I had heard of the novelist George Sand but was never all that enthralled by her so I never read any of her books. However I had the opportunity to accompany a couple of militant feminists to the author's estate some hours drive away. I like visiting historic monuments so off we went. Who was this nineteeenth century feminist?
Aurore Dupin de Francueil lived in France 1 July 1804 – 8 June 1876), and is best known by her nom de plume George Sand. She was a French novelist, memoirist and journalist and was more famous in Britain in the 1830s and 1840s than in France. She is recognised as one of the most notable writers of the European Romantic era and has more than 50 volumes of various works to her credit, including tales, plays and political texts, alongside her 70 novels.
George Sand advocated for women's rights, criticised structures such as marriage and fought against the prejudices of a conservative society. She was considered scandalous because of her turbulent love life, her adoption of masculine clothing, and her masculine pseudonym but she had the money to get away with it.
Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, the future George Sand, was born on 1 July 1804 on rue Meslay in Paris to Maurice Dupin de Francueil and Sophie-Victoire Delaborde. She was the paternal great-granddaughter of the Marshal of France. For much of her childhood, she was raised by her grandmother Marie-Aurore de Saxe, Madame Dupin de Francueil, at her grandmother's house in the village of Nohant, in the French province of Berry. Sand inherited the impressive house and land in 1821 when her grandmother died, and used the setting in many of her novels. Her financial advantages early in life certainly gave her the base on which she
Sand was one of many notable 19th-century women who chose to wear male attire in public. In 1800, the police chief of Paris issued an order requiring women to apply for a permit in order to wear male clothing. Some women applied for health, occupational, or recreational reasons (e.g horse riding), although many women chose to wear trousers and other traditional male attire in public without receiving a permit.
She did obtain a permit to wear men's clothing in 1831, justifying it as being less expensive and far sturdier than the typical dress of a noblewoman at the time.
In addition to being comfortable, Sand's male attire enabled her to circulate more freely in Paris than most of her female contemporaries and gave her increased access to venues that barred women, even those of her social standing. Also scandalous was Sand's smoking tobacco in public; neither peerage nor gentry had yet sanctioned the free indulgence by women of such a habit, especially in public, although Franz Liszt's lover did this as well, smoking large cigars.
While some contemporaries were critical of her comportment, many people accepted her behaviour—until they became shocked with the subversive tone of her novels. Those who found her writing admirable were not bothered by her ambiguous or rebellious public behaviour. Having money makes a lot of things possible.
In 1822, at the age of eighteen, Sand married Francois Casimir Dudevant. She and Dudevant had two children: Maurice and Solange. Throughout her life she had a succession of affairs and a falling out with her daughter Solange. Her son Maurice was often on the estate and created a little puppet theatre along with meticulously made puppets. Plays were written and presented to friends at the house as evening entertainment. There was also a small human-sized theatre for private presentations.
In 1831, at the age of 27, she chose her pseudonym George Sand. "Sand" was derived from the name of her lover and fellow writer Jules Sandeau, as the pair had previously co-authored a novel under the pseudonym J. Sand.
She added George to complete the name and distinguish it from Sandeau's, removing the final "s" from the usual French spelling of the name to heighten its ambiguity as a pseudonym.
Victor Hugo commented, "George Sand cannot determine whether she is male or female. I entertain a high regard for all my colleagues, but it is not my place to decide whether she is my sister or my brother."
A sentiment that could be held very topical today.
George Sand had a stormy relationship with Frederick Chopin, the pianist and composer, which lasted for 9 years. They lived at the estate at Nohant when they weren't staying in Paris. So they were happy for a time until the arguments and differing aspirations got too much.
Sand died at Nohant, near Châteauroux, in France's Indre département on 8 June 1876, at the age of 71. She was buried in the family's private graveyard behind the chapel at Nohant-Vic. Her house was purchased by the French state in 1952. The house was preserved because it was where Sand wrote many of her books and hosted some of the most important artists and writers of her time, including Chopin, Liszt, Balzac, Delacroix.
The gardens are classified by the French Ministry of Culture as among the Notable gardens of France. They did not much impress me, having too much of a sameness about them and lacking much plant diversity or colour. The entrance to the garden features a 19th century rose garden but I found it rather tame.
The house is open to the public and is managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. Touring the interior was interesting, starting with new technologies of the day that Sand introduced, such as the stove. There ís a collection of 'bells' above the door to alert domestic staff to which room they were immediately needed.There are also a few rooms within the house that Sand designed, including the "blue room", where she died. The room where Chopin composed and the one where Sand worked can also be seen. It is worth a visit as it has remained much they way it was in George Sand's day though it is now owned by the state. A gift from her grand-daughter to preserve the estate.
More about her son Maurice
Her pampered and
adored son Maurice, found Nohant the ideal setting for all his passions and
research. Educated at the age of 17 in Delacroix's studio, he learned
the rudiments of painting and drawing from the famous painter. In addition, he became a set designer, stage hand, puppeteer, prop maker, author and actor. He doesn't seem to have been able to support himself long term with his efforts and relied on his mother for that.
Maurice Sand brought the forgotten art of puppetry up to date. He created two theaters in Nohant: one for small wooden actors, the other for live actors . Maurice carved the heads of his characters from limewood, and George dressed them. It was a shared job. Maurice was also becoming an experienced manipulator. It was a real investment for him, as he devoted so much of his time to it.
Maurice's magnificent studio in the attic of the house contains many treasures: drawings, sketches, travel notebooks, insect and mineral collections, puppets, set elements, herbarium plates, theater posters and more. I found the puppets to be nicely done. George Sand did much of the sewing.
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