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cybrgloss's review against another edition
4.0
A schoolboy begins an illicit affair with the 19 year old wife of a soldier, the two flounder through the despicable pitfalls and self-centered highs of First Love. This isn’t some grand amorous story, but a rather realistic view of how heinous and selfish we can begin to behave when consumed by love—particularly the inexperienced.
Such a tragedy to not have more from Radiguet (aside from Le Bal du Comte d’Orgel ofc), this is one of the few classic French novels about immature-if-not-outright-intolerable people in love that I actually truly enjoyed.
“We think we are the first to experience such anxieties, not realizing that love is like poetry, and that all lovers, even the most ordinary, imagine themselves to be innovators.”
Such a tragedy to not have more from Radiguet (aside from Le Bal du Comte d’Orgel ofc), this is one of the few classic French novels about immature-if-not-outright-intolerable people in love that I actually truly enjoyed.
“We think we are the first to experience such anxieties, not realizing that love is like poetry, and that all lovers, even the most ordinary, imagine themselves to be innovators.”
juniperbranches's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was complicated. Published about 10 years after the first World War, The Devil in The Flesh follows a 16 year old boy falling in love with and having an affair with a married woman while her husband fights in the war. It’s important to keep cultural norms in mind when reading classical literature, but I still found the fact that the main character is so young hard to swallow. It is made slightly easier to bear by how manipulative and callous the young man, Francois is. He spends most of the novel contemplating the level of control he has over his mistress Marthe and concocting situations in which she is more and more bound to him, while he holds his own affections for her at arms length.
In general I disliked both of the main characters very much, but somehow still felt compelled to finish and see it through. I always say that I like literature that makes me feel something , anything. In this case it was disgust, but I still really enjoyed the book… I think?
In general I disliked both of the main characters very much, but somehow still felt compelled to finish and see it through. I always say that I like literature that makes me feel something , anything. In this case it was disgust, but I still really enjoyed the book… I think?
bhaines's review against another edition
The description of this book on here:
> ...this is one of the finest, most delicate love stories ever written. The narrator, a boy of 16, tells of his love affair with a young woman whose husband is away at the Front.
is interesting. From the introduction to the book, you might wonder if it's a love story at all. Positioned as notable more for it's young author, salacious autobiographical content, it's reflection of a perverse french society. But delicate and fine fair enough, his observations are believable and even relatable, even if they don't add up to him being a great guy.
> ...this is one of the finest, most delicate love stories ever written. The narrator, a boy of 16, tells of his love affair with a young woman whose husband is away at the Front.
is interesting. From the introduction to the book, you might wonder if it's a love story at all. Positioned as notable more for it's young author, salacious autobiographical content, it's reflection of a perverse french society. But delicate and fine fair enough, his observations are believable and even relatable, even if they don't add up to him being a great guy.
thelibraryduck's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nunuseli's review against another edition
3.0
La biografía de Raymond Radiguet es de aquellas que siempre divierte contar, porque fue el típico bohemio con un punto de escritor maldito, terriblemente precoz y que murió ridículamente joven. En el instituto pasó por un alumno mediocre y vago, así que pronto lo dejó, se quedó en casa y se dedicó a leer. Con el tiempo también dejó la casa paterna y se dedicó a vivir la vida bohemia. Fue protegido de Jean Cocteau y murió a los veinte años, pero ya había tenido tiempo de escribir un buen puñado de poemas y dos novelas, la primera de ellas fue ‘El diablo en el cuerpo’, que según parece tiene un punto de autobiográfico. ‘El diablo en el cuerpo’ narra la relación amorosa entre un chico de 16 años y una joven casada de 19, durante la primera guerra mundial, mientras el esposo de ella está en el frente. Al principio del libro el narrador nos describe una escena en que una mujer se ha vuelto loca, ha subido a un tejado y no quiere bajar para nada del mundo, a todos los que se le acercan para ayudarla les tira tejas para alejarlos, y no es difícil intuir que la escena acabará trágicamente; el protagonista lo sabe pero aún así no puede quitar los ojos de la loca encima del tejado, ya que está fascinado por la belleza entre poética y sórdida que tiene toda la escena. Algo parecido pasa con esta novela.
‘El diablo en el cuerpo’ es una novela narrada en primera persona y muy introspectiva, pero a la vez cuenta todos los hechos con un aire frío y distanciado. El nivel analítico e introvertido del libro me recuerda al ‘Adolphe’ de Benjamín Constant (que dicho sea de paso es uno de mis libros favoritos), aunque por la forma impasible e indiferente de contar los hechos parece presagiar en cierto modo ‘El extranjero’ de Albert Camus (que dicho sea de paso es otro de mis libros favoritos). No diría que se trata de una historia de amor, porque lo que siente él por ella no es amor puro y desinteresado sino simplemente vanidad recompensada, arrogancia satisfecha, posesión y celos. Lo que ella siente por él también es un sentimiento egoísta, aunque probablemente no tanto, y definitivamente está influenciado por las nociones románticas que habrá sacado de los libros. Sin embargo, no es para nada una historia romántica, por más que el final sea en cierto modo trágico, porque en lugar de pasión hay racionalidad. Es una obra realmente curiosa, original, diferente y recomendable.
‘El diablo en el cuerpo’ es una novela narrada en primera persona y muy introspectiva, pero a la vez cuenta todos los hechos con un aire frío y distanciado. El nivel analítico e introvertido del libro me recuerda al ‘Adolphe’ de Benjamín Constant (que dicho sea de paso es uno de mis libros favoritos), aunque por la forma impasible e indiferente de contar los hechos parece presagiar en cierto modo ‘El extranjero’ de Albert Camus (que dicho sea de paso es otro de mis libros favoritos). No diría que se trata de una historia de amor, porque lo que siente él por ella no es amor puro y desinteresado sino simplemente vanidad recompensada, arrogancia satisfecha, posesión y celos. Lo que ella siente por él también es un sentimiento egoísta, aunque probablemente no tanto, y definitivamente está influenciado por las nociones románticas que habrá sacado de los libros. Sin embargo, no es para nada una historia romántica, por más que el final sea en cierto modo trágico, porque en lugar de pasión hay racionalidad. Es una obra realmente curiosa, original, diferente y recomendable.
yoan's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lazylys's review against another edition
3.0
La cosa più stupefacente di questo breve romanza è l'età di Radiguet quando lo scrisse.
L'incisività, la freddezza e profondità analitica dello scritto, la capacità di distacco nell'immergersi nella (propria) vicenda sono veramente sorprendenti per un ragazzo ancora nel pieno dell'adolescenza.
Ancor più sorprendenti in relazione all'epoca in cui è stato scritto.
Eppure, eppure. Eppure se riesco a riconoscergli l'eccezionalità e a capire perché sia comunque considerato un classico della letteratura del novecento, non posso neppure dire che mi sia davvero piaciuto.
L'incisività, la freddezza e profondità analitica dello scritto, la capacità di distacco nell'immergersi nella (propria) vicenda sono veramente sorprendenti per un ragazzo ancora nel pieno dell'adolescenza.
Ancor più sorprendenti in relazione all'epoca in cui è stato scritto.
Eppure, eppure. Eppure se riesco a riconoscergli l'eccezionalità e a capire perché sia comunque considerato un classico della letteratura del novecento, non posso neppure dire che mi sia davvero piaciuto.
nicollinha's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
abnormalreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
letty_and_books's review against another edition
4.0
Genre : roman initiatique ou l'analyse - voire le décorticage - du sentiment amoureux sur fond de guerre et tragédie