First published 1913
Meaulnes captivates everyone when he first walks into the village school in Sologne. His striking appearance and bold manner draw immediate attention from students and teachers alike. Then he disappears without explanation for several days. When Meaulnes returns, he brings an extraordinary tale of a mysterious party at an unknown estate where he encountered Yvonne de Galais, a beautiful young woman who has captured his heart completely. This brief encounter transforms Meaulnes entirely. He becomes obsessed with finding his way back to the estate and to Yvonne, searching restlessly for what he now considers his lost paradise. His loyal friend François watches as Meaulnes pursues this impossible dream, risking everything he possesses in his desperate quest. The story moves between the wonder of youth and the bitter recognition that comes with growing up, following François as he witnesses his friend's consuming passion and the price it demands.
Genres: fiction, drama, romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, friends-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Sologne
Period: 20th-century
227 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics