laura/antoine, 18, intj, from italy (but half french). bigender (she/her/hers - he/him/his) and hellenic polytheist. history, art, social justice. also les misérables and star wars trash. ( )
ellie-valsin: “ I tossed him the copy of Mignet’s Histoire de la révolution française, and picked up the next book beneath it. It was the second volume of Hugo’s new novel Notre-Dame de Paris, also just published earlier that year. “What’s this,...

ellie-valsin:

I tossed him the copy of Mignet’s Histoire de la révolution française, and picked up the next book beneath it.

It was the second volume of Hugo’s new novel Notre-Dame de Paris, also just published earlier that year.

“What’s this, Combeferre,” I asked him flatly, holding up the book.

When he saw it, he just laughed and shrugged.  “You know I read everything,” was the only excuse he could give.

“Hugo should stick to poetry,” I said.  “His prose is ghastly and overwrought.”

“Of course you would say that,” said Combeferre.  “I would say you’d need to read it to be able to criticize it, but I’d never suggest that you read this book.”

“Lust and death and the grotesque,” I said.  “Such poor taste!  Can’t he find something more uplifting to write about?  Something more meaningful?”

“Don’t forget architecture,” said Combeferre, amused.  “There’s plenty of that too.”

“Yes, and down with architecture too.  There’s no spark of the divine here, no glance towards the future—it’s all self-indulgent wallowing in the past, an awful past, a benighted past.  It’s voyeuristic, the way he gazes in horrified fascination at the cruelty of the Middle Ages.  If he’d only write a book about our times instead of that gothic smut, don’t you think he could accomplish something?  Don’t you think he’d find a subject worthy of his considerable talents?”

Combeferre just laughed again and supposed that perhaps that could be.

“Then where would you like me to throw this?” I said, brandishing the unfortunate volume.  “Shall I shelve it somewhere between The Virgin in the Harem and Balzac’s Sarrasine?”

“Give it to me, give it,” said Combeferre, and through his laughter he managed to wrestle it away from me.  “I’ll find a place for it.”

“And what of this?” I said, picking up the next book in the crate, a volume of poetry.  “Should we try to pass this off on Prouvaire?”

“Give it here!” said Combeferre.  “Don’t abuse my books so, you wicked creature!  I’d like to see what you have on your shelves.  Virgin in the Harem, indeed!”

–Virago, 1831.15

You expect Enjolras to judge your political opinions, you’re used to her judging your love life, now get ready for Enjolras judging your choice in summer reading!  Yay!   =___=

There’re some great pull quotes in there.  I can see it now: Enjolras’ book reviews for the New York Times.  “Ghastly and overwrought”; “self-indulgent wallowing in the past”; “gothic smut.”

Find Virago here on Amazon!

  1. logic-and-philosophy a reblogué ce billet depuis oilan
  2. professorskywalker a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  3. mllecombeferre a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  4. dracula-in-london-blog a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  5. oilan a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  6. orestesnpylades a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  7. jacobinenjolras a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  8. baronmpontmercy a reblogué ce billet depuis humble-wayside-flower
  9. thoughtsthroughfog a reblogué ce billet depuis humble-wayside-flower
  10. humble-wayside-flower a reblogué ce billet depuis ellie-valsin
  11. amelancholycharm a dit : OMG there it is - Enjolras’ Notre Dame-judging face! Exactly as I pictured it:) And I’m never _not_ gonna think of NDdP as “gothic smut” again.
  12. ellie-valsin a publié ce billet
codes by
pohroro