
Paul and Virginia
by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre
'Paul and Virginia ' Summary
Paul et Virginie (or Paul and Virginia) is a novel by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, first published in 1788. The novel's title characters are friends since birth who fall in love. The story is set on the island of Mauritius under French rule, then named Île de France. Written on the eve of the French Revolution, the novel is recognized as Bernardin's finest work. It records the fate of a child of nature corrupted by the artificial sentimentality of the French upper classes in the late eighteenth century. Bernardin de Saint-Pierre lived on the island for a time and based part of the novel on a shipwreck he witnessed there.
Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's novel criticizes the social class divisions found in eighteenth-century French society. He describes the perfect equality of social relations on Mauritius, whose inhabitants share their possessions, have equal amounts of land, and all work to cultivate it. They live in harmony, without violence or unrest. The author's beliefs echo those of Enlightenment philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He argues for the emancipation of slaves. He was a friend of Mahé de La Bourdonnais, the governor of Mauritius, who appears in the novel providing training and encouragement for the island's natives. Although Paul and Virginie own slaves, they appreciate their labour and do not treat them badly. When other slaves in the novel are mistreated, the book's heroes confront the cruel masters.
The novel presents an Enlightenment view of religion: that God, or "Providence", has designed a world that is harmonious and pleasing. The characters of Paul et Virginie live off the land without needing technology or man-made interference. For instance, they tell time by observing the shadows of the trees. One critic noted that Bernadin de Saint-Pierre "admired the forethought which ensured that dark-coloured fleas should be conspicuous on white skin", believing "that the earth was designed for man’s terrestrial happiness and convenience".
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
FrenchPublished In
1788Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre
United Kingdom
Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (also called Bernardin de St. Pierre) was a French writer and botanist. He is best known for his 1788 novel Paul et Virginie, now largely forgotten, but in the...
Books by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-PierreDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

Uncle Of An Angel by Thomas A. Janvier
This book, written by Thomas A. Janvier, presents a light-hearted exploration of societal norms and familial dynamics in the 19th century. Through wit...

Uther and Igraine by Warwick Deeping
The story revolves around the lives of King Uther and Queen Igraine, who are the parents of the legendary King Arthur. The book is set in ancient Brit...

Cádiz by Benito Pérez Galdós
Cádiz, the eighth installment in Benito Pérez Galdós's *Episodios Nacionales*, continues the story of Spain's struggle against Napoleonic rule. The no...

Heptameron of the Tales of Margaret, Queen of Navarre, Volume 3 by Marguerite of Navarre
The Heptameron is a collection of seventy-two short stories written by Marguerite of Navarre, a prominent figure in the French Renaissance. The narrat...

Dodo: A Detail of the Day by E. F. Benson
Dodo is a witty and satirical novel that paints a vivid portrait of London's high society during the late Victorian era. It follows the life of Dodo,...

Maigraf by Otto Roquette
Rambert, a young man who has experienced the turmoil of war, returns to his hometown of Hildesheim after years away. He is faced with the responsibili...

The Immortal Moment by May Sinclair
It is a story of a young woman named Dinny Cherrell, who falls in love with a man named Wilfred Desert. The novel is set in the aftermath of World War...

En Route by Joris-Karl Huysmans
En Route chronicles the spiritual journey of Durtal, a man grappling with profound doubts and a past steeped in depravity and Satanism. Seeking solac...

Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard
“An Adventurer – He that goes out to meet whatever may come!” This is the credo of Allan Quatermain, the quintessential, swashbuckling protagonist of...

Iracema, the Honey-Lips: A Legend of Brazil by Jose de Alencar
The story revolves around the relationship between the Tabajara indigenous woman Iracema and the Portuguese colonist Martim, who was allied with the T...
Reviews for Paul and Virginia
No reviews posted or approved, yet...