Flamarande (George Sand)

Overview

A late novel by George Sand, told in the first person by Charles, who enters the service of the comte de Flamarande as valet de chambre and is drawn into the count's revenge on his young wife and the fate of her son. Its continuation is Les Deux Frères; both were issued in book form by Calmann Lévy (the copies found are an 1877 "septième édition" of Flamarande and an 1878 edition of Les Deux Frères, whose narrator is again Charles). The first-publication date usually given for both is 1875; it was not confirmed for this entry.

Relevance to Marie

Marie reads both in two evenings, 2–3 January 1881:

• She is revolted by the first lines: «c'est un laquais qui raconte tout le roman» and, as a republican, cannot treat valets as equals (090.0519).
• An hour later she calls it the best thing Sand wrote, «les domestiques sont à leur place et le livre est exquis»; the scenes of children make her think, for the first time, of the happiness of having a child, and of Cassagnac (090.0524).
• She goes straight on to «“Les deux frères” qui terminent ce roman» (090.0526) and finishes it at half past midnight: «C'est gentil mais il ne m'en reste rien. Ô Balzac !» (090.0527).

References in Diary

• 1881-01-02 (090.0519, 090.0524, 090.0526); 1881-01-03 (090.0527)

Translation

Keep the titles as published (Flamarande; Les Deux Frères); there is no established English title in common use.

Sources

• Calmann Lévy editions: Flamarande, 7e éd., 1877; Les Deux Frères, 1878 (Internet Archive scans, found via search, 2026-10-21).
• Plot outline: critiqueslibres.com, "Flamarande — Sand, George".