Pierre and Jean Paperback – 26 Dec. 2020

Gift

A very fast read, a tale of two brothers, one who has it all and one that doesn't, or does he? A family torn apart by an inheritance. Set in a Normandy fishing town at the end of the 19th century, French literature at it's best.

OK but rather stilted. I read this many years ago in the original French whilst at university, but could hardly remember it!

Not sure which version the other reviewers are reviewing, but this is the one translated by Clara Bell. Unfortunately, it's a really poor translation, but on the other hand, hilarious to read aloud for the gaffes. Technically annoying too: minimal outside margins, and absolutely no gutter margin. Got a refund and bought the OWC Classics copy by J Mead instead.

SILLY ME-DIDN'T GET THE ENGLISH VERSION! WAS RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK & MISSED A FEW EPISODES. SEEMED VERY GOOD

A sudden windfall has unintended consequences. This short novel is so marvelously powerful, full of melancholy and perhaps ending happily, or at least ending as it had to.

C'est la première fois que je vois cela. Edition inutilisable. texte inintelligible et Illisible du fait de mots rognés, mots anglais , mauvaise frappe. TRES MAUVAIS. J'ai dû , pour le lire, commander une autre édition.

wonderful story, poor translation, this particular translation was missing de Maupassant's commentary and had no introduction by the translator., both needed for background info. I would have returned this printing but needed a copy for my book group, overpriced too, .

Although there isn't much action in the story and not even that many events it is still captivating in the way that it is written.

Love this writing style, the time and the story. I have read all by GDM and just love his style. Very different to normal modern stories but very readable.