"A compelling novel of secret love"
The Loving and the Daring is a perceptive novel of a young French girl's awakening from innocence to a love that was forbidden. Written by Belgian writer Francoise Mallet when she was just twenty-one, Le Rempart des Beguines was published in 1951 and translated as The Illusionist. Taking place in Gers, France, she wrote a sequel in 1955 exploring the same themes of social class and lesbianism in Belgium titled La Chamber Rouge (The Red Room).
Fifteen year-old Helene spends a great deal of time alone, her only parent a father devoted to political life. She is slightly scandalized to find he has a mistress - talk has spread through town - an exotic Russian-born woman named Tamara. An artistic bohemian, Tamara was an artists model who moves through relationships - the artist who discovered her once married her, this ended when she left him for Emily, who devastated her when she left for another man - but the artist continued to 'keep her', paying all her bills. Helene contrives to meet her, and they become friends. Such a free spirit, it is not unusual for her to greet Helene with a kiss, and within a few visits their relationship becomes so casual as to spend the afternoon in bed, trying things that Helene was told were unhealthy. That's as racy a description as you get. Helene soon finds herself powerfully in love with her virile energy, authority, even her cruelty, and the town gossips when the two are together. Tamara suggests a seaside trip, where they can be open - visiting lesbian bars and meeting friends who accept the couple are lovers. The father remains unseeing, simply happy that Helene is has a female influence in her life. The time comes when he proposes to Tamara - perfect for Tamara's financial security and adding respectability for the father - if Helene can only overcome her possessive love, the three can carry on their affairs.
Well reviewed at the time, this serious exploration of romantic awakening gives a lot less passion than the cover would suggest. Taking place in France, where a love between women seems not unnatural, this is very much emotional rather than sexual. I must say the inner life of a teenage girl's tempestuous jealousies tired me after a while, but the story was unique and interesting as a time-capsule of sorts - like Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt (Carol) from 1952, this is an early look at lesbian love - along with titles like Gore Vidal's The City and The Pillar (1946), a classic novel of gay love.
In that sense recommended.
1952 / Paperback / 190 pages
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