Book #1: Suzy's Dream (Le rêve de Suzy)

Henri Ardel published Suzy's Dream (Le rêve de Suzy) mid-career, with her full writing career lasting from 1893-1937. From what I was able to research online, Suzy's Dream was probably published in 1914. Also, on the title page of the copy I translated, it says the following:

Ce volume a été déposé au ministère de l’intérieur en 1914. (This volume was submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in 1914.)

My best guess is that once it was submitted to the Ministry of the Interior that meant it was a published work. If anyone knows anything different concerning how publishing worked in France at the time, that would be good to know.

This specific novel of Ardel's falls in line with what she typically wrote, or what was also described as "sentimental novels for ladies," as I mentioned in my last post. We follow the main protagonist, Suzy, as she winds her way through and explores the world of love, her heart eventually torn between two different men. When we meet Suzy, she is described as having "sparkling brown eyes," "intense," "passionate," and "fortunate in her appearance" (Nissen).  Her life is not one given over to frivolous things, such as the opening scene might suggest, but instead "an ordinary life of essential simplicity" with her family in Paris (Nissen).

With each new chapter I begin, I will give a list of characters we will encounter along the way: 

  • Madame (Mme.) de Berly (Marthe) -- eldest daughter of M. and Mme. Arnay
  • Suzanne (Suzy) -- cousin to Mme. de Berly and Germaine
  • Georges de Flers -- guest at Le Castel
  • Germaine Arnay -- younger sister to Mme. de Berly
  • Monsieur (M.) de Berly -- married to Marthe, although his name is never mentioned
  • Madame (Mme.) Arnay -- mother to Germaine and Marthe/Suzy's aunt
  • Monsieur (M.) Arnay -- father to Germaine and Marthe/Suzy's uncle
  • Pyrrha, Saladin, Tob -- dogs of M. Arnay
  • Lady Graham and Miss Gladys Tufton -- soon to arrive British guests

The opening scene takes place at the summer home of M. and Mme. Arnay, a place called Le Castel (the English translation is pretty simple, The Castle). I decided to keep the French version of the name because I want to make sure that the French location, tone, and characters shine through. This is, after all, a French novel.

One stylistic choice I had to figure out early on was point of view (POV). Suzy's Dream is written with more or less an omniscient POV. At first, I really struggled against wanting to translate it like that. Although omniscient POVs at the time were prevalent throughout most literature, today's audience doesn't really enjoy it that much. It is heavily discouraged in the writing world. I figured that since this was actually Henri Ardel's novel and this was how she originally wanted it written, then I would go along with her stylistic choice concerning POV. 

Even though I conceded to that original publication angle of the book, I didn't do that with everything. I will tackle some of those changes I did make in my next post.

Ciao for now!


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