The Dream Lover
by Elizabeth Berg
Boy, where do I begin with this one? I love a good historical fiction, especially if the historical fiction in question is focused on a famous literary figure. For instance, I recently read Mr. Emerson’s Wife, and was pleasantly surprised at the supposed nuances of Mrs. Emerson and Mr. Emerson himself. Even though they were not perfect characters, I rooted for them to each find their own version of happiness.
But Aurore Dupin, as known as George Sand, is a severely
unlikeable character. The novel bounces around from her childhood to her rise
to literary prominence. I imagine the childhood scenes are to paint a picture
of a complex girl, but all it does is cause me to wonder what made George so
unlikeable.
George marries a man she does not love, and regularly
abandons her children to go write and hussy around in Paris. Even during her
“scheduled times” with her children, she often left them with the servants and
went away on love trips. Someone so self-absorbed and selfish is not a heroine
in any sense of the word.
Everything must revolve around George and her happiness with
her love life; she takes on many different lovers, which in itself is not a big
deal, but she is still married for the majority of them. Also, she becomes so
wrapped up in her love affairs that she neglects her children and her home.
While I realize that many “great artists” of that time were
definitely outside of the societal box, there is not much to redeem the
character, and/or the person, of George Sand. If Berg’s goal is to create a
thoroughly reprehensible character, then she succeeded. The mere fact that this novel's protagonist enrages me so much is testament to the excellent character building by Berg. Recommended with the caveat that you will be annoyed with George!
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