Audiobok Review: Camille (The Lady of the Camellias) by Alexandre Dumas fils

First published in 1848, Camille captivated Paris and has inspired countless adaptations. This classic story of love and loss is based on the author’s real-life affair with courtesan Marie Duplessis. Also known as The Lady of the Camellias, the novel follows the courtesan Marguerite Gautier through her tumultuous love affair with handsome—but middle class—Armand Duval. Before their passionate affair is over, one lover must give up everything.

GENRE: Classic Literature

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alexandre Dumas fils (27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), published in 1848, which was adapted into Giuseppe Verdi's 1853 opera La traviata (The Fallen Woman), as well as numerous stage and film productions, usually titled Camille in English-language versions.

Dumas fils (French for "son") was the son of Alexandre Dumas père ("father"), also a well-known playwright and author of classic works such as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. Dumas fils was admitted to the Académie française (French Academy) in 1874 and awarded the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour) in 1894.

Review

I've always struggled with classics. I've read pieces for school, but the only one I ever managed to finish outside of that setting is The Count of Monte Cristo, penned by the father of this author. For classics, I've found that either the prose is too flowery or the narrative style too literary that I get bored waiting for the plot, the actual story, to kick in. Then I got into the hang of listening to audiobooks, and one day I thought I'd give it a try. If there's a long-winding paragraph that doesn't hold my interest, I can just zone out, right? I'll still be doing my chores (that's when I put on audiobooks) so it's a win-win at the end of the day.

Well, I'm happy to say I might've found my solution for consuming classics!

I picked this one in particular because a friend told me this is actually the basis for Moulin Rouge, a film which I absolutely love. And while this is considered a romantic novel, it doesn't meet the criteria of romance these days so I'm going to call it is a love story. A tragic one, but a love story nonetheless.

The narrative style fascinated me. It started off as a commentary by an old man on a dead woman whose stuff was being sold to pay her creditors. He knew the woman only by sight, having seen her around Paris. Later, the woman's lover arrived, leading to the rest of the tale. The woman's point of view was also eventually revealed in the form of letters she'd penned, which ended up in her lover's possession.

Having seen Moulin Rouge multiple times (and in multiple formats, for I've also seen the musical twice), I had an idea what to expect in terms of the story. But what I didn't expect — and thus loved — was the deeper look into the society the characters lived in. It influenced all their decisions, see. For example, being a courtesan wasn't about dancing in a nightclub, unlike what Moulin Rouge would make you believe; it was, in fact, a whole lifestyle. It was all very interesting to listen to.

Armand annoyed me most of the time — he literally falls in love at first sight (a trope I don't really like) and very quickly spirals into obsession. There were times I wanted to yell at him to leave Marguerite alone since he's acting like a pouty child 😂 Still, his perspective is fascinating. Because there are plenty of men like that, I think. Who believe they love — and they probably do, in their own way — but their love is threaded with jealousy and anger and the need to demand and be in control.

I could go on and on with the social commentary in this novel... which I guess is why classics are so beloved, because they spark thought and discussion and a deeper look into things. (No shade against genre romance, as I recognize the intentions are different.) I'm definitely going to check out more classics now via audiobooks. But if you like your tragic love stories, you might want to give this a listen. (I thought the narrators were very good too, Marguerite particularly. Her letters were heartbreaking.)

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Hi! I'm Marie, a Filipino SFFH author and book reviewer currently based in the UK. I’m the co-author of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse myth new adult urban fantasy trilogy, and I also have several short stories published in anthologies and literary journals.

You can find more info about me and my books, and also subscribe to my newsletter for more content, here. And if you like what I do, please also consider supporting me on Ko-fi! 🩷 https://ko-fi.com/mariesinadjan

If you fancy a short read, I have a cozy reimagining of the Norse myths about Hel, but it's just under 70 pages and can be read in one sitting. ✨ Plus there's a swag kit coming soon! Includes a "membership card," a bookmark, a sticker, an origami dog, and an exclusive 500-word story 🫶🏼

All things end, and all must die.

But death is not always the end.

When Geiravor Lokisdottir was stripped of her name and cast out of Asgard, torn from her family and the life she had known, she thought she’d lost it all. But in the shadows of Niflheim she discovers the path to her destiny, and what it truly means to be queen.

This is a prequel short story to THE PROPHECIES OF RAGNAROK trilogy by Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan, and a retelling of the myths involving Hel, the Norse goddess of death and the queen of the underworld.