Mauritius Literature
Paul et Virginie
„Paul et Virginie“ is a novel by Bernardin Saint- Pierre which plays on the island of Mauritius and belongs to the core literature in french libraries. Additionally it is the national novel of the Mauritians. There is no peace of literature that is more famous than the romantic novel of Frenchman Saint- Pierre,who lived many years on Mauritius.
This literary work , which was first published 1787, attacks the issues of divided social classes, futhermore the mauritian society and its slavery.
The plot of the novel: The young lovers, Paul et Virginie, grew up in Pamplemousses close to the Botanic Garden. As the both of them were children, Virginie had to go to France, to finish her school education. Paul and Virginie suffered extremely under the existing distance, thus Virginie decided to return home.
On the return journey, just before the north side of Mauritius, the sailing ship „St. Geran“ was caught by a whirlwind, sunk. Virginie did not reach the dry land as she drowned in the ocean.
To get in the right frame of mind for your mauritian holidays I would recomment for you to read „ Paul et Virgine“, because it brings the lifestyle, the beautiful countryside, as well as the issues of the island Mauritius to your home. And as soon as you are on the island, you will be suprised, how often you will see places, which are mentionned in the book.
For instance many erected monuments, like the statue in Curepipe- Townhall Garden, the city Cap Malheureux (where Virginie drowned, after the shipping accident), or even the town Baie du Tombeau ( where the sea washed her ashore).
Original:
„Paul et Virginie“, Bernardin de Saint- Pierre, Verlag: Editions Gallimard, ISBN-10: 2070316246
the German translation:
„Paul und Virginie“, Bernardin de Saint- Pierre, Verlag: die Waage, ISBN- 10: 3859660659
the English translation:
„Paul and Virginie“, Bernardin de Saint- Pierre, Verlag: Ghislaine; Auflage: New Ed (August 1997), ISBN-10: 095313220X