Wikipedia article
'Une adolescence en Gueldre' (An Adolescence in Gelderland) is a 2005 Belgian novel by Jean-Claude Pirotte that won the Prix des Deux Magots in 2006.
Publication
'Une adolescence en Gueldre' is part of a series of books that Pirotte has published over a period of twenty years, in which his hero tells of his wanderings and experiences.[
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The novel was published on 22 August 2005 by ditions de la Table ronde.[
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Jean-Claude Pirotte has published about thirty books. Many of them have won literary prizes, including the 'Prix Coppe', 'Prix Littraire Valery Larbaud', 'Prix Vialatte' and 'Prix Marguerite Duras'.[
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Synopsis
In his diary Ange Vincent tells of his life as an adolescent with the Prins family in the Veluwe, Holland.[
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The father of the family, a great lover of literature, gives him the task of translating 'Don Quixote'.
He also accompanies the two sons of the family on their wanderings.[
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They are both much older than the narrator, who is twelve and is starting to become aware of girls, including the naive Germaine, the provocative Mara and the languid Carlijn.[
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The two boys, Han and Jan, are fascinated by the same woman.
She has a strange resemblance to a portrait of Saint Mary Magdalene, thought to be painted by an unknown 16th century Flemish artist.[
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The narrator must not make eye contact with the woman, who may be a saint or a prostitute.[
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The ambiguous portrait comes to dominate the narrative.[
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The narrator recalls his troubled relationship with his mother and the inability to "engage with life" that has made him a wanderer.[
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Reception
'Une adolescence en Gueldre' received the 73rd 'Prix des Deux Magots' on 31 January 2006.[
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Pirotte also received the 'Prix Marcel Aym' for the novel, awarded on 15 December 2006, which came with a check for 3,000. This prize is given by the 'Association du livre et des auteurs comtois' (ALAC), supported by the regional council of Franche-Comt and by the town and academy of Besanon.[
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References
Category:2005 novels
Category:Belgian novels
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