Mademoiselle Giraud, ma femme
1870
Adolphe Belot
Paris : E. Dentu
French
Novel
278pp
Lesbians, Decadence, Naturalism
You persisted in taking me for a child who knew nothing of life; with that presumption peculiar to all men, you were sure of winning my love and you married me. [...] If I do not love you as you desire, at least, I will never love anyone else [...] In a word, I shall be the best of sisters to you."
Summary
After an unsuccessful hunt for the perfect wife, Adrien marries the beautiful unwilling Paule Giraud against the advice of the woman's lover, Countess Berthe de Blangy. Paule refuses to sleep with Adrien, who serendipitously bemoans the fact to Count de Blangy. The two husbands vow to separate their wives and end the women's relationship.
Content & Trigger Warnings
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Editions
Le Figaro (1870?) Serialization. Following protests, the serialization was cancelled.
Paris : E. Dentu (1870) 278pp.
Paris : F Roy (1889) Cover and more illustrations by Le-Livre. Preface by Emile Zola?
Chicago : Laird & Lee (1891) tr. A. D. English preface defending the book by Emile Zola. 394pp.
Paris : F Roy (n.d.) as Les Femmes Explosive: Mademoiselle Giraud, ma Femme. Cover by Le-Livre on AbeBooks.
MLA (2002) tr. Christopher Rivers. 216pp. ISBN: 9780873527989 (FR) & 9780873527996 (EN)