Marguerite by Anatole France (1921)

Name: Marguerite
Author: Anatole France

Marguerite is a novel by Anatole France, first published in 1895. It tells the story of a young woman, Marguerite, who is born into a wealthy family in 19th century France. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman, but her family is not supportive of her ambitions. She is forced to marry a man she does not love, and her life is filled with unhappiness and disappointment. When her husband dies, Marguerite is left with a large inheritance and decides to use it to pursue her dreams. She travels to Paris and begins to live a life of luxury and extravagance. She meets a variety of interesting people, including a young artist, a wealthy businessman, and a mysterious stranger. As she explores the city, she discovers a new side of herself and learns to appreciate the beauty of life. In the end, Marguerite finds true happiness and contentment. She realizes that her life is her own and that she can make her own choices. She also learns to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and to be grateful for the people who have helped her along the way.

By Anatole France · First published 1921 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 9 chapters · 8,430 words

First lines

As I left the Palais-Bourbon at five o'clock that afternoon, it rejoiced my heart to breathe in the sunny air. The sky was bland, the river gleamed, the foliage was fresh and green. Everything seemed to whisper an invitation to idleness. Along the Pont de la Concorde, in the direction of the Champs-Elysées, victorias and landaus kept rolling by.

In the shadow of the lowered carriage-hoods, women's faces gleamed clear and radiant and I felt a thrill of pleasure as I watched them flash by like hopes vanishing and reappearing in endless succession. Every woman as she passed by left me with an impression of light and perfume.

What this Textopian page supports

Marguerite is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anatole France, dated 1921 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Anatole France
Date: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama, Satire
Length: 8,430 words
Structure: 9 chapters, 138 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Marguerite by Anatole France
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Marguerite?
How does this novel by Anatole France fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Realistic Fiction — The novel follows the life of Marguerite, a young woman living in 19th century France, and is based on the real-life story of a woman who lived in the same era.
Historical Fiction — The novel is set in 19th century France and is based on the real-life story of a woman who lived in the same era.
Romance — The novel follows the romantic relationships of Marguerite and her various suitors.
Drama — The novel follows the dramatic events in Marguerite's life, including her struggles with poverty and her relationships with her family and suitors.