Marcel Pagnol, Jean de Florette (JAN-FEB, 2025)
Wednesday 6 pm – 7:30 pm (NY time) / 6 weeks / January 8 – February 5, 2025.
Intermediate (B1) and Advanced (B2) levels.
54 pages to read each week in average. 272 pages in total.
5 weeks. 7.5 hours in total.
10 students.
We will read the book in the small size edition published by Grasset / Fallois (the one with the drawing by Sempé on the cover). Kindle version are also possible.
Jean de Florette is the first volume of a two-part story titled L'Eau des collines. We will read the second volume, Manon des sources, immediately afterward.
Wednesday 6 pm – 7:30 pm (NY time) / 6 weeks / January 8 – February 5, 2025.
Intermediate (B1) and Advanced (B2) levels.
54 pages to read each week in average. 272 pages in total.
5 weeks. 7.5 hours in total.
10 students.
We will read the book in the small size edition published by Grasset / Fallois (the one with the drawing by Sempé on the cover). Kindle version are also possible.
Jean de Florette is the first volume of a two-part story titled L'Eau des collines. We will read the second volume, Manon des sources, immediately afterward.
Wednesday 6 pm – 7:30 pm (NY time) / 6 weeks / January 8 – February 5, 2025.
Intermediate (B1) and Advanced (B2) levels.
54 pages to read each week in average. 272 pages in total.
5 weeks. 7.5 hours in total.
10 students.
We will read the book in the small size edition published by Grasset / Fallois (the one with the drawing by Sempé on the cover). Kindle version are also possible.
Jean de Florette is the first volume of a two-part story titled L'Eau des collines. We will read the second volume, Manon des sources, immediately afterward.
The story of Jean de Florette (published in 1962) unfolds in the sun-kissed landscapes of Provence, a region of breathtaking beauty where life follows a slow, rural rhythm. Yet, beneath this idyllic façade, a tale of darkness and deception emerges. Jean Cadoret, a kind-hearted man, dreams of transforming barren land into a flourishing farm. Unbeknownst to him, his neighbors, the cunning César Soubeyran and his manipulative nephew Ugolin, harbor a sinister plot to seize his land. At the heart of this gripping narrative lies a hidden spring, a precious resource in this arid region. As Jean de Florette invests his heart and soul into his new life, a battle for survival unfolds. The stakes are high: wealth, power, and the very essence of human morality in a small Provençal village.
Pagnol masterfully blends drama and humor, creating memorable characters who provide comic relief. His keen observation of human nature and his ironic wit quickly made this novel a beloved classic of 20th-century French literature.
Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974), a renowned French author, screenwriter, and film director, brings Provence to life with unparalleled authenticity. Through vivid descriptions, he invites readers to experience both the beauty and brutality of rural existence.
