Raphael; Or, Pages of the Book of Life at Twenty

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lamartine, Alphonse de, 1790-1869

Contributor:

Starkweather, C. C.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Raphael; Or, Pages of the Book of Life at Twenty" by Alphonse de Lamartine is a prose poem and a reflection written in the early 19th century. This work intertwines themes of romance, beauty, and melancholy through the character of Raphael, exploring his intense emotional experiences and his profound connection with a woman named Julie, alongside the devastating backdrop of illness and the fleeting nature of life and love. At the start of the narrative, we meet Raphael, a young man filled with artistic sensibility, who lives through deep emotional introspection and artistic yearnings. The initial passages introduce us to his life of isolation, framed by his memories and his innate appreciation for beauty. As Raphael becomes acquainted with Julie, a beautiful and fragile woman also grappling with illness, their hearts converge in a poignant yet tragic bond. Their relationship blossoms with mutual understanding and intense sentiment, navigating the complexities of love and existential despair. This opening portion sets the stage for a deeply reflective exploration of love's purity juxtaposed with life's impermanence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Ted Garvin, Keith M. Eckrich, and the PG Online Distributed Proofreaders Team

Notes:

Reading ease score: 68.8 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2004-07-25