The Lover by Marguerite Duras
"The Lover" is a poignant exploration of forbidden love, power dynamics, and colonialism. Set in 1930s French Indochina, it tells the story of a tumultuous and passionate affair between a 15-year-old French girl and her wealthy, older Chinese lover. The narrative delves into the complexities of their relationship, the societal norms they defy, and the inevitable heartbreak that follows. The protagonist's struggle with her family's poverty and her mother's mental instability further complicates the story, making it a compelling exploration of love, desire, and societal constraints.
The 296th greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1984
- Nationality
- French
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 117-148
- Original Language
- French
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.5)
- Alternate Titles
-
- De Minnaar
- Der Liebhaber
- El amante
- L'Amant
- L'amant
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This book is on the following 29 lists:
- 8th on 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die (Gyldendal (Denmark Publisher))
- 18th on 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 (CounterPunch)
- 18th on The 50 best French language books from 1900 to today (Le Temps)
- 57th on Books Of The Century (Library Journal)
- 99th on The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers (Le Monde)
- 142nd on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 1351st on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- 500 Great Books by Women (Book)
- 500 Must Read Books (The Daily Telegraph)
- 501 Must-Read Books (LibraryThing)
- 75 Books Every Woman Should Read (Jezebel)
- A Hundred Novels to Change Your Life (The Daily Mail)
- Elena Ferrante Names her 40 Favourite Books by Female Authors (The Guardian)
- Everything You Should Read without Being a Library Rat (Book by Luiz Carlos Lisboa)
- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher (Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- PEN Translation Prize (PEN America)
- Prix Goncourt (Prix Goncourt)
- The 100 Best Books by Women Writers in Translation (biblibio)
- The 100 Best Books in the World (AbeBooks.de (in German))
- The 100 Best Novels in Translation by Boyd Tonkin (Book)
- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) (The Guardian)
- The 100 Novels That Have Most Enthralled "Le Monde" Since 1944 (Le Monde)
- The Bigger Read List (English PEN)
- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (New York Public Library)
- What are the Goncourt Winners’ Favorite Books? (Télérama)