Bonjour Tristesse (in English, Hello, Sadness) is a novel by Françoise Sagan. Published in 1954, when the author was only eighteen, it caused an overnight sensation. The title is derived from a poem by Paul Éluard, "À peine défigurée," which begins with the lines "Adieu tristesse/ Bonjour tristesse..." Françoise Sagan (June 21, 1935–September 24, 2004), real name Françoise Quoirez, was a French playwright, novelist and screenwriter. ... For other uses, see Novel (disambiguation). ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar). ... Hardcover books A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth, heavy paper, or sometimes leather). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... ISBN redirects here. ... For other uses, see Novel (disambiguation). ... Françoise Sagan (June 21, 1935–September 24, 2004), real name Françoise Quoirez, was a French playwright, novelist and screenwriter. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar). ... It appears that this entire article has been copied and pasted from http://www. ...

The 1958 film Bonjour Tristesse featured Geoffrey Horne, Deborah Kerr, Jean Seberg and David Niven as the lead actors. The music was composed by Georges Auric. Jan. ... Film poster for Bonjour Tristesse, designed by Saul Bass. ... Geoffrey Horne is an actor and acting coach at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. ... Deborah Kerr, CBE (September 30, 1921 – October 16, 2007) was a Golden Globe Award-winning Scottish actress who was also awarded an honorary Academy Award and BAFTA recognition. ... Jean Seberg (November 13, 1938 – September 8, 1979) was an American actress who spent an important part of her career in France. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Georges Auric (February 15, 1899 – July 23, 1983) was a French composer, born in Lodève, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. ...

Plot summary

Seventeen-year-old Cécile spends her summer in a villa on the French Riviera with her father and two other women. Her father, Raymond, is a seductive man who has had many affairs. Among his women friends is Elsa Mackenbourg: she and Cécile get on well. When Elsa comes to the villa to spend her summer with Raymond, it is clear that she is the latest of many women whom Cécile has seen enter the life of her father and exit fairly quickly: young, superficial, and fashionable. The French Riviera (French: , Occitan: Còsta Azzura) is one of the most famous resort areas in the world, extending along the Mediterranean Sea west from Menton near the Italian border, including the cities and towns of Monaco, Nice, Antibes, and Cannes. ...

Cécile is somewhat naive and tries to disguise this by attempting to attract men of the same age as her father. Her love life is unsuccessful until she meets Cyril.

Raymond, Elsa and Cécile are spending an uneventful summer together until Anne Larsen arrives by way of an earlier invitation from Cécile's father. A friend of Cécile's late mother, Anne is very different from Raymond's other girlfriends. She is cultured, educated and intelligent. At first, Cecile admires Anne, but soon a struggle begins between Cécile and Anne for Raymond's attention. The plot begins to focus on the relationship between the two women. When Anne announces that she and Raymond are planning to get married, Cécile devises a plan to prevent the marriage from taking place.

When Anne dies in a road accident, her death, rather than giving Cécile satisfaction, leaves her contemplating a bleak future. Was it an accident or suicide? The reader is left to decide.

Characters

Cécile

Cécile is a 17 year old girl who lives with her father because her mother died when she was two years old.

Raymond

Raymond is a 40 year old widower, he is Cécile's father.

Elsa

Raymond's mistress at the start of the book. She is 29, tall and has red hair.

Anne

Anne was a friend of Cécile's mother, she is 42. She is invited to the villa by Raymond. They begin a relationship and get engaged.

Cyril

Cyril is 25 years old, lives with his mother and is a student at university studying law. He is good at sailing and is in love with Cécile.

Analysis

The book is split into two parts; during the first part Cécile is very naïve and behaves like a young child. In the second part she is more mature and acts more like an adult.

One of the most important use of symbols is that of the sea and the sun. The sea is a maternal symbol and the sun a paternal symbol. Throughout the book, Françoise Sagan uses the sea to show Cécile is missing her mother. For example, when she realises that she is losing an argument with Anne, she runs to the sea, like a child runs to their mother when something goes wrong.

There are numerous references to the fact that Cécile is missing the presence of a mother figure. Anne Larsen tries to fill this role; in the first part of the book Cecile accepts this, but as she "grows up", she begins to resent Anne.

Some argue that Cécile lacks a father as well, even though Raymond is present. Raymond's behavior is immature and he doesn't treat his daughter like a child or even a teenager. He buys her an exotic dress and takes her to casinos. This behavior confuses Cécile and she does not know whether she is supposed to act like an adult or a teenager.

When Anne arrives she treats Cécile as a child, adding further confusion to Cécile's life.