Alain-Fournier’s French classic The Lost Estate, recently released in a new translation by Penguin Classics, is one of the most magical novels that I have read in some time. Set in the countryside of France in the late 1800s, the novel revolves around a boys’ boarding school whose newest student, Meaulnes, called “The Grand Meaulnes” by the other students who admire and seemingly worship him, captivates the attention of even the demanding instructor. Meaulnes’ demeanor, both mysterious and questionable, comes into full interest when he disappears for three days. The reader learns that while lost, he has happened upon an large country estate which is in the midst of a large wedding party complete with costumed guests enjoying copious feasts in large banquet halls. A love interest ensues which later takes Meaulnes on a several year journey to find his lost love, all the while tugging at the reader’s heart strings.
Reminiscent of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, The Lost Estate is a treasure and one which I will not soon forget. I was looking forward to reading more novels by Alain-Fournier, but sadly learned that he was killed in WWI and that this was his only novel.
Because this little gem was such an unusually written novel, I have chosen it for Lemuria’s book club “Atlantis” for our September selection. Come join our discussion of The Lost Estate on Thursday, September 3, at 5:15 p.m. in the Banner Hall lobby just outside of Lemuria’s front door.
-Nan
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