One of Cleopatra’s Nights by Theophile Gautier
I’ve written regularly on the Ramblings about the books produced by Michael Walmer, an independent publisher based down under in Australia. Mike’s books are lovely reprints of interesting lost works, ranging from Australian classics through essays and works of European literature. His newest imprint is one he’s titled Zephyr Books, with the aim to focus on classic novellas, and the first in the series is a gorgeous little story about a night in the life of the most beautiful yet deadly women in history…
French-born Gautier (1811-1872) was a novelist, poet, playwright and journalist, as well as penning art and literary criticism. His work is often bracketed with Romanticism, and was highly thought of by authors as wide-ranging as Pound, Proust, Eliot and Wilde. “One of Cleopatra’s Nights” was published as the title work in a collection of 1882 and at 77 pages probably straddles the line between short story and novella.
Those 77 pages, however, are utterly captivating. The story is, as you might suspect, about one night in the life of the famous Egyptian queen, and as it opens the regal one is suffering from ennui. Bored with the bleak arid landscape of her country, bored with her current lovers, she throws a somewhat petulant hissy fit, wishing for some kind of grand adventure. Little does Cleopatra know that she has an admirer: a lowly young man called Meiamoun, handsome yet poor and obscure, worships her from afar. He follows her around when he can, worshipping from a distance, and dreams only for his queen to know he exists. And on this magical night their trajectories will collide, although what will result remains to be seen.
The story is a simple one, but affectingly told, and much of the appeal comes from Gautier’s wonderfully lush prose. His writing is just gorgeous, vividly conjuring images of the Egyptian night and the hot bare landscape of that country. The story drips atmosphere, and although the style might seem a little overwrought, it actually works beautifully for this book. You can feel the stifling heat of the sandy country; sense the dark night where the temperature barely drops and there is no relief; and visualise the harsh landscape. It is this latter element that was one of the most fascinating to me as I read; I’d never really considered what it would be like to live somewhere with just sand and stone as far as you can see. I guess that living in a country that’s blessed with plenty of rain and greenery, you kind of take that sort of thing for granted…
Reading a story of a slave meets a queen, especially when it’s a monarch as cruel and capricious as Cleo, you wouldn’t necessarily be expecting a happy ending. But the work has a kind of beauty in it, pointing out that perhaps a perfect night with the woman you love can be the only point of your life. Certainly this lovely little hardback edition is a thing of beauty in its own right, and an excellent introduction into the work of a intriguing-sounding author. Another winning volume from Mike Walmer!
(Many thanks to Mike for kindly providing a review copy – much appreciated!)
MarinaSofia
Jun 12, 2017 @ 09:18:07
This is precisely the kind of lush prose that I used to adore as a teenager… not sure how much I would appreciate it now. But of course it sounds even more melodious and romantic in French…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 12, 2017 @ 09:27:25
🙂 I think I might struggle with a whole novel of it, but in shorter works it’s lovely!
Jane @ Beyond Eden Rock
Jun 12, 2017 @ 11:44:20
This sounds lovely, and a little book this could be a good way to meet a new, classic author.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 12, 2017 @ 13:54:47
Absolutely – the perfect introduction to a new writer!
heavenali
Jun 12, 2017 @ 12:49:39
Sounds like an interesting well written novella. I always appreciate such good prose. An intriguing premise too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 12, 2017 @ 13:53:47
The prose is lovely – very lush, and ideal for this kind of story!
Mike Walmer
Jun 12, 2017 @ 13:37:14
Gautier’s nothing but voluptuous, eh, Karen? Really glad you enjoyed it. I wonder if Charmion, Cleopatra’s head slave in the 1963 Taylor-Burton epic, was lifted direct from this? Thanks so much for covering it.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 12, 2017 @ 13:53:31
Very welcome! I enjoyed it very much! 🙂
Liz Dexter
Jun 12, 2017 @ 18:59:35
What a lovely looking book and another excellent small publisher!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 12, 2017 @ 20:52:53
It’s very pretty, isn’t it? And the contents and the cover match beautifully – a lovely read!
madamebibilophile
Jun 13, 2017 @ 07:48:16
This sounds wonderful, a little gem. I can see how a slightly overwrought style could work well in this instance.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 13, 2017 @ 09:50:53
Yes, it was ideal for the kind of story Gautier was telling, and really captured the atmosphere wonderfully.
Izzy
Jun 13, 2017 @ 10:30:42
I wonder who did the translation for this edition. Do you know ?
I love Gautier’s poetry, too. Emaux et Camées (Enamels and Cameos) is one of my favourite volume of poetry. Oscar Wilde has Dorian Gray read from it in PoDG . Highly recommended !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 13, 2017 @ 13:45:07
The translator is Lafcadio Hearn, and it’s most remiss of me not to have said so – I always like to thank the translator! I will most definitely look out for Gautier’s poetry – thank you for the hint! 🙂
Resh Susan @ The Book Satchel
Jun 14, 2017 @ 19:27:15
I have loved reading tidbits of Cleopatra when younger (how she became such a strong person in history and her quaint ways). I think I would love a spin off on the Queen as this. I was not aware of this book. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Hopefully I will pick it up some day.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 15, 2017 @ 09:18:10
It’s definitely worth reading – Cleopatra is wonderfully evoked: powerful, capricious and rather scary!
Max Cairnduff
Jun 26, 2017 @ 11:26:32
He’s an interesting author isn’t he? I’ve only read his The Jinx (La Jettatura, I think, review at mine) which is very good and is a rather nasty but very atmospheric tale of an Englishman in Naples who the locals become persuaded has the evil eye and as such is cursed, and their belief starts to persuade him…
I’m reminded of it because it’s very well written and incredibly atmospheric. Gautier’s strengths clearly.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 26, 2017 @ 13:27:14
Yes, I’d agree that the atmosphere and the writing are the most important here. The plot itself is fairly standard but the quality of those two elements lift it above the norm. And having checked out your review I think I definitely need to read more of him.
Max Cairnduff
Jun 26, 2017 @ 11:28:05
I’ve not found this version, but there’s a free Gutenberg collection on Amazon which includes this. I’ll have to check who the translator is.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Jun 26, 2017 @ 13:24:13
Oh, I’ll have a look. I’d like to explore his work a bit more.
anna amundsen
Aug 09, 2017 @ 09:32:58
Oooh! Another one for my list. I’ve never even heard of Gautier!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Aug 09, 2017 @ 09:48:34
I had only vaguely been aware of him, but I do rather like his writing!
“”…frayed, ragged, blurred and indistinct.” #JohnCowperPowys #MichaelWalmer | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Dec 12, 2019 @ 06:53:35
The struggles of the ‘New Woman’ #SarahGrand | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Jun 12, 2020 @ 07:00:48