Discussion post: 2.1.1

[genarti]

And on THAT CHEERFUL NOTE, we've made it to Part II: À Paris, aka In Paris! Book 1: Cimourdain.

Time for chapter 2.1.1, "Les rues de Paris dans ce temps-là," aka "The Streets of Paris at this Period" or "The Streets of Paris at that Time."

Comments

[thjazi]

And now for something completely different, I guess!

I know we have some FRev researchers in the group; hopefully they'll come up with any relevant corrections here, because the main thing my studying on the topic has taught me is that EVERYONE IS IN DISAGREEMENT ABOUT EVERYTHING, and I'm nowhere NEAR expert enough to wrangle with all this small domestic detail-work.

But I love this chapter on its own--whatever my quarrels with Hugo, none of them are about his ability to set a scene. Paris really IS completely different from the Vendee, here; the Vendee is divided, leaning Royalist; Paris is united, at the moment, and wholly republican and revolutionary. The Vendee was presented as all trees and shadows and POSSIBLE blood and fire around every corner, and everyone being scared--death forests full of uncertainty. The streets of Paris aren't less dangerous (by this chapter's description) but it's contained, directed, sort of lawful danger-- the citizens are apparently cutting back on crime, unified by a sort of esprit de corps at a distance (barefoot civilians buying boots to send to the soldiers!) and a serious but honest faith in their new society at hand--in spite of the inflation, the political maneuvering, and everything.

And HEY THERE'S A CIMOURDAIN! Will we actually hear more about him next chapter? Or will we learn more about a random aspect of Paris? Or possibly go to Spain or something? IT'S VICTOR HUGO, I honestly don't know!