My Uncle and My Curé

by Unknown

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280 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1889

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Unknown" when the author or editor (as applicable) is not known and cannot be discovered. If at all possible, list at least one actual author or editor for a book instead of using "Unknown".

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Reviews

[Vlad Copil]

Mon Oncle et mon curé c'est un très amusant roman qu'on lit tout d'un trait. Le style de l'écrivaine est très fluent et on jouit pleinement des opinions critiques du personnage principal et de ses vues sur la société française. Bien que le dénouement soit très prévisible et que le roman ne soulève point de grand problèmes, il reste toujours un des plus populaires romans français du XIX-ième siècle qui a été couramment édité jusqu'en 1977.

[Bill]

From Mrs. M. Waine.
Sen. French mistress of M.L.C July 1963

This French edition..
Introduction Par Madame Goyau
Nelson. ÉDITEURS,
189, rue Saint-Jacques Paris

[Ann]

This light-hearted French novel from the mid-19th century had me cracking up! It's the story of Reine de Lavalle, a 16-year orphan who is raised by a miserly and bad-tempered aunt in a decrepit farmhouse. The only affection in her life comes from the parish priest, a kind-hearted and innocent man who visits her a couple of times a week to tprovde her with some basic education. The monotony of Reine's life is broken when a stranger seeks shelter in the farmhouse during a thunderstorm. It turns out that Paul de Conprat is actually a distant relative, and Reine immediately falls in love with this cheerful young man with the zesty appetite for life (and turkey). But he leaves and nothing more is heard of him... until Reine's nasty aunt dies and she's sent to live with her uncle, M de Pavol. Paul is a neighbor of M de Pavol and his lovely daughter Blanche. Reine adores the transition from her dreary life at Le Buisson to the glamour of the more aristocratic life that her birth, connections and sizeable dowry have destined her for. There are just two flies in the ointment : she had to say goodbye to her beloved parish priest, and Paul shows no signs of having a romantic interest in her. So what's an infatuated teenager to do? Of course all ends well in this cheerful romp.

I enjoyed the book because Reine is a delightful creature. She is quick-witted, stubborn, vain about her appearance, incurably romantic, moody, and entirely ignorant of the realities of the relationships between men and women. In summary : a teenager! The poor priest is no match for Reine's arguments, and even her uncle M de Pavol can't control this irrepressible creature. Yes, Reine is a snob, and frivolous, and argumentative... but she made me laugh. Some of her retorts and one-liners have definitely stood the test of time.

As far as I am concerned : this book has been unjustly forgotten. I think that teenage girls who like historical novels could still get a kick out of this story.

[Kathy Piselli]

A refreshing novel about an engaging character. Though written in 1889 it reads like one written a half century later. Jean de la Brete was the pseudonym of Alice Cherbonnel; this was her first published novel, written (but not published) when she was in her twenties. De la Brete perfectly captures the coming of age of Reine, a young lady of 16 who has an intellect and a love of logical argument. Reine's entry into society is positively hilarious, but prior to that she was raised by an aunt she dislikes, who hates everything ("installed in an armchair with all the elegance of a rather thick lightning-conductor"). Reine is tutored by the local priest, or cure, whom she loves: "Fat and plump, he appeared to rebound from the earth, on which he trampled with a brisk step, and to which he seemed to say: 'You are good and I like you!' He was content to be alive, satisfied with himself and satisfied with everybody." Like any teenager, Reine's emotions seesaw wildly. Her wry recognition of her own naivete and shortcomings are paired with adolescent self-admiration and her sharp observations recall Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle. Worth a read if you can find a copy.