Our club reading weeks often given me the excuse to revisit favourite authors; more often than not it’s Agatha Christie, who was so prolific during the 20th century; but today I’m returning to one of my most beloved authors – the wonderful French writer Colette.
As I’ve no doubt mentioned here before, I first read her in my early 20s, during a voyage of literary discovery when I came across and devoured so many of the authors who changed my way of looking at, and thinking about, the world. Colette’s reputation has probably risen and fallen over the years, at least in countries outside her native France, but she’s possibly become better known nowadays following the recent film of her life. I have a shelves full of her works, as you can see, and I was very happy to find that her “Sido” was first published in 1929… 😀
Many of Colette’s works were what would now be called autofiction, but “Sido” is actually a work of memoir, containing as it does three pieces looking back on her family – the titular work, “The Captain” and “The Savages” (my edition also contains “My Mother’s House”, first published in 1922) “Sido” is translated here by Enid McLeod, and although short is a quite beautiful and lyrical reminiscence of her past.
Colette starts by setting her mother firmly in her landscape; the house and the garden are central to Sido’s existence, her country life one that she loves, and her relationship with Paris wary. She surveys her territory, the elements that surround her and is the fixed, central point in Colette’s life. Sido battles with the elements, tends her loved ones, garden and animals, and is capable of praise or criticism, whenever it’s needed. Her daughter regards her with awe and, it’s very clear, misses her when she finally marries and leaves for the City of Light.
She knew that I should not be able to resist, any more than she could, the desire to know, and that like herself I should ferret in the earth of that flowerpot until it had given up it secret. I never thought of our resemblance, but she knew I was her own daughter and that, child though I was, I was already seeking for that sense of shock, the quickened heart-beat, and the sudden stoppage of the breath – symptoms of the private ecstasy of the treasure-seeker. A treasure is not merely something hidden under the earth, or the rocks, or the sea. The vision of gold and gems is but a blurred image. To me the important thing is to lay bear and bring to light something that no human eye before mine has gazed upon.
“The Captain” is a pen-portrait of Colette’s father, Sido’s second husband and a man who obviously adores his wife. A war-hero, he lost his leg fighting in the Second Italian War of Independence and worked as a tax collector in village of Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, where the family lived and Colette was born. As seen through the young girl’s eyes, he’s defined by his passion for Sido, and although the latter rules the roost around the home, The Captain is always treated with respect.
As for the savages, Colette’s brother and half-brother, her portrayal of them is tender and moving, particularly as one was no longer with them when she wrote this piece. She looks back on their childhood, their games and fights and differences and closeness. And poignantly she relates a recent meeting with the one grown brother and how he had not necessarily taken the path expected, although both siblings were still close. It’s as powerful a piece as the other two and evidence, if it were needed, of what a superb writer Colette was.
The three pieces collected here as Sido are such beautiful, evocative pieces of writing that I found myself transported back nearly 100 years while I read them, to rural France with its village life and closeness to nature. Colette herself always had a strong attachment to the animal and vegetable world (something I recognised in the first book of hers which I read, “Break of Day”); and that stayed with her even during her long life living in cities.
I’ve seen it reported that Colette idealised her past, tweaking her memories to present things as she wanted to remember them; well, that’s perhaps something we all do to an extent. Whether she did or not, “Sido” is a gorgeous, lyrical work which conjures up her past, her family and a lost way of life – totally unforgettable and a perfect re-read for the #1929Club!
MarinaSofia
Oct 27, 2022 @ 07:21:18
This was one I wanted to include in my ‘read earlier’ post but it didn’t quite fit the theme. ‘Where are the children?’ is an echo that stayed with me (from My Mother’s House, I believe, rather than Sido, but in my mind they are all linked).
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 15:44:52
Yes, the two are in the same volume of mine and so I always think of them together. Such a wonderful writer.
Brona's Books
Oct 27, 2022 @ 09:12:56
Sounds enchanting! Another book to look out for whenever I find myself wandering into a secondhand bookshop!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 15:44:09
Definitely! You can never have too much Colette in my opinion!
Simon T (StuckinaBook)
Oct 27, 2022 @ 10:21:26
Colette is another reliable for the club years! Really glad this re-read was so enjoyable.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 15:43:31
She is, and I loved this revisit – I should really re-read her more often!
Cath
Oct 27, 2022 @ 11:47:08
Never too late to be inspired is it? I’m 69 and firstly a lass on Youtube who is passionate about Victorian lit has inspired me to read a few classics that I haven’t already read from that era, next year. And secondly all these 1929 posts are making me realise how many wonderful authors I’ve missed out on. I’ve never read anything by Colette but this book you’ve featured sounds really wonderful. Where would you suggest starting with her?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 15:43:10
I’m not that much of a spring chicken myself, and still love finding new authors and books! As for Colette, that’s hard to say – the Claudine books were her first published works, though I wouldn’t say necessarily her best. But if you like to read an author chronologically start there! I read “Break of Day”, one of her later books, first and absolutely adored it. Or you could get a flavour of her writing with her short stories. “Cheri” and “The Last of Cheri” are considered quintessential Colette too!
Margot Kinberg
Oct 27, 2022 @ 11:59:19
Oh, how lovely to see Colette highlighted here! I really like her work, and haven’t read her in long time. You’re inspiring me to a re-read!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 15:40:47
She’s just so good that whenever I do re-read her, I wonder why I don’t do it more often!
Calmgrove
Oct 27, 2022 @ 12:19:35
I’ve not read any Colette, but have started to dip into Jean Rhys’s Good Morning, Midnight in readiness for #NovNov, and so far it definitely feels like autobiografiction! I’ll wait till I complete that before I contemplate Collette, I think. 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 14:28:05
Rhys is very much writing her life, I think. And Colette did too, although I feel the latter had a much more positive view of life, even in her darker moments!
Liz Dexter
Oct 27, 2022 @ 12:49:32
What a super choice! I read her in my 20s broadening-out, too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 14:25:56
She was a wonderful discovery and I was pleased to find I still love her work!
madamebibilophile
Oct 27, 2022 @ 18:42:03
Such a lovely review Kaggsy. I adore Colette but I’ve not read this, it sounds wonderful.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2022 @ 18:52:26
Thank you Madame B – it’s a lovely read (well, both of the pieces in this book are) – I do recommend!
janetemson
Oct 27, 2022 @ 20:47:11
I’ve never read any of her work but this has intrigued me! I shall have to look up her books.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 28, 2022 @ 15:18:27
Oh, she’s wonderful – I hope you get to read her!
Julé Cunningham
Oct 28, 2022 @ 00:11:42
Goodness, what a gorgeous collection! And a gorgeous-sounding book, it makes me happy just reading about it!😊
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 28, 2022 @ 15:17:43
I adore Colette’s writing – definitely recommend her!
#1929Club – your reviews – Stuck in a Book
Oct 30, 2022 @ 11:10:08
heavenali
Oct 30, 2022 @ 17:08:53
I have read very little Colette, but I have read My Mother’s House and Sido. I have such a fond memory of that book (one volume edition). I loved her portraits of these people who she brings so faithfully to life.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 30, 2022 @ 18:01:11
Totally agree – such beautiful writing and Colette’s family are so wonderfully rendered.
WordsAndPeace
Nov 08, 2022 @ 19:28:51
Wow, you have a nice Colette collection!
I’m planning to listen to Sido soon for my Classics 4th list
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 08, 2022 @ 20:17:58
Thank you! I’ve been reading and collecting them for a few decades now… Enjoy Sido – I love it!
Rounding up my 2022 reading! 😊📚 | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Dec 31, 2022 @ 07:00:38