maitre Mouche gave him permission to visit Jeanne each Thursday afternoon. Jeanne was in Mademoiselle Prefere’s select school, where at first Bonnard was received with suspicion. As soon as Mademoiselle Prefere learned, however, that Bonnard was a Member of the Institute, she was effusive. Immediately, Jeanne began to receive better treatment than she had as a charity student. During the vacation period, Mademoiselle Prefere frequently brought Jeanne to Bonnard’s apartment. The schoolmistress quickly made herself at home and soon had her favorite rocker and her shelf for her knitting. One afternoon, while Jeanne was in the kitchen, Mademoiselle Prefere proposed marriage to Bonnard, who was thunderstruck at the idea. The next time he went to the school to see Jeanne, Mademoiselle Prefere received him coldly and forbade him to have anything to do with the girl. Bonnard complained to Maitre Mouche, who upheld Mademoiselle Prefere. Then on a rainy day, Bonnard waited outside the school wall until he saw Jeanne and passed her through the gate by a ruse. Amazed at his own daring in kidnapping a minor, he took her to the de Gabry house. And that was his crime, the crime of Sylvestre Bonnard was kidnapping a minor, kidnapping Jeanne. Madame de Gabry embarked to settle the affair with Maitre Mouche, but that man had disappeared after stealing his clients’ funds. Bonnard was legally appointed Jeanne’s guardian and took her home with him. A young student, Henri Gelis, called on Bonnard for help with his thesis. He soon had eyes only for Jeanne, and eventually, he proposed to marry her, even though she had no dowry. Bonnard made arrangements to sell his library so that his ward could have a respectable financial start in her married life. One evening, just before the books were sold, he guiltily took a book and hid it. He would have one volume left, at any rate. After Jeanne and Gelis were married, Bonnard went to live in a small village. There Jeanne and her husband visited him twice each year, and also kept the cradle of little Sylvestre, their child who had died.
October 21, 2015
I am reading a collection of books which have become available to me and they are all old. Some written well over 100 years ago. This is one of them and was copyrighted in 1890. I don't enjoy all the books. I am reading them because I think I should. Some are difficult, and read slowly. They include stuff by Tolstoy, Dickens, and Dostoevsky. This preface is to this review is to show that surprises occur in this situation. I loved this book. It did not read slowly. It didn't fly either. The writing was clever, and the subject was very human and related to any time period. There was suspense, light adventure, intelligence, conflict, young and old characters, romance, and human feelings which were well related in the writing. If you are looking for a book that is fast paced with lots of danger and fighting or one with frightening crime then I would not recommend this for you. If you are patient and have a desire to learn about the narrator's life and complications told in a beautiful manner then I would. The main character is a learned old man who studies books and writing and the occurrences in his life. It is a short book and a was a delight for me to read.
December 22, 2016
This is not what you expect.
Filled with family, and love, and friendship; it is a tale of life itself through the eyes of an old man living in Nineteenth Century Paris. It is a warm and heartfelt story that will likely bring you to tears and laughter in equal measure. In the process of following the narrative, I couldn't help but learn much about the history of France and Italy as well. It's only the 2nd of Anatole France's books that I've read, and I look forward to the next chance I get to savor every word of one of his novels.
It is written in the format of occasional journal entries. Never once is the train of thought lost or confused, though the Kindle edition I read was rife with both grammatical and typographical errors, as well as likely translation errors. I recommend The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard be read in a bound book, rather than a haphazardly thrown together electonic version which can be obtained free online. In this case it was not even proof-read. That's not usually the case with Kindle, or most e-books I've read. Fortunately, I was able to salvage the meaning in all cases.
Filled with family, and love, and friendship; it is a tale of life itself through the eyes of an old man living in Nineteenth Century Paris. It is a warm and heartfelt story that will likely bring you to tears and laughter in equal measure. In the process of following the narrative, I couldn't help but learn much about the history of France and Italy as well. It's only the 2nd of Anatole France's books that I've read, and I look forward to the next chance I get to savor every word of one of his novels.
It is written in the format of occasional journal entries. Never once is the train of thought lost or confused, though the Kindle edition I read was rife with both grammatical and typographical errors, as well as likely translation errors. I recommend The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard be read in a bound book, rather than a haphazardly thrown together electonic version which can be obtained free online. In this case it was not even proof-read. That's not usually the case with Kindle, or most e-books I've read. Fortunately, I was able to salvage the meaning in all cases.
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