Naked in the Marketplace: The Lives of George Sand Book

Honestly, I feel as though I just ran a race to finish this book. It desperately needs to slow down so you can get to really know the characters and their story.

George Sand, Amantine Lucile Aurora Dupin, (1804-1876) was the first woman in Europe to become a best-selling novelist. But not only that, she was able to financially support herself to earn both money and her freedom. But it was her lifestyle of scandalous affairs with men, women and cross dressing which made her a controversial Parisian literary star. She was definitely a workaholic; throughout her life she wrote 90 novels, 20,000 letters, and thousands of pages of autobiographical writings and political commentary (she was "there at the revolution," those of 1831 and 1848, reporting, analyzing, denouncing, exhorting.)

After reading this book, I believe that Sand was always trying to fill the void deep inside. Her mother had emotionally wounded her with her unrequited attachment. As a young girl, her mother mentally abused and neglected by her. Tragically, Sand would act out her insecurities of her childhood onto her daughter Solange. Sand would always put her son first. But repeatedly, she would verbally abused Solange and excluded her from her life. It was an ugly, punitive relationship for both mother and daughter. I would also say that she was a woman who lived multiple lives -- literary, political, amorous, and domestic. The list of lovers is long -- de Musset, Chopin, and Balzac are just a few. And an epistolary friendship with Flaubert. I also wished that the author would have put Sand's quotes or excerpts from any of her writings in this book.

Also after reading this book, I think I will check out Sand's "Indiana," and "Lelia." As well as Eisler's O'Keeffe and Stieglitz, Chopin's Funeral and Byron: Child of Passion, Fool of Fame.