I have never read anything by the French author Colette, although her works are regarded as classics. I, therefore, picked up this slight volume in a local charity shop in June this year. The cover and spine called it Gigi and The Cat, so I assumed that this was the title of the novel. In fact, this is two very short novels, or possible even novellas.
Gigi (translated by Roger Senhouse) is the story of a young woman who lives in close proximity to her mother, grandmother and aunt in Paris. All of these woman live off gifts from men with whom they have relationships, and it slowly becomes apparent that they are grooming Gigi to be a courtesan. A rich businessman intends to keep Gigi as a mistress and for her gifts to keep the other women as they grow older. The premise of the book is distasteful but you realise that the women are using what they have available to them to make the best life that they can. The understanding that the older women and the businessman have, however, is thrown into doubt by Gigi’s unwillingness to participate in what they have intended for her.
The Cat (translated by Antonia White) is about a young man, Alain, who is intending to marry Camille. He owns a cat, Saha, on which he lavishes attention. The attitudes to the cat reflect what is happening in the marriage – Alain becomes more engaged with the animal and Camille starts to hate it and to become its enemy. Both characters are deeply flawed, with the cat representing all that is wrong in the relationship.
I enjoyed both of these short novels. They are beautifully written and the reader has to look beneath the apparent story to work out what is happening and why. Both the stories made me feel a little uncomfortable and none of the characters was immediately sympathetic. I would read another book by this author if I came across one.
I was still on holiday when I read this book so I left it in the hotel bookcase in Gran Canaria for another holidaymaker to take.
