Like Death
“Words dazzle and deceive because they are mimed by the face. But black words on a white page are the soul laid bare.” ― Guy de Maupassant
The novel centers around Olivier Bertin, a famous Parisian painter, and his relationship with the Countess Ann de Guilleroy. The story explores themes of aging, love, and the passage of time. Bertin, once the lover of the Countess when she was young, now sees her daughter, who resembles her mother in youth, leading to complex emotions and reflections on mortality and beauty.
Maupassant delves deeply into themes of vanity, the fear of aging, and the unavoidable decline of youth and beauty, all of which are well captured in the translation. Howard's choice of words and phrases illuminates the internal conflicts of Bertin, reflecting on his own aging process alongside the aging of his muse, the Countess. Through Howard's translation, the psychological complexity of the characters is well preserved. The reader feels Bertin's turmoil, the Countess's resignation, and the innocent yet disruptive presence of her daughter.
The book excels in its atmospheric descriptions of Parisian life and its exploration of the human condition. I enjoyed Richard Howard's translation for its elegant and fluid prose, capturing the nuanced and often melancholic tone of Maupassant's original text. Howard maintains the 19th-century French literary style while making it accessible to contemporary English readers. He adds to this by bringing forth the lyrical and poetic elements of Maupassant's writing.
For those interested in classic French literature, the study of aging, or simply in beautifully crafted translations, "Like Death" in Howard's rendition is a profound read. It's particularly recommended for fans of Maupassant or those who appreciate psychological depth in literature.
No comments:
Post a Comment