Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan — paradise wrecked
Bonjour Tristesse caused a stir in France when it was published in 1954. The staunchly conservative Catholic section of society was appalled by this tale of decadence, jealousy and adolescent penned by a girljust eighteen years old. The literati and the liberals were however intrigued by the audacity of a novella which reeked of hedonism.
By the time the English translation was published a year later, the text had been changed to make it more “suitable” for sensitive British readers. Out went much of the detail surrounding the sexual themes. Even so, The Spectator judged it to be “a vulgar, sad, little book.”
Bonjour Tristesse (which roughly translates as “Hello Sadness”) went on to become an international success and the most famous novel written by Sagan in a career lasting more than 40 years.
I read this novella as part of my Classics Club project, drawn to it when I saw it described as an influential text within the body of French literature. Plus, I’m a sucker for novels set in the south of France.
The story concerns 17-year-old Cécile and her widowed father Raymond who take a summer holiday in a rented villa in Le Midi. Joining them is Raymond’s current mistress, Elsa, a woman half his age and — in Cecile’s eyes — rather simplistic.
The holiday begins swimmingly. The trio spend their days lolling about on the beach and their nights dancing and drinking at the casino and clubs in St Tropez. This is a special time for Cécile, marking her first sexual relationship with someone closer to her in age than the menwho usually make a play for her.
The idyll is broken by Raymond’s announcement that he intends to marry Anne, a friend of his late wife. Cécile is initially won over by this intelligent and sophisticated woman until it’s clear Anne is intent on bringing more order and structure to life in the villa.
Cécile, accustomed to a care-free existence, doesn’t take too kindly to being told she should knuckle down to her studies or that she shouldn’t see Cyril. Nor does she welcome the signs that Anne’s regime will interfere with her special relationship with her father. He’s already becoming more conventional and — oh heavens — bourgeoise in his behaviour.
I took stock of how strong she was: she had wanted my father and she had got him; she was gradually going to make of us the husband and daughter of Anne Larsen, which meant that we would become civilized, well-mannered, happy people. For she would make us happy. I could well imagine how easily we, unstable creatures that we were, would yield to the attraction of having structure in our lives and of not having to shoulder responsibility. She was much too efficient. My father was already growing away from me.
It’s intolerable. Anne will have to go, Cécile decides. She hatches a plan to prevent the marriage and oust Anne from the villa and her father’s life. The plan has disastrous consequences.
François Sagan’s portrait of Cécile has a psychological complexity that I wouldn’t have expected to come from the pen of an eighteen-year old.
I can understand why she would resent constraints on days filled entirely with pleasure. It would be an unusual teenager who wouldn’t resent being told to study when the sun and sea are beckoning!
Cécile’s animosity towards Anne however goes deeper than a simple reaction to limitations and censure. What the girl fears most is Anne will wreck her relationship with her father and destroy their pleasure dome. Under Anne’s regime, they’ll simply become tame and bourgeois.
Yes, it was for this I reproached Anne: she prevented me from liking myself. I, who was so naturally meant for happiness and gaiety, had been forced by her into a world of self-criticism and guilty conscience, where, unaccustomed to introspection, I was completely lost. And what did she bring me? I took stock: She wanted my father, she had got him. She would gradually make of us the husband and step-daughter of Anne Larsen; that is to say, she would turn us into two civilised, well-behaved and happy people.
Cécile isn’t a likeable character but I did find her riveting. She’s easy to censure for her self-centred nature and her ability to manipulate people to serve her own purposes. But her youthful energy and zest for life are infectious. Worth remembering too that she’s grown up without the benefit of a mother’s guiding hand (nor father’s for that matter).
Francoise Sagan gets us deep into Cécile’s head, telling this essentially simple story through the perspective of the older Cécile. Does the older Cécile have any regrets for her actions during that summer? Did her personality change her character in any way?
Maybe she does change. Maybe she remains essentially the same person. Sagan leaves the ending open to interpretation. There’s a reference which explains the significance of the book’s title but I found it interesting to compare the final paragraphs with what we discover about Cecile’s adult life in the very first paragraphs of the novel.
Marg
Thanks for sharing this review with Paris in July! Sounds like a book I should read at some point!
BookerTalk
It’s an interesting read though I was very frustrated with Cecile!
WordsAndPeace
I had no idea things had been changed for the Enlgish translation!
It’s a major French book, so I invite you to add the link of your review to our Mr Linky, on the #ParisinJuly2025 page:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/07/01/parisinjuly2025-all-the-links/
BookerTalk
Just did this – thanks so much for prompting me
Calmgrove
Oooh, I’ve got a very slim copy of this to read, so I’ve skimmed this rapidly (though I suspect I’d probably agree with much of what you say). I had considered it for Paris in July but circumstances have rather overtaken me. We’ll see!
BookerTalk
Well Paris doesn’t really feature so you couldn’t claim it for Paris in July (LOL)
BookerTalk
Turns out I was wrong. Paris in July isn’t just about Paris it seems
WordsAndPeace
Correct: “During this month,
our goal is to embrace and honor our French encounters
by immersing ourselves in various activities
like reading, watching, listening, observing, cooking,
and indulging in all things French!”
BookerTalk
Thanks for helping me understand the scope more clearly
Lisa Hill
This is one of those ‘I’ve always meant to…’ books.
Poor Elsa! How did she react to the news?
BookerTalk
Difficult to answer that question without giving away a plot detail. If you really want to know you’ll just have to knuckle down and read the book (chuckle)
Lisa Hill
Yup, you are right!
kaggsysbookishramblings
It’s a remarkable book, isn’t it? Especially for one so young! I’ve tried others and not got on so well with them, but this one did get under teh skin.
BookerTalk
It’s definitely more mature than you’d expect.
hopewellslibraryoflife
Excellent review. Bring back the shudders of escaping step-motherhood. I might read this one.
BookerTalk
There’s no real wicked step mother in the book, only in the eyes of Cecile
hopewellslibraryoflife
Exactly
neeruahcop
I had not heard of this book but it sounds compelling. Putting it on my wishlist.
BookerTalk
it’s a frustrating read in the sense that the main character is so annoying. But sometimes that makes for a more interesting read than if I “like” the character
margaret21
Another book I need to re-read afer a gap of 50 years!
BookerTalk
Gosh that’s quite a gap. It would be interesting to discover whether your reaction has changed since you now have far more experience of life than when you read it first
margaret21
Indeed! I should get on with it.
Margaret
This is yet another book I haven’t read, or even considered reading! I will now – adding it to my never ending list of books to read.
BookerTalk
I know the feeling all too well Margaret