Le Petit Chose (histoire D'un Enfant)

A semi-autobiographical novel written in the late 19th century. The story chronicles the formative years of Daniel Eyssette (the titular “Petit Chose”), a delicate and imaginative boy growing up in a family that has fallen into hardship. Central to the narrative are his struggles with poverty, the disintegration of his family's factory, and his aspirations for a brighter future as he embarks on a journey of personal and literary development. At the start of the work, we meet Daniel as he reflects on his childhood in the Languedoc region, marked by both innocent joys and impending misfortune. His family, once prosperous, faces a series of calamities that lead to their ruin, causing Daniel to abandon his cherished childhood home. The opening portion introduces key family members, particularly his brother Jacques, as they navigate the hardships that follow their father's failed business and the subsequent move to Lyon. Daudet vividly illustrates Daniel's internal world—with his fantasies of adventure echoing his struggles with self-identity and the painful complexities of growing up under challenging circumstances.