La fille de Carilès is a French-language children's book written by Joséphine Colomb and published by Hachette editions in Paris, 1874.[1] The story first appeared in one of Hachette's magazines before reappearing in book form.[2] Colomb received the Montyon Prize in 1875 for this work.[3]

La fille de Carilès
Frontispiece from 1874 edition of La fille de Carilès
AuthorJoséphine Colomb
Genrechildren's literature
PublisherHachette editions
Publication date
1874
AwardsMontyon Prize

Plot

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In the tale of La Fille de Carilès, Carilès is an old man who lives in a wretched garret, and gains his living by selling whirligigs of coloured paper well known that time to little children in France and England. He is alone in the world, very poor, slovenly and lazy, thoroughly contented with his lot until he finds himself responsible for a little girl who has escaped from the cruel hands of some mountebanks. The gradual interest which he feels in the orphan, the self-denying tenderness which underlies the crust of selfishness and idleness that has grown over the solitary old man, and the sunshine which his adopted daughter brings into his life is charming, recalling in a degree, Silas Marner. Not the least well-imagined part of the story is the way in which a family of the middle class, far from rich, lend a hand to bring up and educate "La fille de Carilès", who, does not turn out to be some stolen princess, and remains to make a home for the good old man when age comes upon him.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Norman, Buford (2004). The Child in French and Francophone Literature. Rodopi. p. 208. ISBN 978-90-420-1159-5. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  2. ^ "FRENCH LITERATURE". The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science, Art, and Finance. 39 (Public domain ed.). London: Saturday Review, Limited: 31. 1875. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Joséphine COLOMB". www.academie-francaise.fr. Académie française. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ M. R. (1879). Gatty, H. K. F. (ed.). "FRENCH BOOKS FOR ENGLISH SCHOOLROOMS". Aunt Judy's Magazine. 17 (Public domain ed.). London: Bell and Daldy: 59. Retrieved 20 February 2022.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.