La Petite Fadette

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La Petite Fadette is an 1849 novel by French novelist George Sand. The novel was first officially published in 1900 by Henry Holt and Company. The novel has been adapted into a 2004 Television movie by Michaëla Watteaux.

[edit] Plot

The novel takes place in the French 19th century countryside. The parents of Landry and Sylvain, identical twins, which are respectable and relatively rich farmers, do not follow the advice that was done at their birth to keep separating and differentiating them while they are still young. Consequently, they grow always together and loving each other more than anything else. They are actually quite different, Landry being stronger both physically and mentally. But when they are around 12, one has to leave to work in a neighbouring farm. While the separation is also very hard for Landry, his pride makes him trying to hide it, contrary to Sylvain who cries and is very demonstrative. Sylvain does not understand and therefore is hurt by Landry's cold attitude and regularly sulks.

When looking for his brother, Landry first has to deal with Fadette. Fadette lives with her disabled and mentally slow brother and her grandmother who is very hard on them. They are despised by the other villagers because they are considered as witches and are always very dirty. This day, Fadette helps Landry to find his brother but he had to promise her that if she has to help him a second time, she could ask him to do anything she wants. And it happens that Landry needs her advice again to cross a river.

Consequently, Fadette asks him to dance with her and only with her at the next village celebration. Landry is very annoyed since she has a bad reputation and besides, he wanted to dance with Madelon, a popular girl he is interested in. However, he reluctantly keeps his promise and even defends Fadette against boys who were bothering her. Touched and ashamed, she tells Landry to dance with whoever he wants and leaves the party. However, Landry goes after her and hears her crying. They then have a deep discussion for a long time in the dark and Landry realises that she is a very kind, sensible, intelligent and respectable person. He even wants to kiss her but she refuses, telling him that he will regret it the next day. And she was right. The day after, Landry, remembering her dirty face, does not understand how he could have felt such an attraction for her. But soon after, he overhears a conversation between Fadette and Madelon that shows how the first one is kind and humble and the other girl is vain and proud, which revive his feelings for her.

Fadette and him later are engaged in a secret relationship. Sylvain is aware that something is different with his twin and suffers a lot. He discovers his secret but keeps it for himself. But when Madelon finds out, she spreads the news in the village. Everyone including Landry's parents are shocked and urges him to end the relationship. Landry refuses but Fadette decides to leave to stop the scandale. Some time after, Landry also has to leave since he thinks that being separated would do good to his twin.

When Fadette comes back, she has become a respectable, clean and good-looking person. Thanks to her grand-mother's death, she inherits a large amount of money and is able to look after her and her brother correctly. Everyone in the village finally acknowledges her merits and Landry's parents approve their engagement. But jealousy makes again Sylvain ill. Although he initially refuses to see Fadette, she actually manages to cure him and he finally accepts her... and even more since he decides at the end of the book to enlist, after his twin marries Fadette. Although Landry is unaware of that, their mother and probably Fadette have realised that Sylvain has fallen in love with her and does not want to obscure Landry's happiness.