Publication
Amsterdam Querido 1982
ISBN
9021458330 / 9789021458335
Language
Collections
Series
Description
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954), one of the most popular and best loved of modern French writers, became known simply as Colette when she married in 1893. Her husband, a Parisian man-about-town and the son of a major publisher, made use of her literary talents by publishing her first several novels under his own name - his only changes, evidently, being to make them more prurient. But eventually she broke free of this unhappy marriage and took flight on her own, as a fiction writer, a journalist, and an actress. By the time Cheri was published in 1920, Colette had become well known both as a writer and as a personality and was entering a period of rich personal growth and happiness.Published when the author, like her heroine, was in her late 40s, Cheri is a delicate analysis of a May-December romance. The story of a love affair between Lea, a still-beautiful 49-year-old ex-courtesan, and Cheri, a handsome but selfish young man 30 years her junior, it offers a superb study of age and sexuality, written in a personal style that reveals the author's keen powers of observation. While the theme of a young man who deserts his older mistress is a familiar one, in this novel, Colette makes it her own. As Stanley Appelbaum notes, ""Colette's distinctive style, made up of swift, sure, almost impressionistic touches, and the skillful use of leitmotifs, enables her to create her own atmosphere and her own emotional universe.""Widely considered the author's best work, the novel appears here in the original French with an excellent new English translation by Stanley Appelbaum on the facing pages. The translator also has provided an informative introduction to Colette and her work, and to this novel in particular.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member otterley
A very rich piece of patisserie, which might describe the novel and both of its main characters, ageing courtesan Lea and her lover Cheri. Colette is merciless in her description of ageing and delusion, in a world of sensuality and appearance.
LibraryThing member TheIdleWoman
The first book I've read by Colette, Cheri is sensual, lethargic and must have been quite scandalous when it was first published in 1920. It tells the story of the courtesan Lea, who has spent the past six years of her life indulging and educating a friend's spoiled, selfish son in the pleasures of
I can understand why people might not like this book. After all, Cheri himself is profoundly unsympathetic. The supporting cast of aging courtesans, with their pretensions to gentility and their gossiping, two-faced friendship, feel like the denizens of a Toulouse-Lautrec print. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It has been quite some time since I've sat down with a book which has revelled with so much unalloyed pleasure in the mastery of language. Much of the credit must go to Roger Senhouse for his English translation, which manages to be subtly sardonic as well as elegiac. Second, as a Wilde fan I thought there was a definite feel about it of Dorian Gray: the infatuation of the older generation for the younger, as if they're courting their own youth again; and the fact that gorgeous outward looks can hide a rather nasty and immature character beneath. And then, third, it's a delicious exploration of the female gaze. Cheri is described in the kind of languid prose that reminded me at times of Death in Venice, and Colette's work delves into all the psychological complexity of an older woman infatuated by a beautiful boy.
It's a short book, but for liveliness of language and freshness of spirit, it completely captured me. I'm looking forward to reading some more of Colette's work; and would anyone recommend the recent film of Cheri? Or is it best to steer well clear?
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life. When he is due to be married, she has to disentangle herself from him - a task which comes to be more difficult than she had anticipated.I can understand why people might not like this book. After all, Cheri himself is profoundly unsympathetic. The supporting cast of aging courtesans, with their pretensions to gentility and their gossiping, two-faced friendship, feel like the denizens of a Toulouse-Lautrec print. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It has been quite some time since I've sat down with a book which has revelled with so much unalloyed pleasure in the mastery of language. Much of the credit must go to Roger Senhouse for his English translation, which manages to be subtly sardonic as well as elegiac. Second, as a Wilde fan I thought there was a definite feel about it of Dorian Gray: the infatuation of the older generation for the younger, as if they're courting their own youth again; and the fact that gorgeous outward looks can hide a rather nasty and immature character beneath. And then, third, it's a delicious exploration of the female gaze. Cheri is described in the kind of languid prose that reminded me at times of Death in Venice, and Colette's work delves into all the psychological complexity of an older woman infatuated by a beautiful boy.
It's a short book, but for liveliness of language and freshness of spirit, it completely captured me. I'm looking forward to reading some more of Colette's work; and would anyone recommend the recent film of Cheri? Or is it best to steer well clear?
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LibraryThing member Limelite
Leonie Vallon would have been a courtesan in an earlier age, but in 1920s Paris she's a professional mistress who is about to turn 50 and who is kept and keeps long-term lovers. Her current liaison is with 24-year-old Fred Peloux, aka Cheri, the handsome and infantile son of her "frienemy," Mdme
The story opens with the news that Cheri's mother has arranged for him to marry a suitable young girl of 19. The novel is about the dissolution of Lea's and Cheri's affair, which we learn has become a sincere love mismatch, which they both admit to too late.
Colette, writes about these chic and brittle sophisticates in chic and brittle prose, creating a very French novel of manners within the confined circumstance of the break-up of two people who flout convention by behaving most conventionally. More fearful of ridicule, their own for each other and that of their social milieu for them both, than they are of losing the love of their lives, they proceed inevitably toward futures of separate misery, bowing to societal expectations and conventions.
This is a novel of style -- both writing style and the examination of Lea's and Cheri's personal styles of living. Don't look for event, don't hope for epiphanies. The characters reveal themselves more by what they leave unsaid then by conversation. As reader's, we get to live their agony in the chic brittle style of Jazz Age Parisians.
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Peloux, a wealthy now retired professional mistress.The story opens with the news that Cheri's mother has arranged for him to marry a suitable young girl of 19. The novel is about the dissolution of Lea's and Cheri's affair, which we learn has become a sincere love mismatch, which they both admit to too late.
Colette, writes about these chic and brittle sophisticates in chic and brittle prose, creating a very French novel of manners within the confined circumstance of the break-up of two people who flout convention by behaving most conventionally. More fearful of ridicule, their own for each other and that of their social milieu for them both, than they are of losing the love of their lives, they proceed inevitably toward futures of separate misery, bowing to societal expectations and conventions.
This is a novel of style -- both writing style and the examination of Lea's and Cheri's personal styles of living. Don't look for event, don't hope for epiphanies. The characters reveal themselves more by what they leave unsaid then by conversation. As reader's, we get to live their agony in the chic brittle style of Jazz Age Parisians.
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LibraryThing member s.kaosar
A well-translated (by Roger Senhouse) novella with great insight into the particular time period, society, and life of French courtesans and their children. The most interesting aspect of Cheri was the character of Lea, the retired courtesan that becomes involved with Cheri, the beautiful but
The novella, though not exactly luring, is smart and quite ahead of it's time bringing up such issues as age difference, sexuality, depression, child rearing, and much more. There is a second novella continuing with the adult or more "grown-up" life of Cheri titled The Last of Cheri. However, the absence of Lea in the second novella made me lose interest quite rapidly.
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immature, pampered, and utterly spoiled young man who is the son Lea’s former competition. Lea takes up with him kind of as a job, a pet project in which she will change him, make him more cultured. Yet, neither Lea nor Cheri anticipate the impact they have on each other. The novella, though not exactly luring, is smart and quite ahead of it's time bringing up such issues as age difference, sexuality, depression, child rearing, and much more. There is a second novella continuing with the adult or more "grown-up" life of Cheri titled The Last of Cheri. However, the absence of Lea in the second novella made me lose interest quite rapidly.
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LibraryThing member amydross
Wonderful! Maybe not the most accomplished work of literature ever, but exactly the bit of sentimental nonsense I wanted it to be. I read it in French, watched the recent movie, and read it again in English (a terrible, bowdlerized translation) all within a week. Lea is a magnificent, flawed, yet
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entirely sympathetic tragic heroine, and Colette's descriptions of Cheri's perfect beauty are stirring, but the unexpected gender/power play is the best part of this novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheAmpersand
In "Mrs. Dalloway," Peter Walsh privately criticizes French novelists by asserting that there is more to life than going to bed with a woman. Well, Colette's a French novelist, and she disagrees. One of the wonderful things about Colette is that it seems entirely concerned with love and sex, though
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the latter is only suggested and never described explicitly. The novel might be criticized for lacking narrative drive -- it is, after all, a book about feelings and little else -- but Colette sculpts its central characters so skillfully that it's not surprise that they've passed into literary immortality. There's the sympathetic Léa, an aging courtesan who works to ward off both the effects of age and undisciplined passion, and the beautiful, disdainful, Cheri himself, whose unfathomable personality might be called the book's dark center. Since "Cheri" is, after all, about courtesans who catered to a very select group of the French aristocracy there's a lot of money and tasteful luxury on display here, and I couldn't help feeling that a sense of nostalgia hung over the entire book. I found myself wondering if this had something to do with the First World War -- plenty of young men of Cheri's generation died in trenches just a few years after this book takes place. "Cheri," then, might be considered not just a fond, though melancholy, remembrance of a love affair, but of a sort of lost golden age as well. If so, it might also be said that it's too sentimental to be a really great work, and perhaps that's true. But that doesn't mean it isn't worth your time. Show Less
LibraryThing member nigeyb
I read this book in readiness for a group discussion. There are lots of positive reviews around so clearly many readers find much to enjoy here. I have never rated a book one star before.
The basic plot is very straightforward (and as it was on cover of my edition I don't think the story is meant
The story is described in a deadpan manner, all surface and appearance. There is no reference to the characters' emotions or inner lives. There's not even any sex scenes - not that I wanted any, I just wondered if this was part of the book's appeal. It reminded me of a sumptuous soft focus television advert for chocolates where wafty material is gently blown by the breeze from an open window, whilst glamorous, smug, well dressed characters lounge around. This is luxury's disappointment writ large - a joyless, shallow, petty place where spoiled characters occupy boudoirs, wear silk and satin, pearls and call servants, whilst boring themselves and each other - and it left me waving the white flag at page 64 (of a total of 122). Despite being mercifully short I still couldn't get through it.
I now know I have no interest in the pre-World War 1 Parisian demimonde. As I stated, many readers rate this book highly, however there was nothing here for me.
The basic plot is very straightforward (and as it was on cover of my edition I don't think the story is meant
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to be the point): 25 year old Chéri (real name Fred), the son of a wealthy courtesan, has been in a long term relationship with 49 year old Léa, a friend of his mother. Chéri gets married, stops seeing Léa, misses her, and goes back to her. There's a bit more to it but that's it in a nutshell.The story is described in a deadpan manner, all surface and appearance. There is no reference to the characters' emotions or inner lives. There's not even any sex scenes - not that I wanted any, I just wondered if this was part of the book's appeal. It reminded me of a sumptuous soft focus television advert for chocolates where wafty material is gently blown by the breeze from an open window, whilst glamorous, smug, well dressed characters lounge around. This is luxury's disappointment writ large - a joyless, shallow, petty place where spoiled characters occupy boudoirs, wear silk and satin, pearls and call servants, whilst boring themselves and each other - and it left me waving the white flag at page 64 (of a total of 122). Despite being mercifully short I still couldn't get through it.
I now know I have no interest in the pre-World War 1 Parisian demimonde. As I stated, many readers rate this book highly, however there was nothing here for me.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
I think this was the wrong book for me at this time. However, it would never be a favorite as I found the pace too slow. Colette gives beautifully written descriptions so I can understand why some would appreciate her writing more than I did.
As for the plot, I could relate to Léa (as I am also a
As for the plot, I could relate to Léa (as I am also a
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woman of a certain age) but Chéri struck me as a lout and so I couldn't really understand his appeal. Show Less
LibraryThing member DanielSTJ
This was the first French novel I've read in some time, so my French was pretty rusty, but I managed (through some efforts) to get the general gist of what was going on. It was an intriguing novel, perchance a bit on the easier side, that managed to engage my attention and keep me focused. While it
3 stars.
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was a little dated, I nonetheless found it interesting and worthwhile.3 stars.
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LibraryThing member lydia1879
Ah, Colette.
I read this book in one sitting. It was a masterpiece.
I loved that it was really sensual and was very poetic and really absorbing. I loved the details of this book and the atmosphere was all built so delicately and carefully. I loved that it lingered with me, that it left me feeling a
This book doesn't really have a plot, it has two main characters who interact with each other and drive the narrative forward, so if you're looking for something fast-paced or plot-driven this isn't that book.
I love the female character, Lea, I don't love Cheri but I adore all his flaws.
This book is so well-crafted, and I really enjoyed getting lost in it. c:
I read this book in one sitting. It was a masterpiece.
I loved that it was really sensual and was very poetic and really absorbing. I loved the details of this book and the atmosphere was all built so delicately and carefully. I loved that it lingered with me, that it left me feeling a
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little bit heady. This book doesn't really have a plot, it has two main characters who interact with each other and drive the narrative forward, so if you're looking for something fast-paced or plot-driven this isn't that book.
I love the female character, Lea, I don't love Cheri but I adore all his flaws.
This book is so well-crafted, and I really enjoyed getting lost in it. c:
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
I think this was the wrong book for me at this time. However, it would never be a favorite as I found the pace too slow. Colette gives beautifully written descriptions so I can understand why some would appreciate her writing more than I did.
As for the plot, I could relate to Léa (as I am also a
As for the plot, I could relate to Léa (as I am also a
Show More
woman of a certain age) but Chéri struck me as a lout and so I couldn't really understand his appeal. Show Less
Awards
Original publication date
1920 (original French)