An unexpected collaboration

[shewhomust]

Exhibit A is the cover of the first edition of Colette's Claudine à l'école, published by her husband as being his own work. Later the book was presented as a collaboration, though the extent of Willy's contribution is disputed.

Exhibit B is a further treasure from the bookshelves of A Gentleman. I have not yet had a chance to read it, but assume it to be a translation of the French original.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

:-)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

!

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

This is a book I must read (but never write).

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

One of us must certainly read it!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Looks like fun!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Note the 'Bigger Splash' cover, too...

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Whoo!

Nine

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Couldn't have put it better myself!

[goldenmug.livejournal.com]

I must, in the dim and distant past have read "Claudine at St Clare's". I never liked St Clare's very much, so memories are rather dim. I do, however, remember enough to think that it is unlikely that Blyton borrowed anything except the name from Colette.

St Clare's was a running series, with a cast of (thoroughly English) characters who make a appearance in every volume. Inserting a translation of Colette would require a great deal of mangling.

The prospect of Enid Blyton translating French literature has a charm of its own, but no real plausibility.

Or have I missed some more subtle irony?

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, it was a joke - because, as you say, the idea has a charm of its own.

I have now read the book, and while no-one should take this as a recommendation, it was not as terrible as I expected.

D'Oh

[goldenmug.livejournal.com]

Problem with the web is, you never know how to gauge what you read until you've been reading it for some time. This means that you should read, without comment, for several weeks before grabbing your mouse and pressing the "reply" button. That way you have some idea of whether your reading the words of an enthusiastic, but ill-informed commentator or someone whose seen a good joke, and expects you to do likewise.

Alas, keeping my mouth shut (for fear of putting my foot in it) was never one of my virtues/self-preservation instincts. This has lead to more than one D'Oh moment.

It has also lead me to jump into debates that everyone else had abandoned in 2004, but no one had closed officially.

'Pologies for spoiling your joke with my heavy-footedness.

gm

Re: D'Oh

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

No problem!