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Le Bal (Paperback)
Short Description for Le BalThe Kampfs decide to throw a ball in order to launch themselves into society. Their daughter Antoinette, who has just turned fourteen, dreams of attending. But Madame Kampf is resolved not to present her daughter, already so grown up, to her admirers. Instead, Antoinette is forced to sleep in the laundry room, as her bedroom is used as coatroom.
Full description- Publisher: VINTAGE
- Published: 04 October 2007
- Format: Paperback 112 pages
- See: Full bibliographic data
- Categories: Classics
- ISBN 13: 9780099493976 ISBN 10: 0099493977
- Sales rank: 85,236
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Reviews for Le Bal
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Le Bal
Clearly, Irene Nemirovsky was and is a great writer. Her books are moving and austere, and this novella is no exception.
The tale is set in Paris, with a family with new wealth. The event is a ball planned to announce the family's arrival into â?~high society'. While the plot is simple, it is the characters and their relationships which make this a wonderful piece of writing.
Meet Madame Kampf, who opens the story with: "Madame Kampf walked into the study and slammed the door behind her with such force that a gust of air made the crystal beads on the chandelier jingle with the pure, light sound of small bells." The Madame slams right through this tale, her feelings of inferiority casting a dark shadow over this family.
Meet Antoinette, Madame's daughter, fourteen, perched on the edge of womanhood. Throughout the narrative readers keenly appreciate that Antoinette is, for her mother, an unnecessary, difficult appendage - "couldn't you use the service entrance?" Madame asks of her daughter. This sets the tone of the story and partly justifies the Antoinette's attempt to undermine her mother's need enter society.
A very sad and moving piece. A fabulous reading experience! by Justine Saidman
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