Connat̋re et se connat̋re Book

If you are looking for an exciting French classic that isn't half a thousand pages long, look no further. Colomba is a masterfully written tale of revenge that takes the shape of a short novel (novella). I've only read Colomba recently, but better late than never. I'm very impressed by this tale and even more by Merimee's precise and beautiful writing.

Early into the novel, I found myself fascinated with Corsica and its traditions. First we are introduced to a very sensible British family consisting of a father (who is a hunting enthusiast) and a daughter (who is a helpless flirt but kindhearted). These two serve as witnesses of the sorts for most of the story and at some point they get involved in the events. Their decision to travel to Corsica is something that will change their lives as will introduce father and daughter with the protagonist of this novel, young Orso.

Who is Colomba this novella is named after? Well, Colomba is Orso' sister, and she waits for him to come back home and revenge their father's death. Orso returns home to Corsica after a long absence. He is a changed man. The British family of two agrees to let him travel with them. Orso is infatuated with the British girl, and befriends her father. Through their and Orso's eye we are able to observe Corsica. I had the feeling that the author used Corsica's unique customs to criticize modern society of the time.

In Corsica of the time they shot more than game (according to Merimee), but even though murders are not uncommon, you're not likely to get robbed. Do I sense a critique of modern society obsessed with wealth there? Perhaps there is something to that. Merimee's writing is often set in remote places, perhaps to make us reevaluate things we take for granted. Moreover, the remoteness of the location creates an aroma of mysticism, so popular with the romantics. Orso finally meets her bloodthirsty sister the fatal Colomba, but under the influence of the British girl he promises to resist the temptation of blood revenge.

The characterization of Colomba is perhaps a little one dimensional, but seeing as she is the femme fatale of this story, that is perhaps inevitable. When I call her femme fatale, I don't mean that in the classical way. Colomba is beautiful young woman, but she acts almost a man, her entire being focused on vendetta. She is resourceful, cunning and intelligent but everything she does seems to serve one function and that does make Colomba seem a bit inhuman. The author provided us with Colomba's history and added many details into her portrayal, but everything about her still seems rigid. In other words, even if Colomba is superbly described and well written, the reader invariably feels that she is a work of art more that a human being.

Colomba is the character who constantly sets things in motion, she is a force a nature, a part of Corsica, a living incarnation of blood revenge. She never rests, never changes, and seems to never sleep. Colomba is almost too passionate to be real. Nevertheless, this doesn't make the story any less interesting to read. It is hard to see Colomba as a real person, but it is easy to understand Orso's dilemma. He is, quite possibly, the true protagonist of the novel, a young man in love, a man of both Corsica and the world. Caught between the desire to revenge his father and a love toward a British lady, Orso is torn. He is no coward, but he can't imagine taking another man's life, not like that (meaning by killing someone in cold blood). At start Orso doesn't even believe the story of his father's murder. However, once his sister makes him see things in a different light, Orso's blood starts to boil. What will he do? Will he throw away his life because of revenge?

"Brother," said Colomba, in a serious voice, "you are master here, and everything in this house belongs to you. But I warn you that I will give this little girl my mezzaro, so that she may sell it; rather than refuse powder to a bandit.”