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La femme de paille
"Man of wealth seeks attractive woman. Offers life of luxury, travel, possibly marriage..."Insidious, ingenious, evil. Here is the thrilling, suspense-filled novel of a man who placed his fortune -- and his life -- behind this explosive newspaper ad and of the woman who answered it, body and soul!
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 7, 2021
Catherine Arley was a French/American writer of suspense that I recently discovered and I wasn't disappointed to say the least. This book was written in 1954 so it might be hard to find but it's worth searching for.
Hildegarde Meisner is an attractive, 34 year old German woman who lost everything during WW2, including all her family and friends. She lives in France in an one room dump while she ekes out a lonely living as a translator.
Hilde has lost all hope and can only endure her existence until she finds an interesting item in the personal section of the paper. A lonely millionaire is seeking a wife it would seem and Hilde begins to perk up when she reads this ad.
Even though she finds the ad suspicious she feels there's nothing to lose so she eagerly replies to this ad just out of curiosity if nothing else.
The proposed groom is a grumpy, wheelchair bound, American millionaire who has no idea that his cousin and right hand man is playing Cupid. Perhaps being written out of the millionaire's will with a measly $20,000 dollars has something to do with this?
The cousin thinks that after a couple of decades of slavish devotion he should inherit everything and has hatched a plan to make that happen. But he will need help to do so and seeks a partner to bring his dreams to fruition.
Hilde suddenly sees a new beginning in life for herself and rushes headlong into the plot.
A fast paced nonstop work of suspense that was hard to put down. Such a talented author that I found comparable to Norah Lofts.
This book was made into a movie starring Sean Connery back in the 1960's which I'm looking forward to viewing someday.
Hildegarde Meisner is an attractive, 34 year old German woman who lost everything during WW2, including all her family and friends. She lives in France in an one room dump while she ekes out a lonely living as a translator.
Hilde has lost all hope and can only endure her existence until she finds an interesting item in the personal section of the paper. A lonely millionaire is seeking a wife it would seem and Hilde begins to perk up when she reads this ad.
Even though she finds the ad suspicious she feels there's nothing to lose so she eagerly replies to this ad just out of curiosity if nothing else.
The proposed groom is a grumpy, wheelchair bound, American millionaire who has no idea that his cousin and right hand man is playing Cupid. Perhaps being written out of the millionaire's will with a measly $20,000 dollars has something to do with this?
The cousin thinks that after a couple of decades of slavish devotion he should inherit everything and has hatched a plan to make that happen. But he will need help to do so and seeks a partner to bring his dreams to fruition.
Hilde suddenly sees a new beginning in life for herself and rushes headlong into the plot.
A fast paced nonstop work of suspense that was hard to put down. Such a talented author that I found comparable to Norah Lofts.
This book was made into a movie starring Sean Connery back in the 1960's which I'm looking forward to viewing someday.
November 26, 2017
An old book cover of Catherine Arley's "Woman of Straw".
READER’S Digest does a great service for people who love reading novels and memoirs as it publishes a volume containing four or five of these every now and then. It also provides several illustrations for each of the novels. I immediately bought a volume when I saw it contained Catherine Arley’s “Woman of Straw”, as I knew it had been made into a film which I had always wanted to watch. Francis Marshall has provided the lovely illustrations for Arley’s novel.
I came to know from the book that the attractive French writer was born in Paris. Here is some background information on her career. Arley's second novel, La Femme de paille, a story of fraudulent adoption, was rejected by every French publisher to whom she offered it. Her novel was finally published in Switzerland in 1954, then translated into twenty-four languages, and filmed by Basil Dearden in 1964 as “Woman of Straw” starring Gina Lollobrigida, Sean Connery and Ralph Richardson. Which is why it has always been said that you should be optimistic and never lose hope as there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
A poster of the film "Woman of Straw".
Arley’s international fame still did not help her to find a French publisher. French publishers ignored her as they favoured the roman noir and neo-polar style popular at the time. However, her fortune changed as she became one of the leading authors of the decade 1970 to 1980, having wedged a place in French literature for non-conformist and amoral detective fiction.
“Frequent trips abroad, including visits to the Far East and the United States, added interest to her formal education, and gave her first-hand knowledge of the backgrounds that she used so effectively in her novels. She ran away from school to become an actress and for three years played at the Théâtre des Ambassadeurs in Paris. She then left the live theatre for the films. It was while on location in Morocco that she met her future husband, a French manufacturer. After her marriage she gave up her acting career and began to write.”
The facade of the Théâtre des Ambassadeurs at Champs-Élysées, Paris.
The story revolves around a beautiful 34-year-old German woman called Hildegarde Meisner. Her family had been wiped out in the Second World War. For most of her life she had remained poor and had led a lonely existence. ‘Why should a “man of considerable means” have to advertise in order to find a wife? This was the thought that occurred to Hilde when she came across the advertisement in the personal column of a Hamburg newspaper.’ She could not help feeling that life owed her the chance of wealth and adventure. She made up her mind to take that chance.
However, things are not always as simple as they seem to be. Poor Hilde finds herself trapped in a diabolical plot. That too at the hands of somebody whom she trusts the most.
Gina Lollobrigida was the top sex symbol and the No 1 Italian star during the late '50s and early '60s.
The opening paragraphs are simply beautiful. They immediately get you hooked to the novel. Here, read it yourself: “That morning in Hamburg, when Hildegarde opened the door of her flat, she knew at once that it was Friday because the weekly paper was balanced on the milk bottle. She was never to forget this day when everything began, but now it only seemed another moment in the monotonous week. She picked up the paper, closed the door again and shuffled off to the kitchen in her slippers.
“Switching on the radio, she cut a couple of slices from a loaf of bread, slipped them into the toaster and put some milk on to boil.
“Then she opened the paper, looking at neither the headlines nor the pictures. On page six were the marriage advertisements. There were two columns – the left one reserved for single women in search of a companion, the right one for lonely men. It was the latter column that interested Hilde.”
One of the main characters of the novel, Anton Korff interviews Hilde in the initial stages of the novel before she can meet the "man of considerable means": Carl Richmond. Anton happens to be Carl’s secretary and relative.
“He offered her a chair and walked round a large marquetry table covered with files and several telephones.
“Have you been in France before, Miss Meisner?”
“No, I’ve never been out of Germany. Actually, I’ve never left Hamburg.”
“A lovely city. But the war damage was shocking. Did you lose your entire family in the bombing?”
“Yes, my father and mother, and my married sister and her baby.”
“I’m so very sorry. Did your brother-in-law manage to survive?”
“Yes!” Hilde said with a bitter smile. “Julius lived to see the death of his wife and son. In the same bombing he lost his two chief reasons for living. Later, he was reported killed on the Western front – a hero, as they always told the families.”
“How appalling it all is. So you’re alone in the world?”
“As far as one possibly can be.”
“And you have no men friends?”
“None.”
He brought out a gold cigarette case and offered her a cigarette which he lit with a gold lighter.
“May I ask you Miss Meisner, how you make your living?”
“I do translations for a publisher. There are various ways of starving you know.”
The antagonist of the novel seems to proclaim with a smirk: “Catch me if you can!” And the protagonist would be left with no alternative but to yell: “Whoever allows himself to be caught is a fool!”
Sean Connery whispers sweet nothings in Gina Lollobrigida's ear.
You are bound to enjoy this exciting novel of murder and suspense played out against such varied backgrounds as Germany, the Riviera, Sicily, Bermuda and New York.
A few days before reading Arley’s novel I had watched the film so that I could compare the two and I must say that both are good. Some minor changes have been made in the film like changing the names of the characters and ending it in a different way. However, I liked the book’s ending better.
Sean Connery was a big box-office draw during the '60s because of his sexy and suave James Bond image. Here in swim shorts in a still from "Woman of Straw".
July 18, 2020
I was pretty mesmerized from the beginning, although when the story's focus shifted from the woman, Hilde, to her future husband, it wasn't quite as captivating. Fortunately most of the book is focused on Hilde, and I really worried throughout the last few chapters about what was going to happen to her.
Read
April 21, 2017Gruesome tale of a plot that backfired. Poor gal marries dying billionaire and then is accused of his murder.
(read 5/31/67)
(read 5/31/67)
August 2, 2019
La femme de paille Catherine Arley le Masque #LaFemmeDePaille #NetGalleyFrance
Quand Catherine Arley cherche à publier La femme de paille , aucun éditeur n'accepte son manuscrit! Un éditeur suisse lui fait enfin confiance, c'est le succès , 22 traductions paraissent et Catherine Arley trouve une place de choix dans la littérature nippone. En 1953 pas facile pour une femme d'écrire, de publier ....
1950, Hambourg. Hildegarde Maener, comme chaque vendredi , épluche les petites annonces de son hebdomadaire. Pas celles qui proposent un travail, non même si elle gagne très petitement sa vie , son métier de traductrice lui convient très bien, non ce sont celles du courrier du coeur qui la passionnent! Alors avec un soin infini elle les détaille, les scrute cherchant celle qui déclenchera en elle le petit déclic irrésistible. Un homme, l'aventure, le dépaysement et bien sur l'aisance financière..
Elle est enfin là l'annonce qu'elle espérait, qu'elle attendait!
Les dés sont jetés, elle y répond et attend fébrile l'éventuelle réponse qui finit par arriver ..
Catherine Arley dresse certes ici le portrait d'une femme vénale mais aussi celui d'une société d'après-guerre où l'argent sert de passe droit quelle qu'en soit sa provenance. Quel portrait! Hildegarde va bientôt se retrouver prise dans les mailles d'une toile d'araignée tissée de main de maitre par plus infâme qu'elle, plus tordu, plus machiavélique.
Parviendra t'elle à s'extirper de ce piège?
Je vous laisse plonger dans ce roman . Un véritable piège pour tout lecteur amateur d'ambiance clair-obscure plus noire que claire il faut bien le reconnaitre.
Merci aux éditions du Masque de sortir de l'ombre un texte et une écrivaine de talent. M
Quand Catherine Arley cherche à publier La femme de paille , aucun éditeur n'accepte son manuscrit! Un éditeur suisse lui fait enfin confiance, c'est le succès , 22 traductions paraissent et Catherine Arley trouve une place de choix dans la littérature nippone. En 1953 pas facile pour une femme d'écrire, de publier ....
1950, Hambourg. Hildegarde Maener, comme chaque vendredi , épluche les petites annonces de son hebdomadaire. Pas celles qui proposent un travail, non même si elle gagne très petitement sa vie , son métier de traductrice lui convient très bien, non ce sont celles du courrier du coeur qui la passionnent! Alors avec un soin infini elle les détaille, les scrute cherchant celle qui déclenchera en elle le petit déclic irrésistible. Un homme, l'aventure, le dépaysement et bien sur l'aisance financière..
Elle est enfin là l'annonce qu'elle espérait, qu'elle attendait!
Les dés sont jetés, elle y répond et attend fébrile l'éventuelle réponse qui finit par arriver ..
Catherine Arley dresse certes ici le portrait d'une femme vénale mais aussi celui d'une société d'après-guerre où l'argent sert de passe droit quelle qu'en soit sa provenance. Quel portrait! Hildegarde va bientôt se retrouver prise dans les mailles d'une toile d'araignée tissée de main de maitre par plus infâme qu'elle, plus tordu, plus machiavélique.
Parviendra t'elle à s'extirper de ce piège?
Je vous laisse plonger dans ce roman . Un véritable piège pour tout lecteur amateur d'ambiance clair-obscure plus noire que claire il faut bien le reconnaitre.
Merci aux éditions du Masque de sortir de l'ombre un texte et une écrivaine de talent. M
November 10, 2023
Recently ran across an old movie entitled “A Woman of Straw” starring Gina Lollobrigida and Sean Connery. Love all things Sean Connery and was intrigued to see what it was about. It was excellent and I immediately set out to find the book. Which I did. It too excellent! Which is why I couldn’t put it down.
The movie and the book were very similar with a few exceptions. The only one I would be bothered by is the ending in the movie was different than that of the book. Much prefer the movie’s ending.
Both the book and the movie give off Hitchcock vibes. The suspense lasts right to the end. Neither feel dated.
I personally think these paragraphs on first page of the book sum it up perfectly:
“Hilde, being a woman, thought that an adventure could change her life. But there are many kinds of adventure and not all of them are necessarily romantic or sentimental. Those are usually reserved for languorous creatures for whom love means everything. Hilde was not a woman of that caliber.
Because she was clear-headed, she was prepared to make any compromise to get out of her humdrum existence. In her position it was the only reasonable ambition. She wanted to live, but her new life became a strange adventure in which the other hunters had laid their snares.
She was to learn to her cost that nothing is free and that everything is merely lent at usurious rates of interest.”
So….if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Read the book and watch the movie. Both well worth it.
The movie and the book were very similar with a few exceptions. The only one I would be bothered by is the ending in the movie was different than that of the book. Much prefer the movie’s ending.
Both the book and the movie give off Hitchcock vibes. The suspense lasts right to the end. Neither feel dated.
I personally think these paragraphs on first page of the book sum it up perfectly:
“Hilde, being a woman, thought that an adventure could change her life. But there are many kinds of adventure and not all of them are necessarily romantic or sentimental. Those are usually reserved for languorous creatures for whom love means everything. Hilde was not a woman of that caliber.
Because she was clear-headed, she was prepared to make any compromise to get out of her humdrum existence. In her position it was the only reasonable ambition. She wanted to live, but her new life became a strange adventure in which the other hunters had laid their snares.
She was to learn to her cost that nothing is free and that everything is merely lent at usurious rates of interest.”
So….if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Read the book and watch the movie. Both well worth it.
May 4, 2017
useless police :)
June 25, 2019
Je connaissais l’expression l’homme de paille et grâce à cette lecture la femme de paille .
La femme de paille c’est Hildegarde ,34 ans , jeune femme célibataire , allemande qui a perdu tous ses proches pendant la guerre .
Hildegarde c’est un mélange parfait entre avoir les pieds sur terre et rester romantique malgré tout , c’est pourquoi elle répond à une intrigante petite annonce , celle d’un homme ( très ) fortuné qui cherche une femme pour en faire son épouse .
Notre jeune héroïne se doute bien qu’il doit avoir un problème , le futur marié est - il trop vieux , impotent ? , sinon comment comprendre que celui qui peut tout s’acheter , exaucer ses moindres caprices , fasse passer une telle annonce .
La jeune femme qui n’a plus rien à perdre , qui a une vie terne , plus de parents , pas d’argent , un travail qui ne lui donne pas satisfaction répond à la petite annonce .
Sa réponse est osée , elle dit sans façon ce que personne n’ose dire , elle aime l’argent et la vie qui va avec , les voyages , les belles tenues , les bijoux .
Je ne vais pas faire le résumé en entier car je préfère garder le mystère sur cette histoire , sachez simplement qu’Hildegarde va se retrouver au cœur d’une machination implacable .
La femme de paille est en fait une réédition du roman de Catherine Arley , paru en 1956 , j’ai découvert par hasard qu’il y avait eu également un film avec Sean Connery et Gina Lollobrigida tiré du livre .
Un policier délicieusement désuet qui est aussi un témoignage sur les mentalités de l’époque , les rôles entre les hommes et les femmes , entre riches et pauvres étaient beaucoup plus marqués .
Une lecture agréable et également une belle préface qui rend hommage à l’auteur aujourd’hui complètement oubliée .
La femme de paille c’est Hildegarde ,34 ans , jeune femme célibataire , allemande qui a perdu tous ses proches pendant la guerre .
Hildegarde c’est un mélange parfait entre avoir les pieds sur terre et rester romantique malgré tout , c’est pourquoi elle répond à une intrigante petite annonce , celle d’un homme ( très ) fortuné qui cherche une femme pour en faire son épouse .
Notre jeune héroïne se doute bien qu’il doit avoir un problème , le futur marié est - il trop vieux , impotent ? , sinon comment comprendre que celui qui peut tout s’acheter , exaucer ses moindres caprices , fasse passer une telle annonce .
La jeune femme qui n’a plus rien à perdre , qui a une vie terne , plus de parents , pas d’argent , un travail qui ne lui donne pas satisfaction répond à la petite annonce .
Sa réponse est osée , elle dit sans façon ce que personne n’ose dire , elle aime l’argent et la vie qui va avec , les voyages , les belles tenues , les bijoux .
Je ne vais pas faire le résumé en entier car je préfère garder le mystère sur cette histoire , sachez simplement qu’Hildegarde va se retrouver au cœur d’une machination implacable .
La femme de paille est en fait une réédition du roman de Catherine Arley , paru en 1956 , j’ai découvert par hasard qu’il y avait eu également un film avec Sean Connery et Gina Lollobrigida tiré du livre .
Un policier délicieusement désuet qui est aussi un témoignage sur les mentalités de l’époque , les rôles entre les hommes et les femmes , entre riches et pauvres étaient beaucoup plus marqués .
Une lecture agréable et également une belle préface qui rend hommage à l’auteur aujourd’hui complètement oubliée .
July 4, 2019
Publié en Suisse en 1954 parce qu'aucun éditeur français n'en voulait. Traduit ensuite dans 24 pays, ce livre fut très vite un succès mondial ! (on n'est pas bête nous les suisses hein ? 😜) Un tel succès qu'il fût même repris au cinéma avec Gina Lollobridgida et Sean Connery.
Les éditions "Le Masque" le remettent à l'honneur avec cette réédition et c'est clairement une bonne idée 🙂
Hildegarde Maëner a tout perdu pendant la guerre et aspire à un avenir meilleur. Déterminée à ce que les choses changent, elle répond à une petite annonce dans les pages du cœur...Retenue, elle se retrouve à devoir accepter ou refuser un bien drôle de contrat.
Jusqu'où serais-tu prêt(e) à aller pour de l'argent ?
Cela te paraîtra de prime abord comme le cliché ultime de la jeune femme qui épouse un richissime vieillard en espérant qu'il claque en lui laissant son magot. Et pourtant, tu ne seras pas au bout de tes surprises...Les choses pourraient tourner d'une manière toute différente !!!
Tu y trouveras ce petit côté vieillot qui n'a pourtant pas pris une seule ride ! Tu nageras dans les années 50 avec ce bon petit goût rétro des personnages et des convenances de cette époque. J'ai personnellement retrouvé ces ambiances à la Daphné du Maurier qui ont bercé bien des lectures de ma lointaine jeunesse.
Nostalgie quand tu nous tiens 🙂
La trame est vraiment bonne, tout tient la route et le final est franchement génial avec ce côté terre à terre très réaliste. (Comme je les adore !)
Pas un polar mais plutôt un roman noir ou roman à suspense. C'est clairement à lire ou à relire si c'est déjà fait !
Perso j'ai vraiment kiffé et je ne peux que te le recommander 🙂
Les éditions "Le Masque" le remettent à l'honneur avec cette réédition et c'est clairement une bonne idée 🙂
Hildegarde Maëner a tout perdu pendant la guerre et aspire à un avenir meilleur. Déterminée à ce que les choses changent, elle répond à une petite annonce dans les pages du cœur...Retenue, elle se retrouve à devoir accepter ou refuser un bien drôle de contrat.
Jusqu'où serais-tu prêt(e) à aller pour de l'argent ?
Cela te paraîtra de prime abord comme le cliché ultime de la jeune femme qui épouse un richissime vieillard en espérant qu'il claque en lui laissant son magot. Et pourtant, tu ne seras pas au bout de tes surprises...Les choses pourraient tourner d'une manière toute différente !!!
Tu y trouveras ce petit côté vieillot qui n'a pourtant pas pris une seule ride ! Tu nageras dans les années 50 avec ce bon petit goût rétro des personnages et des convenances de cette époque. J'ai personnellement retrouvé ces ambiances à la Daphné du Maurier qui ont bercé bien des lectures de ma lointaine jeunesse.
Nostalgie quand tu nous tiens 🙂
La trame est vraiment bonne, tout tient la route et le final est franchement génial avec ce côté terre à terre très réaliste. (Comme je les adore !)
Pas un polar mais plutôt un roman noir ou roman à suspense. C'est clairement à lire ou à relire si c'est déjà fait !
Perso j'ai vraiment kiffé et je ne peux que te le recommander 🙂
May 30, 2023
Hilde wanted adventure and that's exactly what she got, for a price. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. I felt kinda bad for Hilde, but she pretty much brought a lot of it on herself, a "victim of her own stupidity." And then that ending! Not what I was expecting and I was not satisfied with it. However, it does fit in with the cold and calculating tone of the book.
Movie adaptation:
Woman of Straw (1964)
I thought Sean Connery's role as a scheming nephew and Gina Lollobrigida's more sympathetic character (compared to Hilde in the book) made this movie an intriguing thriller.
And I also liked the movie's very different ending better than what happened in the book!
Movie adaptation:
Woman of Straw (1964)
I thought Sean Connery's role as a scheming nephew and Gina Lollobrigida's more sympathetic character (compared to Hilde in the book) made this movie an intriguing thriller.
And I also liked the movie's very different ending better than what happened in the book!
August 16, 2023
3.7*
Tựa tiếng Việt: Người tình hờ của nhà tỷ phú
In 1000 cuốn khổ 13*19 cm
NXB Công an nhân dân, năm 2003
Hilde, một cô gái người Đức mất tất cả gia đình, bạn bè, tiền bạc trong chiến tranh ở Hamburg. Với tính cách tham vọng, mộng mơ nàng đã mạo hiểm đi dự một cuộc tuyển chọn làm vợ cho nhà tỷ phú. Giấc mơ thành hiện thực, Hilde trở thành phu nhân sang trọng, giàu có. Ngờ đâu số phận trêu ngươi, nàng bị bắt giam vì âm mưu giết chồng để hưởng tài sản. Một thân một mình trong ngục tối, nàng khám phá ra mình là nạn nhân của một tội ác. Kẻ chủ mưu đã giăng bẫy nàng, đẩy nàng vào cái chết. Và may mắn thay, cảnh sát điều tra cũng toàn tâm toàn sức khám phá ra âm mưu, cứu nàng thoát tội
PS: Cuộc đời không ai cho không cái gì. Khi người ta đem đến lợi ích cho mình thì phải xem xét và suy nghĩ lại
Đừng mơ mộng viễn vông, nhất là các cô gái, toàn mơ lấy được hoàng tử, tỷ phú, tiền bạc xài không hết
Đừng tin người, nhất là kẻ xa lạ
Đừng mạo hiểm cuộc đời của mình mà mất tất cả
Tựa tiếng Việt: Người tình hờ của nhà tỷ phú
In 1000 cuốn khổ 13*19 cm
NXB Công an nhân dân, năm 2003
Hilde, một cô gái người Đức mất tất cả gia đình, bạn bè, tiền bạc trong chiến tranh ở Hamburg. Với tính cách tham vọng, mộng mơ nàng đã mạo hiểm đi dự một cuộc tuyển chọn làm vợ cho nhà tỷ phú. Giấc mơ thành hiện thực, Hilde trở thành phu nhân sang trọng, giàu có. Ngờ đâu số phận trêu ngươi, nàng bị bắt giam vì âm mưu giết chồng để hưởng tài sản. Một thân một mình trong ngục tối, nàng khám phá ra mình là nạn nhân của một tội ác. Kẻ chủ mưu đã giăng bẫy nàng, đẩy nàng vào cái chết. Và may mắn thay, cảnh sát điều tra cũng toàn tâm toàn sức khám phá ra âm mưu, cứu nàng thoát tội
PS: Cuộc đời không ai cho không cái gì. Khi người ta đem đến lợi ích cho mình thì phải xem xét và suy nghĩ lại
Đừng mơ mộng viễn vông, nhất là các cô gái, toàn mơ lấy được hoàng tử, tỷ phú, tiền bạc xài không hết
Đừng tin người, nhất là kẻ xa lạ
Đừng mạo hiểm cuộc đời của mình mà mất tất cả
April 23, 2021
Maybe it was a poor translation, but this book didn’t seem very well written. The plot, while intriguing at times, was way too far-fetched. The ending was terrible. The characters all sounded the same, even the ones that conveniently showed up out of thin air in order to save the protagonist. I’m glad it was relatively short.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2018
Kiehtova ranskalaistrilleri, jossa liikutaan yksityislaivalla eri puolilla maailmaa.
January 3, 2022
Kömpelö
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