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A review by _marco_
The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas jr.
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
3.5
Originally I picked up this book because of how it inspired the plot for La Traviata, one of my favourite operas.
Romance (at least of this kind) is not my preferred genre, so it was hard to really fall in love with the novel. Although, there were some aspects of the story that I found compelling, not the least of which was the dignity in which Marguerite, a sex worker, was presented in a 19th century setting.
I also feel like there was a subliminal commentary on the stringent morality of the contemporary French society. Dumas fils explores whether morality can be reduced to something physical, such as one’s condition in life, and whether one even has the right to condemn another (“when have we become more strict than even Christ?”).
I found the characters quite charming, especially Marguerite, but found the language itself to have been somewhat lacklustre. Occasionally—especially in the series of letters near the end—the literature shines through.
Romance (at least of this kind) is not my preferred genre, so it was hard to really fall in love with the novel. Although, there were some aspects of the story that I found compelling, not the least of which was the dignity in which Marguerite, a sex worker, was presented in a 19th century setting.
I also feel like there was a subliminal commentary on the stringent morality of the contemporary French society. Dumas fils explores whether morality can be reduced to something physical, such as one’s condition in life, and whether one even has the right to condemn another (“when have we become more strict than even Christ?”).
I found the characters quite charming, especially Marguerite, but found the language itself to have been somewhat lacklustre. Occasionally—especially in the series of letters near the end—the literature shines through.
We must have done something very wicked before we were born, or else we must be going to be very happy indeed when we are dead, for God to let this life have all the tortures of expiation and all the sorrows of an ordeal.
Overall not my favourite, but I still got something worthwhile out of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
Moderate: Grief and Misogyny