7.4 /10 1 Votes
Author Pages 190 pp Dewey Decimal 843.9 Playwright Colette Followed by The Last of Chéri Adaptations Chéri (2009) | 3.7/5 Goodreads Language French OCLC 3472377 Originally published 1920 Genre Romance novel Country France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) Similar Gigi, Angel Reapers, L'Illusion Comique, Electra, No Trifling with Love | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chéri is a novel by Colette published in French in 1920. The title character's true name is Fred Peloux, but he is known as Chéri to almost everyone, except, usually, to his wife. This novel was followed by a sequel, La Fin de Chéri, published in 1926.
Contents
Plot summary
The novel is about the separation of Chéri and his lover of six years, the much older Léa de Lonval (as the novel opens he is 25 and she is 49. The beginning of their relationship, when he was 19 and she 43, is recounted in a long flashback). The two believe their relationship is casual until they are separated by Chéri's marriage. It is only then they realize they have been in love. They spend a miserable six months apart, at which point Chéri appears at Léa's home. They spend the night together and Léa begins to plan their new life together. Having seen her in the morning light, Chéri notes how she has aged and realizes that the Léa he had longed for is gone. He leaves for the last time.
Adaptations
The novel has been adapted to film twice, in 1950 and 2009; and television twice, in 1962 and 1973.
The ballet of Chéri premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in September 1980. The ballet was choreographed by Peter Darrell, while the music was composed by David Earl. The ballet was danced by the Scottish Ballet with the lead roles of Léa and Chéri danced by Patrick Bissell and Galina Samsova. The set was designed by Philip Prowse. This ballet was revived by the Hong Kong Ballet in 1989.
Chéri (the film)
The novel has been adapted to the silver screen by Stephen Frears in 2009, with Rupert Friend as the young Chéri and Michelle Pfeiffer as Léa. Christopher Hampton wrote the screenplay.