The Juggler
Rachilde
Melanie C Hawthorne author Marguerite Vallette-Eymery, "Rachilde" author Melanie C Hawthorne translator Melanie C Hawthorne editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Rutgers University Press
Published:1st Sep '90
Should be back in stock very soon
In The Juggler, the protagonist navigates unconventional love and desire, challenging societal norms through her unique relationships and a surprising conclusion.
Published in 1900, The Juggler is a provocative exploration of identity and desire, penned by the enigmatic Marguerite Vallette-Eymery, known by her pseudonym Rachilde. The narrative centers around Eliante Donalger, a character who embodies the eccentricities of her creator. With her unconventional appearance and interests, Eliante challenges societal norms, particularly in her understanding of human sexuality. She posits that love can extend beyond traditional boundaries, claiming a deep affection for a Greek amphora, which she personifies in her mind. This unique perspective sets the stage for a complex love triangle involving a passionate medical student who vies for her attention.
As the story unfolds, The Juggler delves into themes of seduction and power dynamics, using the metaphor of juggling to illustrate Eliante's attempts to navigate her relationships. The act of juggling becomes a symbol of her struggle to balance her desires, both for the inanimate object and her human suitor. The novel culminates in a surprising twist that questions the very nature of desire and the limits of seduction, leaving readers to ponder the implications of Eliante's choices.
Rachilde's work, once overshadowed, is experiencing a renaissance thanks to contemporary feminist discourse. The Juggler stands as a significant contribution to literature, inviting readers to reconsider the complexities of love and identity in a changing world.
"The Juggler" is an unjustly neglected work. Gracefully poised between decadence and dada, it combines the sensuousness, love of the artificial and sexual ambiguity of Huysman with the word play, subversion and dramatic irony of (Rachilde's friend) Alfred Jarry. The story of the relationship between the "juggler" of the title (in fact a well to do widow), Eliante Donalger, and her younger, somewhat callow suitor, the medical student Leon Reille, the novel alternates between their dramatic exchanges and their equally dramatic letters. The gender reversal and strong female character are reminiscent of Rachilde's more famous work, the scandalous "Monsieur Venus," but "The Juggler" is more nuanced, sure footed and mature, while being just as scandalous. It's a sexy book, even though there's nothing explicit in it, mostly through the author's attention to the minutest of sensations and her appreciation of the elastic wonders of the female body. Eliante's defiantly outsider pose and her suggestion of the artificiality of gender itself make reading "The Juggler" a strangely contemporary and immediate experience, and I must admit I savored every word. -- James Agnew * Amazon *
"The Juggler" is an unjustly neglected work. Gracefully poised between decadence and dada, it combines the sensuousness, love of the artificial and sexual ambiguity of Huysman with the word play, subversion and dramatic irony of (Rachilde's friend) Alfred Jarry. The story of the relationship between the "juggler" of the title (in fact a well to do widow), Eliante Donalger, and her younger, somewhat callow suitor, the medical student Leon Reille, the novel alternates between their dramatic exchanges and their equally dramatic letters. The gender reversal and strong female character are reminiscent of Rachilde's more famous work, the scandalous "Monsieur Venus," but "The Juggler" is more nuanced, sure footed and mature, while being just as scandalous. It's a sexy book, even though there's nothing explicit in it, mostly through the author's attention to the minutest of sensations and her appreciation of the elastic wonders of the female body. Eliante's defiantly outsider pose and her suggestion of the artificiality of gender itself make reading "The Juggler" a strangely contemporary and immediate experience, and I must admit I savored every word. -- James Agnew * Amazon *
ISBN: 9780813516257
Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 20mm
Weight: 313g
256 pages