La Symphonie Pastorale (Le Livre de poche, #6)

This is a beautifully written tale of how a good person can deceive himself (or herself) and do great damage. It is as good an examination of self centeredness and the suffering it causes as any Buddhist text (I'm a 19 year Chan and Tibetan practitioner) and a gorgeous peice of literature besides.

The 60 or so pages of 'La Symphonie Pastorale' was all that Andre Gide needed to offer us a beautifully rendered account of the passions of a rural, Protestant minister, and their affects on him and those around him. Gide's novella circles around the aforementioned minister and his 'Christian Mission' to take in and educate a blind, mute girl who lives in his parish. Gide provides an interesting reflection on the clash that occurs when optimistic Christian idealism comes head to head with the realities of life. The zealotry of this good samaritan is brought crashing down to earth when his ambitions are expressed to his exasperated wife and his less than enthusiatic family. What proves more interesting however is Gide's development of the relationship between the minister and the young blind girl. The affection that develops in the heart of the minister forges parallels with Vladimir Nabokov's 'Lolita', however Gide develops this bond in a different manner. This closeness is on far more of an emotional and spiritual level and does not have the lascivious or explicitly sexual leanings of Nabokov's novel. Gide's talents in respect of both depth of character and richness of prose, are well exemplified in this very attractive novella. For those interested in reading Gide, 'La Symphonie Pastorale' is a perfect starting point.

Un roman émouvant avec un amour difficile, voire impossible, entre le narrateur, pasteur dans le Jura, et une orpheline aveugle, Gertrude. Le pasteur rencontre Gertrude dans une ferme. La jeune femme se trouve dans un état physique lamentable et le pasteur décide de l'emmener chez lui pour faire son éducation. Il passe beaucoup de temps avec elle, lui apprend à lire. Le mécontentement de sa femme Amélie va grandissant : elle reproche au pasteur de s'occuper davantage de Gertrude que de ses propres enfants. Il n'échappe pas à Amélie que bientôt le pasteur développera un sentiment plus que paternel pour Gertrude. Lorsque Gertrude va recouvrer la vue, sa relation avec le pasteur court vers le désastre. Un des meilleurs romans d'André Gide.

La Symphonie Pastorale deals with the semi-acknowledged love affair between a married Protestant priest and Gertrudes, a blind girl he takes into his home and educates. Blinded by love, the priest continually neglects his wife and children, deceiving himself and Gertrudes in the process. Many themes run through this amazing novel: love, family, duty, blindness (literal and metaphorical), sensibility, moral conventions, and so on. All is dealt with with a subtle, highly intelligent touch and in a language that evokes the world at its most beautiful and painful.The priest himself tells the story and as we go with him on his narrative journey, we feel his deep humanity and the yearning for understanding that only Gertrudes can appease. Unfortunately theirs is not a sanctioned love...Read it. ;-)

I first read this a few years ago and I have read it several more times since. It is one of the best French books I have ever read. It is by far the best Gide book. It is about a vicar in turn of the century Switzerland who helps a blind orphan girl but destroys his life in the process. It is very powerful and emotional. It is beautifully and poignantly written.