March 8, 2009

Le Petit Nicolas



For the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Le Petit Nicolas there is a free exhibition on at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris featuring original manuscripts and drawings from this great French tale.



Petit Nicolas is a boldfaced 9 year-old French boy who tells tales of his days at school with his friends: Rufus, Alceste, Maixent, Agnan, Clotaire. It is his voice we hear narrating. The stories are wistful accounts of what we all experienced as kids. Reading Petit Nicolas is like being back in an elementary school classroom - the smell of crayons, the jeering at the teacher, the competition between kids - its nostalgia is broad and covers recall of schooldays widespread. There are French specificities: the ranking of students in the classroom - grades and scores read out loud by the master - Agnan ranks first and Clotaire stays perpetually at the very bottom of the class. The Frenchness of Petit Nicolas adds to its charm - the lure, though, is universal - I am as enchanted by these stories as my 10 year-old French niece is. (And he has been translated into English, so even if not in French you can read Le Petit Nicolas).




Here are the creators of Petit Nicolas: René Goscinny (who also co-created Astérix) and Jean-Jacques Sempé (illustrator).


And I can't help but think about Le Petit Nicolas - the one who runs the French State at the moment...

5 comments:

Jill said...

I must read some of these books... Le Petit Nicolas is adorable.

I'm reading 'Paris to the Moon' right now and can't get my nose out of it. I just wish you were here to discuss each chapter with me and tell me more. I'm facinated with the workings of the French State and much more. We'll have to talk about all of it when I come!

Nice picture of Mr. Sarkozy, but I find him much more interesting with his lovely lady on his arm. I'm sure everyone is.

Emilie said...

can't wait to talk all about it jill...can't wait until you are here - less than a month! so cooL! we'll also chat about ms. bruni - what a crack-up. coo coo if you ask me. seriously can't wait to see yoU!

Mels said...

That looks like such a fun book, and it looks funny, it reminds me of Eloise-that is another funny one that I think is so clever and cute. I love and miss you and can;t wait to see you soon. love you
love always
Mels

Anonymous said...

nice picture of sarko, faut pas deconner ! non ! le plus grand connard de tous les temps !

viagra online said...

wow really Nice picture of Mr. Sarkozy, but I find him much more interesting with his lovely lady on his arm. I'm sure everyone is.

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