Madame de Treymes

His sense of strangeness was increased by the surprise of his companion's next speech.
You wish to marry my sister-in-law?" she asked abruptly; and Durham's start of wonder was followed by an immediate feeling of relief. He had expected the preliminaries of their interview to be as complicated as the bargaining in an Eastern bazaar, and had feared to lose himself at the first turn in a labyrinth of “foreign” intrigue.

I started my year of reading Edith Wharton with this novella, first published in a magazine in 1906, because it was the only one of her books on the shelf last time I went to the library. The copy I read has large print, wide borders and several blank pages between chapters, and it's still a slim book that didn't take show more much more than an hour to read.

The story is about a straightforward and honourable American man who wishes to marry the estranged American wife of an aristocratic Frenchman. Although long separated from her husband, Madame de Malrive is sure that her husband's family will find a way to prevent her from getting a divorce, even though as a Protestant it is not against her religion, and she enlists her sister-in-law Madame de Treymes to help persuade the rest of the family.

It's not much of a spoiler to say that things do not go well for the protagonist. It is obvious from the beginning that the marriage will never happen, and the publishers of my book quote a review on the back cover that gives it away too. I think that the strength of this novella lies in the gloomy atmosphere and the weight of tradition and family hanging over Madame de Malrive, rather than the plot. show less

2. Madame De Treymes by Edith Wharton
published: 1906
format: Kindle ebook (calling it 87 pages)
acquired: November, read: Jan 5-15, time reading: 2:14, 1.5 mpp, rating: 3
genre/style: Henry James style semi-classic, locations: Paris, theme: Wharton
about the author: 1862-1937. Born Edith Newbold Jones on West 23rd Street, New York City. Relocated permanently to France after 1911.

Our latest in the Litsy Wharton theme, published in 1906. This was her 3rd novella, and 5th longer work for fiction, all since 1900.

A cultural clash in Paris between American New York City elite and French nobility and some intermarriage. The novel is marked by gorgeous prose and terrific characterization. Wharton does a good job of making this a nice read with a show more lot going on under the surface. But it is limited by an only ok plot, and mainly of really wealthy people being really wealthy. The cultural tension is American faux-purity and cluelessness mixing with French sophistication. Also, there is subtle of a lack of sincere emotion. But, unlike in House of Mirth, the tension is not on the wealth itself. Still, I really enjoyed this.

2022
https://www.librarything.com/topic/337810#7726305 show less

Madame de Treymes is perhaps Edith Wharton's most Jamesian novella or short novel. Set in early Twentieth century Paris, it tells the story of a young American who becomes intrigued by a young American woman, married to a French aristocrat. He is aware that he had known her as a youth friend, Fanny Frisbee, but at that time he had no interest in her. However, when he encounters her in Paris she proves to be irresistable. He falls in love with her, hopes to achieve her divorce, so he can marry her. The key to this plot is Madame de Treymes, Fanny's sister-in-law.

As the title indicates, the novella is mainly centered on Madame de Treymes. Like James, Wharton seems to suggest that the psychology of the ancient, French aristocrats is much show more more sophisticated, and devious than that of the relatively simple American, while the latter's motives are more pure. As in James, Madame de Malrive in this novella is unhappily married to an impoverished aristocrat, however, the reasons for staying with him are quite different. Madame de Treymes reads like a light version of The Portrait of a Lady. show less

I read this short novel (really a novella in spite of the fact that it has chapters) as an introduction to Edith Wharton's work. I chose poorly. The plot is interesting enough, concerning a gentleman who wants to marry an American woman living in Paris. The only problem is, she's separated from her current husband, and his family will not consent to a divorce so she can marry again. The novel is restrained, understated, and turn-of-the-century. And those are all bad things in this case. The characters make you feel like they are not real people -- that they are actors playing the part of characters in a book. If that sounds weird, it's on purpose. If you have never read Wharton before, this is not a good introduction to her work. If you show more have read and enjoyed other Wharton works, give this one a pass -- you haven't missed anything. show less

This novella of Edith Wharton's is a gem! In a mere 87 pages a saga unfolds. It is a saga of character, a saga of cultural identities clashing, and a saga of the meaning of love. Excellent!

8481300659

8481300659