Colette - Response

Natalie:

Research combined with a keen intuition led you to select two compelling quotes.

In part because it resonates deeply with me but also based on my own reading of Colette’s novels and about her life and work, I am partial to the first one ( as I think you may be too). More importantly, as a defining quote, it could satisfy our search criteria for the book.

The second quote is a glorious délire on the act of writing and highlights Colette’s poetic and singular writing style as you so justly described. Her relationship to the word would be worth noting here. She was passionate about words, they held a real fascination for her from their shape and their sound to all the interpretation possibilities they offered. She had a unique gift of infusing life into words in a way that appealed to all the senses.

Considering the arduous task of interpreting her words in a foreign language, your efforts at translating those passages are commendable. Really!

Your interest in the writing process and the themes of rebirth and becoming in Colette’s oeuvre guided your selection and that is clearly established.

From here, you need to be able to justify your choices. Either one of those quotes might be the right choice but why? How do they define Colette, the woman, the novelist, the mime, the columnist, drama critic, etc…? She was born the last quarter of the 19th century and traversed two world wars. Think about the status of women at the turn of 20th century Europe. Consider the times she lived in and what made her accomplishments remarkable. These were extraordinary times. She led a fascinating life but what made it so and how? What did she contribute to her time? Placing Colette in a rightful context will help you justify your selection and help us better understand and appreciate your choices. We need to know who Colette is and, more importantly, we need to have a real feel for who she was when reading your final quote presentation.

If you keep in mind the mission of the project: "To instruct, inspire and increase awareness of women’s essential contribution to our societies past and present " it should help you.

Great work so far Natalie. Bon courage pour la suite!

Mireille