The Child is a story about growing up that is comparable in humor and humanity to Great Expectations , even as its unflinching exposure of violence and hypocrisy foreshadows the nightmare realsim of Louis-Ferdinand Cline. Jules Valls, an anarchist and a bohemian, dedicated his book "to all those who were bored stiff at school or reduced to tears at home, who in childhood were bullied by their teachers or thrashed by their parents," and it tells the (autobiographical) tale of a young boy constantly scapegoated and abused, emotionally and physically, by his peasant mother and schoolteacher father, whose greatest concern is to improve their social status. But the young hero learns to stand up to his parents, even to love them, in time, and for all the intense pain the book registers it is anything but dreary. To the contrary, Vallss book is one of the funniest in French literature, a triumph of insubordinate comedy over the forces of order and the self-appointed defenders of decency.

L'Enfant

Jules Vallès; translated and with an introduction and notes by Douglas Parmée

Vallès, Jules, 1832-1885; Parmée, Douglas

Jules Vallès, Douglas Parmee

Jules Louis Joseph Valles

Valles, Jules

New York: New York Review Books

NYRB Classics

New York Review Books classics, New York, c2005

New York Review Books classics, New York, ©2004

United States, United States of America

Main, PS, 2005

Translated from the French.

The Child Tells The (autobiographical) Tale Of A Young Boy Constantly Scapegoated And Abused, Emotionally And Physically, By His Peasant Mother And Schoolteacher Father, Whose Greatest Concern Is To Improve Their Social Status. But The Young Hero Learns To Stand Up To His Parents, Even To Love Them, In Time, And For All The Intense Pain The Book Registers It Is Anything But Dreary. To The Contrary, Valles's Book Is One Of The Funniest In French Literature, A Triumph Of Insubordinate Comedy Over The Forces Of Order And The Self-appointed Defenders Of Decency.--jacket. Jules Vallés ; Translated And With An Introduction And Notes By Douglas Parmée. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 335-343).

xxvi, 343 p. ; 21 cm

2023-06-28