by Colette
Here a copy from the online New York Times, retrieved on Nov 17th 2013:
“Mitsou,” the story of a love of a little music-hall girl for a nameless lieutenant, in wartime.
Written in a combined form of dialogue, letters and a brief straight narrative, the book is too short for a novel, has none of the elements of a short story, and cannot possibly be called a play. It creates, nevertheless, a unity of impression not achieved by many books more consistent in style. If the language and rhetoric used by Mitsou seem above her station in life, the thoughts and ideals expressed are not, and this is the most important. Colette goes straight to the heart; she is concerned with nothing but emotions, and in portraying them she has a delicacy of touch that can make even the censorable above censoring.
Mitsou, a star in a revue, is the “friend” of a man of affairs who gives her a flat, the use of a car, and who comes to have luncheon with her every day. At 24 she has never known love. Her love for the lieutenant in blue, who was in her dressing room for one brief entr’acte, really begins when she starts corresponding with him. In an exchange of letters he grows to love her and she him. They meet, and she gives herself to him in love, knowing, however, that his love has been stronger in the correspondence than it is in the meeting, and that they will not be lovers again.
“Mitsou,” the story of a love of a little music-hall girl for a nameless lieutenant, in wartime.
Written in a combined form of dialogue, letters and a brief straight narrative, the book is too short for a novel, has none of the elements of a short story, and cannot possibly be called a play. It creates, nevertheless, a unity of impression not achieved by many books more consistent in style. If the language and rhetoric used by Mitsou seem above her station in life, the thoughts and ideals expressed are not, and this is the most important. Colette goes straight to the heart; she is concerned with nothing but emotions, and in portraying them she has a delicacy of touch that can make even the censorable above censoring.
Mitsou, a star in a revue, is the “friend” of a man of affairs who gives her a flat, the use of a car, and who comes to have luncheon with her every day. At 24 she has never known love. Her love for the lieutenant in blue, who was in her dressing room for one brief entr’acte, really begins when she starts corresponding with him. In an exchange of letters he grows to love her and she him. They meet, and she gives herself to him in love, knowing, however, that his love has been stronger in the correspondence than it is in the meeting, and that they will not be lovers again.
Facts:
English title: Mitsou
Original title: Mitsou
Published: 1919
