The classic story of a young girl whose innocence triumphs over the jaded Parisian demimonde

I picked it up because I had recently gone through a Maurice Chevalier phase and had remembered Gigi. While the movie never really lives up to my memory of it (and Leslie Caron, charming as she was, is overshadowed by the costumes and the fact the Audrey Hepburn would have done better), the little novelette was charming, in spite of the fact that Chevalier's character doesn't exist. I found myself nostalgic for the days when 16-year-olds were considered children. And I loved the ending even though, or perhaps because of the fact that, Gaston's process of thought has to be assumed.

It was delightful from my 1940's standpoint. :)

Note for those wanting to read it: It is almost impossible to find. Try Archive.org. ( )

Las obras de Colette, llenas de sensualidad, aparte de la evidente belleza exterior de la autora reflejan su pensamiento. "Gigi" fue publicada en 1944, y una de sus últimas novelas, que supuso un gran éxito editorial más tarde llevado al cine por Vicente Minelli.
No hay que olvidar que Colette fue la autora francesa más leída de su tiempo, pero es que además su literatura era bien considerada, lo que demuestra el hecho de que llegó a ser presidenta de la academia Goncourt.
Gigi es hija de una mujer pobre, y su progenitora y familiares más cercanos pretenden educarla para la prostitución, algo para lo que ella sabe que no ha sido hecha. No juzga a las prostitutas, sino que las retrata como profesionales, y al mismo tiempo la historia es una crítica social del papel de la mujer a principios del siglo XX y de la educación que se le daba, al mismo tiempo que niega el determinismo ambiental, desarrollada en un entorno que la autora conocía muy bien. ( )

Short and sweet, Gigi offers a glimpse into the decadence of fin-de-siecle Paris, the scandals, the life and morals of women who lived their lives as celebrated, high-class courtesans - mistresses to important men, celebrities of gossip magazines, recipients of fabulous jewels. Gigi, a young innocent girl is groomed for such life - but she recoils from it. But all is well when it ends well. ( )

Gigi is a short novella about a girl raised by courtesans to be a courtesan in the late 1890s, without ever realizing that that's what she's supposed to do. It's also one of those books where the movie based on it is famous enough that most people don't realize that there is a book. So I should note now that Maurice Chevalier's character was invented for the musical and doesn't exist in the book. Very sad, I know.

Young Gilberte is growing older, but she sees no reason why things need to change because of this. Her grandmother and great-aunt Alicia on the other hand, are starting to get nervous, because she lacks "sense". Courtesans in their youth, they are worried that Gigi won't be able to attract the right kind of man. So they begin training her intensively. However, it's clear early on that Gigi doesn't think like they do, so when she accidentally attracts an wealthy family friend, will she be ready to take the plunge or will Gigi take matters into her own hands and break with tradition once and for all.

This extremely short novella is perfectly plotted, and an extremely fun read. Highly recommended for everyone who loves a good story. Even if you never liked the musical. ( )