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Customer Reviews (12)

Close-up on a Life
I took "Lt Colonel de Maumort" on a cruise in 2006.I started reading the book on the flight out and was virtually in awe of what I was reading.The discription of his youth and his relationship with his father was very impressive.When it came time to start the cruise, I put on my seasick patch that kept me from getting seasick but also dulled my mind enough that this book suddenly became "over my head".After I had switched to a less intensive series of books, I returned to Lt.Col de Maumort and read it one chapter at a time.I liked it better that way for some reason.Maybe it was because it is so intense a style and depth of writing that I preferred savoring it.When I came to the end of the book, I planned on reading the 130 or so pages of letters and files that comprised, I believe, the further notes on the outline of this posthumously editted and published work.I still haven't gotten to that part but I'm sure I shall some day.This is the fourth book by Roger Martin du Gard that I have read and all, with the exception of the short novel "The Postman", seemed to be very deep.I am always on the look out for more of his work translated into English.I have read a book entitled "The Thibaults" but I get the impression that it was just one vollume of a larger worker under the same name.I would appreciate any information that might clarify that for me.In the meantime I would rate "Maumort" as the best of his works that I have read.The book bogs down a bit about halfway through with a prolonged incident that didn't, in my opinion, add much to the book.

As I understand it, du Gard left a partially completed novel that was completed largely on the notes he left behind.I an many others are grateful for the effort.Often it is an author's lessor works that appear after their death (probably because the author might not have thought that particular book was worthy of publication).However, in the case of Roger Martin du Gard, it is just the opposite.

No Unexamined Life
I was hooked early in this amazingly ambitious novel by a lovely metaphor where the narrator Maumort compares the way our early memories follow one another to the fish that came each morning out of the lake on lines that heand his sister had set the evening before. Yet memory is only part of thestory, as Maumort, a career army officer, is also in thrall to mattersabstract, in love with ideas, theories, analysis--all thatintellectualising that we Americans love to have the French do for us.However all that cerebration also serves du Gard in developing hischaracterisation of the Lt Colonel himself, a man determined to understandhimself and his society. That such an ambitious story reads so fluidly andfluently is a testimony to both du Gard's and his two translators' splendidprose.Midway in the novel is is a cinematically rendered and unsparingaccount of a tragic seduction that utterly establishes du Gard's gifts as anovelist, and which by itself might justify the entire novel, were therenot so much more here: the marvellously canny portraits of character aftercharacter who Maumort encountered in his life, the unflinching account ofhuman sexuality (especially early male sexual experience), the lavishlydetailed picture of French society, and as already mentioned, no shortageof food for thought. All this capped by a poignant and powerful moment ofdark paralysis towards the close, as the aged Colonel, having justreclaimed his beloved rural estate from its Nazi occupiers, takes one lastlook back at a relentlessly examined life.

I'll be reading this one again!
Some people like short books, others like them long - I like themgreat.I read this book in every spare moment I had for two weeks.I'vefinished it, and now I am bereft.Reading it, I felt so known, so human, so accompanied.I want the honesty and clarity of this book in my life.

Stunningly Contemporary
Timothy Crouse has always had an eye for the telling story that's right under everyone's nose, but which most everyone else misses. His book "The Boys on the Bus" was the first not only to notice the enormous power of thepress in a presidential campaign but also candidly to describe itsoperations.

His journalism over the years has been marked by a stubbornwillingness to describe contradictions and unfairness, bringing a clearOrwellian eye to an examination of the social and political conventions bywhich we live and would just as soon forget. Yet he has always been amongthe most entertaining and fluent of writers, successfully tackling manygenres.

His update of the libretto to Cole Porter's musical "AnythingGoes" matched that 1920s show with the madcap spirit of the `80s, and ranfor years in New York.

When, lately, the word trickled out that for hislatest project Crouse was engaged in translating a massive, 60 year oldFrench novel, by an obscure (to Americans) Nobel Prize winner that dealt indetail with French life in the 19th century, readers wondered what was withthis chronicler of our own times and spirit.

Trust Crouse, however, tofind the contemporary in what everyone else thought of as antique. Thebook, "Lieutenant-Colonel de Maumort" (Knopf), written by Roger Martin DuGard, is now out in a fluent, companionable translation done jointly byCrouse, and his collaborator, Luc Brebion Ph.D.

Brebion himself is adistinguished, Berkeley-based, writer, translator and lecturer onaesthetics

As an example of the translators' art, Brebion and Crouse haveproduced a model. The text flows easily and persuasively; the notes are fewand unobtrusive; the narrative voice is candid and companionable. In agewhen most writers are writing books designed to be read in 10 minutespurts, Brebion and Crouse offer a text that inveigles the reader into aricher, more rewarding reading experience. The ten minutes you have beforebed for reading, quickly becomes with "Maumort" thirty, thirty minutesbecome forty-five.

Ostensibly the memoir, written as the Nazis invadeFrance in 1940, by a retired French officer of his life in the previous 80years, "Maumort" is a surprisingly frank and insightful account of social,family, political, intellectual, and sexual manners.

It may indeed havebeen too frank - the author, Martin du Gard, who died in 1958 before hecould finish the work, had, at any rate, ordered its publication to beposthumous.

One of the most modern portraits is of a single woman, whoadopts a child, only to be disappointed when the adopted child fails toprove to be brilliant.The consequences are horrible as the motherwithdraws from the adopted daughter. As Martin duGard writes, "In fact, shewas not satisfied with loving the girl, she wanted to be proud of her aswell, wanted her affection to be, as it were, justified by the child'sexceptional qualities." This novella, "The Story of Henriette," sounds aneerie current note as one listens to contemporary parents measure theirchildren's worth primarily in terms of schools, and tests.

Written withenormous sympathy for the plight of each ofits characters, "Maumort"nonetheless posits that much human behavior is situational, not innate. AsAmericans, these days, feel more and more that they are born into tribes,some may find this view controversial, others, objecting to the reductionof personality to traits, may find it welcome. It is an insanelycontemporary discussion.

Martin du Gard's detailed portraits of marriageswill leave readers' jaws agape as they see themselves in the lives of theseearly 20th century Parisian couples.

And as baby-boomers findthemselves in small families, wondering about old age, Martin du Gard'sassessment of the failures and strong points of large families, and on theemotional life of the aging, is vivid and apposite.

"Maumort" is one ofthe first novels in which there is a serious, modern treatment of gaythemes. A subsection of the novel, entitled "The Drowning", an account of atragic obsession between a schoolteacher-soldier and a baker's apprentice,rivals Melville's "Billy Budd" as a depiction of the high cost that is paidwhen societal strictures cross passion, drowning not only happiness, butalso courage.

Not the least of the book's valuables, is the vocabularyMartin du Gard - and here the translation work of Brebion and Crouse is atits most pellucid - gives to the evanescent moments when a relationshipshifts and suddenly redefines itself.

Although Martin du Gard was unableto finish his portraits of French military leaders, his panorama ofParisian intellectual life is rich. Again, while these portraits are rootedin a long gone age, they are of more than antiquarian interest: Here is theacademic who, beguiled by the media scene, never writes anything important.Here is the blustering ideologue who has nothing to say, but says it abouteverything. There, the trust-fund baby, rendered impotent by an addictionto comfort, who nonetheless considers himself part of the great world ofaffairs.

His sketches of French military and political leaders alsoresonate deeply. As I read them, I found myself thinking, "that's as apt adescription of Bill Clinton [or George W. Bush, or Al Gore, or BillBennett, say] as I've ever read.

So Brebion and Crouse have pulled fromhistory, a novel valuable not only for its description of olden days, butprimarily for its uncanny, and needed, articulation of the people, mores,and manners of our own day.

Part and parcel of the book is a sectioncontaining Martin du Gard's notes and files. These "Black Box files" offera fascinating insight into an author struggling with, and conquering,problems of narrative. A boon for writers.

Old Pleasure
I stopped reading Colonel Maumort at the halfway point. So good, I'm saving it for vacation. Same feeling I had when I read Tolstoy. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Masterpiece for a Select Audience
This is the second book by Martin du Gard that I have read.I enjoyed the first one, "The Thibaults", but I was uncertain of its' message.I do not have such doubts about "Jean Barois".There are actually two topics of note in this novel.The primary one is the on-going debate between Christianity and what we have come to call "secular humanism".The novel begins and ends with this theme.In the middle half of the book, however, is another subject; The Dreyfus Affair.

Persons interested in the debate between religion vs. atheism will find this a fascinating book.The author really does justice to both sides of the issue and brings out the best artillery that each side had to offer.The main character is a person who has gone out of his way to denounce all faith as meaningless.He losses his wife and other loved ones in his adamant refusal to just show up for any Christian rites.It's not enough to decline, he must also ridicule.

The middle portion of the novel is a terrific insight to the affair of Captain Dreyfus.In case you aren't aware of this notorious event in French History, it has to do with a French officer (Dreyfus) being found guilty of treason and exiled to Devil's Island.It so happens that Captain Dreyfus is a Jew which many believe to be the reason that he was charged and convicted.Some years after his conviction evidence came to light that exonerated the Captain and created a scandal for the whole French military.(For some who have developed particular opinions of the French in the last 6 months, this might be reason enough to read the book).The events unfold through the eyes of Jean Barois and his compatriots who publish a political magazine.The heated discussions that these gentlemen have effectively draws out the various perspectives of the scandal and its' affect on France.

The novel then finds it way back to the subject of religious faith vs. scientific fact.This happens by the emergence of a new character and her affect on Monsiuer Barois.Again the debate is heavily engaged and the reader will probably again be impressed by how the author is able to argue both positions so well.Ultimately we see the author's preferred response to the issue but proponents of the oposite view will come away feeling that they had a fair hearing.

For those interested in the two subjects I have cited, this book is a masterpiece of literature and should not be missed! For those not interested in the about subjects, this book should still be an enjoyable and enlightening experience.I admit I was a bit confused by the dual subject matter and the almost abrupt change from one to the next.However, I think the author did so to bring out the passion that was within Jean Barois and how it was, for a time at least, able to replace the passions of faith that exist in others.This book was written 90 years ago but its' meaning and relevance is quite contemporary.It may be hard to find but it'll be worth the effort.

Jean Barois
The story is centerd in an atheus man,Jean Barois, and the conflict,of not believing in a God and the need to do so.
The majesty in wich du Gard treats a theme of special difficulty: the religious problematic of the modern man,makes this one of the most characteristic and suggestive books in modern french literature.

Not recomended to people who have doubts in they're religious faith. ;) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Rare Jewel
They don't make them like this any more, as they say.This classic, written by a Nobel Prize winner, is revered in Europe, but little known in he United States.A word of warning: this book is the continuation of du Gard's Les Thibaults, the novel about a French middle class family at the turn of the 20th century.It would probably be better to read Les Thibaults first. ... Read more

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Inside the Creative Mind of AndréGide
AndréGide is an important writer cum philosopher whose work in the last century added to the understanding of the gay persona and the accompanying artistic gifts and invaluable writings in a time less informed than the present.Author Roger Martin Du Gard was a long time associate of Gide and this slim but provocative 'memoir' traces their friendship and shared writings and conversations from 1913 until Gide's death in 1951.

While we all know the novels and writings of Gide (the 'Corydon' remains the first significant defense of homosexual freedom) this book underlines the personality of this conflicted genius: his marriage to Madame Gide is revealed to be one of the more interesting 'covers' in a long line of such relationships of convenience.

Du Gard spends much of this book discussing the dichotomy of thought that surrounded Gide's publication of the infamous 'Corydon' and for scholars of 20th Century writing this book will prove an invaluable resource.Both Gide and Du Gard were awarded the Nobel Prize for literature (Du Gard in 1937 and Gide in 1947) and it is more than just interesting how these two laureates influenced each other's writings and lives. Well written and endlessly fascinating, 'Notes on André Gide' is a fine contribution to the field of historical writing. The excellent translation is by John Russell.Grady Harp, December 06 ... Read more

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Rare Jewel, Unknown in the U.S.
This is probably one of the best classics ever written.While it is revered in Europe, it is all but unknown in the United States.I re-read the book recently in the English translation, some 30 years after I first read it in Europe. I could not believe how freshly written it seemed. It proves once again that classics never age.The novel centers around two brothers from the turn of the 20th century and explores the complexity of many kinds of human relationships.You will find yourself in at least one of them.

It also portrays French culture and burgeois life-style of the era when France was turning from a staunchly Catholic into a secular country.

The sequel, Summer of 1914, earned the Nobel Prize in 1937.Roger Martin du Gard is well known and respected in Europe.It is not quite clear why he is barely known in the United States.The language and themes are as contemporary today as they were when the book was written.

This rare jewel is not to be missed by any serious reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Day in the Life
This is the third book by Roger Martin du Gard that I have read and it is, by far, the shortest.The other two, "The Thibaults" and "Jean Barois" were of greater magnitude in their scope and in their impact on me.However, that is not to say that Msr. Martin du Gard can't handle the smaller scale.I found "The Postman" to be very absorbing once I got past the first few introductary chapters.

"The Postman" is the tale of one man's day and the people he encounters,their background and the events affecting their lives that day.The title character, Msr. Joigneau, knows a lot more that he should about the various people on his route because he has a habit of steaming their letters open and reading them.It turns out to be a fairly interesting day and we find ourselves drawn into all of the characters and events.The author utilizes this format to give us a number of interesting thumbnail sketches of the local population.It is a surprizingly bountiful amount of characterization for a mere 156 pages and the book leaves you with a feeling that you would like to visit this town for a few more days (or weeks).

As I sadly came to the end, I was left with a feeling that book had actually gone a chapter too far.I felt that chapter 26 summed it all up much better than the unnecessary chapter 27.

If you've ever been curious to read this Nobel Prize-winning novelist but weren't ready to do so through some of his lengthier works, "The Postman" might be just the book for you....if you can find it. ... Read more

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This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Little Known Treasure
I will never understand why this Nobel Prize-winning French author is almost unknown in the United states.Du Gard's masterpiece "Les Thibaults" is equal to Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks and, in my opinion, better than "War and Peace."
Jean Barois is his earlier work in which he examines effects of religion on individuals and society against the background of the notorious Dreyfus Affair.
An absolutely fascinating work, as relevat today as it was a hundred years ago. ... Read more