Donatienne

Name: Donatienne
Author: René Bazin

By René Bazin

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French Literature

About This Book

A poor Breton mother accepts an offer to serve as a wet nurse in the city, forcing a painful separation from her husband and young children. The narrative alternates close domestic scenes and landscape description to show daily toil, community customs, and the couple's private tenderness and anxieties. Tension arises from economic necessity, hope for temporary relief, and the emotional cost of leaving home. Through pastoral detail and intimate portraiture the work explores maternal sacrifice, rural poverty, and the moral dilemmas posed by migration and social change.

About the Author

René Bazin

René Bazin was a French novelist and playwright, known for his vivid storytelling and exploration of rural life. His works often reflect a deep appreciation for nature and the human condition, capturing the essence of the French countryside. One of his notable works, "The Ink-Stain (Tache d'encre)," showcases his ability to blend humor with poignant observations on society. Bazin's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and rich character development, making significant contributions to early 20th-century French literature. His other works, such as "Autumn Glory; Or, The Toilers of the Field" and "The Children of Alsace," further illustrate his thematic focus on the struggles and joys of everyday life.