The first book in the Claudine series which became a cultural phenomenon in early 20th century France - featured in the new, acclaimed film COLETTE, starring Keira Knightley, out Jan 2019.
Claudine is a head strong, clever and extremely mischievious schoolgirl, who wreaks havoc on her small school. She is more than a match for her formidable headmistress as they fight for the attention of the pretty assistant Aimee.
The first book in the Claudine series which became a cultural phenomenon in early 20th century France - featured in the new, acclaimed film COLETTE, starring Keira Knightley, out Jan 2019.THE STORIES THAT INSPIRED THE FILM COLETTE, out Jan 2019.The first book in Colette's enchanting Claudine series.Colette's enchanting stories of the clever and charming Claudine were first published under her husband's name, and they were an instant sensation in early twentieth-century France. In Claudine at School we meet Claudine as a teenager, wickedly witty, rebellious and effervescent, competing with her new headmistress for the affections of the pretty mistress Miss Aimee. With her first book Colette turned her life into art and a literary icon was born.
“A perpetual feast to the reader. Her prose is rich, flawless, intricate, audacious and utterly beautiful”
-- Raymond Mortimer, Vogue
Everything that Colette touched became human The Times
Her sensual prose style made her one of the great writers of 20th century France New York Times Book Review
Accessible and elusive; greedy and austere; courageous and timid; subversive and complacent; scorchingly honest and sublimely mendacious; an inspired consoler and an existential pessimist—these are the qualities of the artist and the woman. It is time to rediscover them -- Judith Thurman, biographer of Colette
Colette, the creator of Claudine, Cheri and Gigi, and one of France's outstanding writers, had a long, varied and active life. She was born in Burgundy on 1873 into a home overflowing with dogs, cats and children, and educated at the local village school. At the age of twenty she moved to Paris with her first husband, the notorious writer and critic Henry Gauthiers-Viller (Willy). By locking her in her room, Willy forced Collette to write her first novels (the Claudine sequence), which he published under his name. They were an instant success. Colettte left Willy in 1906 and worked in music-halls as an actor and dancer. She had a love affair with Napoleon's niece, married twice more, had a baby at 40 and at 47. Her writing, which included novels, portraits, essays and a large body of autobiographical prose, was admired by Proust and Gide. She was the first woman President of the Academie Goncourt, and when she died, aged 81, she was given a state funeral and buried in P re Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
This item is eligible for simple returns within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. See our returns policy for further details.
