Légende: The Story of Philippa and Aurélie

by Jeannine Allard (Pseudonym)

Sometime in the last century, two women living on the coast of France, in Brittany, loved each other. They had no other models of such a thing, so they chose this solution: one of them posed as a man for most of their life together; they were married, adopted a child, and were very happy together.

The one who posed as a man was lost at sea, and a statue was erected to her, symbolizing all the collective losses suffered by their small town. Many years later, when it was known that she had in fact been a woman, the statue was destroyed by angry and frightened people.

This legend is still told in Brittany. Now Jeannine Allard has built from it, creating a hauntingly beautiful story of two women in love.

Genres: LGBT

125 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1984

About the author

A pseudonym of Jeannette Angell.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This groundbreaking novella tells the story of Aurelie, a young woman living on the coast of Brittany, France with her mother, a reputed witch of sorts, in the 1860s. One day after her mother's death she finds a young sailor washed up on the beach who stays with her and her young niece while recuperating. The sailor falls in love with her but then leaves without saying goodbye -- because she is a woman, Philippa, disguised as a man and does not know how to deal with her feelings. A sad but beautiful tale of "unconventional" love.

[Jen Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this novel at least 20 times and each time I have found (or retained) another part of the storyline I had not absorbed earlier. Who can resist true love.
On a previous occasion I had asked Jeannine to write a follow up (I am still hoping) to the original story but due to circumstances it wasn't to be.
I enjoyed the book so much that when I loaned it to a friend - it was never returned - I had to track down another copy - that copy has never left my sight!
I still hope it will be released on kindle.

[Melissa Medina]

Another one out of print! (Why am I only catching up on these now?)

This was a sweet book ... a real lesbian fairytale. The cover is striking (that's originally why I picked it up) and the chapters are short but compelling, each written (alternately) in the voice of one of the two main characters, Aurelie and Philippa. The language is lyrical and the voices well separated.

Would love to know if Allard has anything else out there ... I'd read it!