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Product Description
Product Description
When Charles Sainte-Beuve, an ambitious French journalist, meets Victor Hugo, a young writer on the verge of fame, he finds himself in a world of great passions, a world in which words can become swords. But, to Charles’ surprise, he is more attracted to Victor’s long-suffering wife, Adèle. When the two lovers create a scandale in Paris, Victor exacts his price for betrayal.
Set during the tumultuous reign of Napoleon III, and sweeping from France to the Channel Islands, to Halifax and back, The Reinvention of Love draws a rich portrait of the old city, where duels are fought in its parks and cholera-ridden bodies float in the Seine. Along its narrow, crime-filled streets, noble families and artists—Chopin, George Sand, Alexandre Dumas—mix with ordinary citizens, still restless with ideas of revolution. And towering over all is the enormous talent of Victor Hugo, who is quickly becoming the voice of France to the world.
The Reinvention of Love turns historical fact into an atmospheric, delicately wrought story of inescapable family ties and forbidden love.
About the Author
HELEN HUMPHREYS is an award-winning author of five acclaimed novels. Her last novel, Coventry, was a finalist for the Trillium Book Award, a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year. The Lost Garden was a Canada Reads selection. Afterimage won the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize; Leaving Earth received the Toronto Book Award; and The Frozen Thames was a #1 bestseller. In 2009, Humphreys was awarded the Harbourfront Festival Prize for literary excellence.
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Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
What a drag!,
This review is from: The Reinvention Of Love (Hardcover)
I was so excited to read this tale of 19th century Paris, and oh, what a drag it became...and not in a good way. After some time, I got the feeling I was reading a book that was straining to appear literary and intellectual, rather that one that focused on the plot at hand. Many typical "literary" devices were used in lieu of just telling a story: letters, head-hopping, diary entries...which were all more jarring than engrossing.For whatever reason, the author seems more intrigued by the concept of cross-dressing, which appears as a theme (contrived as it is) throughout the book, and goes about trying to fit the proverbial peg into the hole by creating situations that are not only unbelievable, but to me seem to make a mockery of the real-life Hugo family. Perhaps a novel of George Sand would have been more appropriate, rather than begging us to make the extra-long leaps of imagination it would take to have this book come anywhere near believability status. The book is structured as a series of first person entries: reflections, journals and letters. While this structure lends different perspectives to the events, creating layers of passion, rivalry and betrayal, I felt it weakened the novel overall. You have only just got acquainted with Sainte-Beuve when Adele sweeps in with her own preoccupations; and the latter part of the novel with `little Dede', the daughter, is so contrived and irritating that it nearly spoiled the whole thing. We find out about the myriad relationships - Charles and Adele; Charles and his mother; Charles and Victor; Victor and Adele; Adele and her children - but none in great depth. Overall, I couldn't justify the cost of the book vs. the quality I felt was lacking. Wait to check this one out of the library, if you're interested. I only wish I had.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pretentious and boring,
This review is from: The Reinvention Of Love (Hardcover)
First of all, I have to confess that I could not finish reading this book. My reason: too many characters, too many pretentious, over-the-top confessional letters from one person to another(a common plot device when there is a lack of adequate/quality narrative) and way too many GOOD books out there to be wasting my time on this one.I seldom return books and usually feel guilty doing so, but I didn't really have a choice with this one. It takes a lot of talent to take an interesting historical subject and turn it into the perfect cure for insomnia. I honestly have no clue how this piece of pretentious fluff made it past an editor's desk, much less got published. I haven't read any of Ms Humphrey's other books, but after getting a hold of this one (based on my personal interest in French literature), I have ZERO interest in any more from this author. Do yourself a favour and say Adieu to this one, or consider yourself well-warned.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read,
By Carlita "tiggy" (Saskatoon, SK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Reinvention Of Love (Hardcover)
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, much like everything else that I have read by the author. Once I finished the book I wanted to know more about the Hugo family and Charles Sainte-Beuve. This book would make a wonderful movie.
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