Carmen and the Venus of Ille
1845
First Published
3.42
Average Rating
130
Number of Pages
"Carmen"—the inspiration for one of the world's most popular operas—is a story about the dark forces that lurk beneath the facade of civilization, where passions are brutal and erotic love is seductive and sinister. When Don Jose meets a gypsy woman, he has no idea that his chance encounter with the "pretty witch" will have disastrous consequences. With her magic and her malevolent spirit, Carmen exerts a powerful charm on the unsuspecting Don Jose, who is drawn into a seedy underworld of bandits and smugglers—exploited and humiliated, until he is driven to the ultimate revenge. In "Carmen," Prosper Merimee introduced a literary archetype: the femme fatale, who uses her sexuality and mystery to ensnare and ultimately destroy the weak, unsuspecting man. It appears here with "The Venus of Ille," a brilliant tale of the supernatural. Prosper Merimee is a noted French novelist, playwright, and short story writer.
Avg Rating
3.42
Number of Ratings
105
5 STARS
11%
4 STARS
37%
3 STARS
34%
2 STARS
16%
1 STARS
1%
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