Simone: Histoire D'une Jeune Fille Moderne

A novel written in the late 19th century. The story appears to center around the life of a young girl named Simone, exploring her personal journey against a backdrop of domestic life, societal expectations, and familial relationships. As the title suggests, the narrative promises a modern take on the experiences and challenges faced by women of that era. The opening of the novel introduces M. Gosselet, a doll manufacturer, who is caught up in his thoughts about business and the innovations he has made, such as dolls with replaceable eyes. We see his interactions with his gardener, Tant-Seulement, demonstrating the dynamics of social class and labor in this setting. Gosselet's observations lead him to reflect on the lives of the women around him, including his daughter, Simone. As the narrative progresses, we catch glimpses of Simone's ambitions, her relationships, especially with a young engineer named André Bamberg, and the complexities of love, duty, and independence while navigating the expectations set upon her by her father and society at large.