The affair between Adele Hugo, Victor Hugo’s wife, and Charles Saint-Beuve has gone down in history as a mistake made by everyone; a doomed love affair that simply never should have started. Chock full of details that only history can make believeable, like Saint-Beuve’s hermaphroditism and cross-dressing, and the intoxicating world of 19th century France, the book is really a love story about two people who have made mistakes but have never ceased longing for one another.
I knew I wanted to read another book by Humphreys after Coventry and she certainly hasn’t let me down here. The book is short, but it covers thirty years of the couple’s affair, even after one of them has passed on. We alternate between Adele’s and Saint-Beuve’s voices, witnessing their struggles to be together from both sides. Adele, obviously, cannot leave her husband, who grows increasingly famous, particularly because of her children, while Saint-Beuve struggles to become the man he longs to be in Victor’s ever-present shadow.
I had actually never heard of the affair between Saint-Beuve and Adele, but since reading this book have really come to realize that it was well known in its time and almost universally derided. Saint-Beuve in particular has borne the brunt of the ridicule, possibly because he was actually a hermaphrodite.
This makes for a very interesting book, but instead of making it seem at all vulgar or strange, Humphreys weaves it into his personality and makes his cross-dressing and his confusion sexually just another aspect of him, just like his desire to write is a part of him but does not define him. I thought this was an incredibly sensitive way to handle the subject and Humphreys does an extraordinary job, both with his personality and the way that Adele sees him and falls in love with him and is physically attracted to him despite things like cross-dressing which would immediately put off many straight women in the present.
Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed, which I briefly alluded to above, is Saint-Beuve’s struggle to define himself. He virtually lives in Victor’s shadow – struggling to surpass Victor’s writing skills, falling in love with his wife, and even at times coveting Victor’s children. He tries so hard to set himself apart, but is all he really wants to be Victor. It’s a real struggle with individuality.
Humphreys is a beautiful writer and her words set nineteenth-century Paris alight. The atmosphere, especially when the couple are together, is wonderful and immediately grants us a sense of place.
A lovely, tender but sad read, The Reinvention of Love is the perfect choice for those who prefer their literary fiction set in the past with a whole heap of doomed romance.
All book links to external sites are affiliate links. I received this book for free from Amazon Vine.
Every since I lived in Guernsey, I’ve had a soft spot for Hugo — even though he was totally paranoid. His house there is worth touring. Or at least it was in the early 1980s.
Beth F´s last post …Review & Giveaway: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
I HAVE to read this one. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m going to go look it up right now. It’s been awhile since I read a historical fiction, so this looks like a great one to get me back into the swing of things!
Becky at “One Literature Nut”´s last post …Late Night Sunday Blatherings
It sounds like this book was really very sensitively written, and your synopsis made it seem like something that I would really like. I am glad to hear that it was such a great read for you, and I am also happy to have read your thoughtful review. Had I not, this book might have just passed me by. Thanks!
zibilee´s last post …SIBA 2011 Event Recap
You’ve sold me on this one! It sounds so lovely, and I adore novels about real people and events.
nomadreader (Carrie)´s last post …More on Libraries Lending Kindle Books
This sounds fascinating. I’ll have to look for it – I think I’d like it and I’m almost sure my mother would love it.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last post …Mailbox Monday
Sounds fascinating. You definitely sold me on this one. It goes on my Christmas Wish List. I’m not big on literary fiction but when you throw in historical and France, I’m there.
JR Tomlin´s last post …Review of The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick
Your thoughtful review makes the book sound so much more interesting than that generic cover implies! I love Hugo’s poetry (much more than his novels) and have a 1940s biography of Sainte-Beuve (containing a b&w photo plate of a painting of a young Mme. Hugo, looking quite the beauty but also slightly supercilious), but can’t recall ever having encountered either man in fiction before. Thank you for this; I will definitely take a closer look.
Danielle´s last post …On The Matter Of Historical Accuracy in Fiction
I find Helen Humphreys very interesting as an author. She seems to find such interesting subjects to write about!
Marg´s last post …Cover Reveal: Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh
I have really enjoyed the two books I have read by Humphreys. I will have to read this one at some point.
Kailana´s last post …Week in Review (34) and Short Story Sunday – Week 3
Sounds a fascinating read. The author is new to me and one I will keep an eye out for. Thanks for the review.
Mystica´s last post …Additional Mailbox Monday!!!
OHMYGOSH I MUST READ THIS BOOK!
heidenkind´s last post …Book Review: PERFUME, THE STORY OF A MURDERER by Patrick Süskind
I hadn’t heard of this affair either but this book sounds fascinating! I definitely want to read it.
Stephanie´s last post …Mailbox . . . Tuesday?
I’ve really been wanting to read this one. The setting sounds particularly to my taste I have to say!
kay @ Infiniteshelf´s last post …Artsy Shelf – 35 – The Almost Kiss