George Sand – a strong woman

I am not sure how well known George Sand is beyond France and Poland. I never talked about her with anyone but Poles. However, I hope she is known as she deserves to be. She was as important in intellectual and artistic circles of Paris in the middle of XIXth century as Virginia Woolf and Ottoline Morrell together were important for the Bloomsbury group almost one hundred years later.

                                          

She was a writer like Virginia Woolf. Maybe not of the same magnitude, but she was respected and admired as a writer by her contemporary literary circles of France.  Gustave Flaubert and Victor Hugo were admirers of her writing and they knew the writer's métier rather well. Flaubert addressed letters to her “Cher Maitre”. My attempt to write that in English was not very successful. Dear Master? It somehow does not sound right.  

                                                

George Sand was also a society hostess similarly to Ottoline Morrell and they both were famous of having many lovers. The most known lover of ten years was Frederic Chopin. Possibly because of this particular liaison most of Poles know her name and some facts from her life. Chopin lived many years under George Sand roof and was close to her children particularly her daughter, Solange.

                                   

George Sand love affairs were known, widely publicised and often critically judged. I must say that for many years I also disapproved of her conduct. And then I heard somebody say: “Nothing wrong with having many relationships. If love is important to a person, then the person searches for this true love and this close person”. Since one of the most famous quotes of George Sand says - There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved – no wonder she kept searching. Hmm… I thought and changed my mind about her love conduct.

George Sand is really a pseudonym of Aurore Dupin. Aurore rightly thought that signing her work with a man’s name will be beneficial to be treated seriously. She went much further than just signing her work as George Sand. She also dressed as a man and she did not behave in a girlish manner. She even smoked cigars!  All together a scandalous woman and I admire her courage to be so very much controversial herself.

                                                          

As I am out from the closet and shamelessly admit to be a feminist, my admiration for George Sand is only natural.

One of her quotes I especially identify with is:

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.

This is not scandalous woman saying, this is a wise human being saying.  

What prompted me to think and write about George Sand is news of recently published diaries of her in Polish translation. I heard that it is a beautiful edition and I would love to have it. If I read it all I am not sure. It consists of five books. On pictures they look so beautiful! There is big part of the diaries that is dedicated to Chopin as a composer and the author’s views about his talent would be most interesting to read. She observed him composing for so many years that I would like to know her insight. I have asked my dear Polish friend and my literary guide Raf to buy the books and hope to read some of them when I go again to Poland. Hope it will be soon.