Donatienne

"Donatienne" is a poignant work of social realism by the acclaimed French novelist Rene Bazin. The story centers on a young Breton woman, Donatienne, who leaves her husband and children in the impoverished countryside of Brittany to seek employment as a wet nurse for a wealthy family in Paris. This migration, driven by financial necessity, sets off a chain of events that tests the moral and emotional resilience of both Donatienne and her abandoned family.

While Donatienne navigates the temptations and complexities of life in the capital, her husband, Jean Louarn, struggles to maintain their home and care for their children amidst mounting hardship. Bazin masterfully portrays the stark contrast between the traditional values of rural France and the often-corrosive influence of urban society. Through its sensitive exploration of sacrifice, longing, and the enduring bonds of family, "Donatienne" remains a classic of early 20th-century literature, offering a window into the socio-economic pressures that shaped the lives of the working class in provincial France and the deep psychological toll of rural exodus.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.