Shakuntala

Gautier, Théophile, 1811-1872Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 29K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Sacountala (1858) by Théophile GautierAuthor: Gautier, Théophile, 1811-1872,Language: French, Class: ML: Music: Literature of music, Release Date: Jan 23, 2006

Editor's review

Sacountala (1858) is a work by the French writer Théophile Gautier (1811–1872), published in the original French by Project Gutenberg and classified there under music literature. Gautier was a major figure of the French Romantic period, known for poetry, fiction, and art criticism. The title points to the Indian classical play Shakuntala, but note that this book is a French text and that Gutenberg classifies it under music literature; readers should clarify its genre and content beforehand and not simply equate it with a translation of the Indian drama. Its value for readers is threefold: first, as one work in Gautier's oeuvre, it can be studied for his range and his interest in exotic subjects; second, as a French public-domain text, it suits French learners practicing reading in the original; third, it can be read against translations of Shakuntala to observe how a nineteenth-century French writer handled an Eastern subject. The book is in the original French and demands a relatively high level of language proficiency, and the Gutenberg edition has limited annotations; it suits readers with some French who are interested in French Romantic literature or in adaptations of Eastern subjects, and is not recommended as an introductory text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Learners with French reading ability who want to practice nineteenth-century French in the original.
Readers studying Gautier's work and French Romantic literature, who can use it as a reference within his oeuvre.
Readers interested in how the Shakuntala subject was received and adapted in nineteenth-century Europe.
Enthusiasts of French public-domain literature willing to consult background materials for comparative reading.

Not a good fit for

Readers without French who hope to read a Chinese translation; this book is in the original French.
Readers expecting a complete translation of the Indian classical play Shakuntala; note the difference in genre.
Researchers needing detailed scholarly annotations and introductions; the Gutenberg edition has limited notes.

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the outline of the Shakuntala story and Gautier's background to avoid confusing genre and content.
French learners can read in stages: first skim for the gist, then go paragraph by paragraph checking unfamiliar words and period usage.
Read alongside Chinese or French translations of Shakuntala to observe how Gautier handles an Eastern subject.
After reading, note passages involving music and drama and consider their genre classification in light of the Gutenberg category.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a French translation of Shakuntala?

Not simply. Sacountala is an 1858 work by Gautier whose title points to the Shakuntala subject, but Gutenberg classifies it under music literature, indicating that its genre and content have their own characteristics. Readers should consult relevant materials before reading to confirm its specific form and should not treat it directly as a complete translation of the Indian classical drama.

What level of language proficiency is needed to read this book?

The book is in the original French and is a nineteenth-century French work, with sentence patterns and vocabulary bearing the marks of the period. Intermediate or higher French reading ability is recommended, along with dictionaries and background materials. Readers without French can first look for relevant Chinese translations or research materials to learn about the content.

Who was Gautier, and where does this book stand in his work?

Théophile Gautier was a nineteenth-century French writer known for poetry, fiction, and art criticism, and an important figure of the Romantic period. This book is his 1858 work and reflects his interest in exotic subjects. Its precise place in his oeuvre requires further consultation of his biography and chronological list of works.

Is the Gutenberg edition suitable for academic research?

The Gutenberg edition offers the free public-domain French original, suitable for basic reading and textual reference, but the layout is plain and annotations are limited. For academic research, scholarly editions with textual collation or annotations are recommended; the Gutenberg text can serve as a comparative or preliminary reading aid.

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About the author

Gautier, Théophile, 1811-1872 Author

Théophile Gautier (1811–1872) was a French poet, novelist and critic, with 24 works held in this collection. His verse collection Émaux et camées (Enamels and Cameos) is known for its finely wrought language and pursuit of formal beauty, and is regarded as a practice of the doctrine of art for art's sake; the two volumes of Poésies Complètes gather his poetry. In fiction, Mademoiselle de Maupin and One of Cleopatra's Nights and Other Fantastic Romances display his romantic and fantastical narrative interests. Gautier's style attends closely to color, line and sensory experience, and influenced later aesthetic literature. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not elaborated here.