Mlle. Fouchette: A Novel of French Life

The narrative follows a neglected street child in Paris whose resilience carries her from beatings and hunger through perilous episodes, including an attempt to drown her that leaves her reliant on a devoted dog and the sympathy of river workers. Episodes alternate between the child's daily scavenging and broader vignettes of urban underclasses, portraying hardship, small acts of mercy, and the social forces that shape her fate. The story traces efforts to rescue and shelter her while examining themes of abandonment, animal loyalty, and moral contrasts within city life.