Suite Francaise - Book Report/Review Example

The former shows that "in desperate circumstances the most unpleasant people are best equipped to survive."(Marnham, Patrick; 2006). Few, and certainly not the well-to-do, emerge with any credit (Coward, David; 2005). The characters show "how, for many, life simply goes on (often in considerable luxury) while the common man suffers; how the upper classes try to cling desperately to their standing even when it has become irrelevant. For all the talk about nation and national honor, and a supposed willingness to do whatever is necessary, most of the characters, especially the upper class ones, are often oblivious of the actual state of affairs." (www.completereview.com;2006) For instance, Gabriel Corte, a writer, "hated the war" because "it threatened much more than his lifestyle or peace of mind; it continually destroyed the world of the imagination, the only world where he felt happy; one he had taken such pains to build to shut out the rest of the world." (pp.73).

In the Pericand family, the father is a curator, the oldest son a priest, and another too young to join the fight but eager to join it. Somewhat of a burden is the elder Monsieur Pericand who "only truly returned to his right mind when discussing his fortune which was considerable". (pp.100). A contrasting fate is that of the Michauds, bank employees who the manager Corbin promises he will help evacuate, then ditches to make room for his mistress Arlette and her dog. (pp.122)Corbin, who complains about the Michauds having "a nice holiday" when they have no option but to stay in Paris, and his wife "had had a painful row; in the chaos of the hurried departure or perhaps out of malice, the chambermaid had put a small framed picture belonging to Monsieur Corbin in Madame Corbin's bag; it contained a photograph of Arlette, stark naked.

The nudity itself might not have offended his wife, but the dancer was wearing a magnificent necklace. 'But it's not real, I promise you!' Corbin had said with venom. His wife refused to believe him. Meanwhile, there was no sign of Arlette. He had heard she was in Bordeaux and was often seen in the company of German officers" (pp.190)One of the central figures in Dolce is Bruno von Falk, a lieutenant billeted at the Angelliers. He gets close to Lucile whose husband Gaston is a prisoner of war, while her mother-in-law refuses even to speak with him.

But Madame Angelliers is not the only one who would not speak with the Germans; the Perrins even get Lucile to act as an intermediary to collect some of their goods from their house, a haughty attitude Bruno is willing to play along with. But that is about as far as the French principles go; there are no illusions about even neighborly solidarity. As Bruno tells Lucile: "The very first day we arrived, there was a package of anonymous letters waiting for us at the headquarters; people were accusing one another of spreading English and Gaullist propaganda, of hoarding supplies, of being spies.." (pp.151) That Bruno was not exhibiting Teutonic contempt or malice is proved by many characters.

Among the worst are Madame Montmort and her husband, the Viscount, who was made