Aziyadé
Encyclopedia
Aziyadé is a novel by French author Pierre Loti
. Originally published anonymously, it was his first book, and along with Le Mariage de Loti
(1880, also published anonymously), would introduce the author to the French public and quickly propel him to fame (his anonymous persona did not last long).
Aziyadé is semi-autobiographical, based on a diary Loti kept during a 3 month period as a French Naval officer in Greece
and İstanbul
in the fall and winter of 1876. It tells the story of the 27-year old Loti's illicit love affair with an 18 year old "Circassian"
harem girl named Aziyadé. Although Aziyadé was one of many conquests in the exotic romantic's life, she was his greatest love, he would wear a gold ring with her name on it for the rest of his life. Forming a love triangle, the book also describes Loti's "friendship" with a Spanish man servant named Solomon, for which most critics believe, based on Loti's diary entries, that some sort of homosexual affair occurred (indeed some believe Aziyadé never existed and the entire work is a cover for a homosexual love story, however the evidence for Aziyadé's existence seems overwhelming, (See Blanch)). It also describes Loti's love affair with Turkish culture which became a central part of his "exotica" persona.
The only known English translation is by Marjorie Laurie which can be found in many editions, no longer in copyright, however some of the parts have been sanitized regarding harem life, prostitution and homosexuality. The original French first edition is very rare and has become a highly prized collectors item.
Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti was a French novelist and naval officer.-Biography:Loti's education began in his birthplace, Rochefort, Charente-Maritime. At the age of seventeen he entered the naval school in Brest and studied at Le Borda. He gradually rose in his profession, attaining the rank of captain in 1906...
. Originally published anonymously, it was his first book, and along with Le Mariage de Loti
Le Mariage de Loti
Le Mariage de Loti is an autobiographical novel by French author Pierre Loti. It is Loti's second novel and the first to win him great fame and a wide following. It describes Loti's romantic liaison with an exotic Tahitian girl named Rarahu...
(1880, also published anonymously), would introduce the author to the French public and quickly propel him to fame (his anonymous persona did not last long).
Aziyadé is semi-autobiographical, based on a diary Loti kept during a 3 month period as a French Naval officer in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in the fall and winter of 1876. It tells the story of the 27-year old Loti's illicit love affair with an 18 year old "Circassian"
Adyghe people
The Adyghe or Adygs , also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are in origin a North Caucasian ethnic groupwho were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862.Adyghe people mostly speak Adyghe and most...
harem girl named Aziyadé. Although Aziyadé was one of many conquests in the exotic romantic's life, she was his greatest love, he would wear a gold ring with her name on it for the rest of his life. Forming a love triangle, the book also describes Loti's "friendship" with a Spanish man servant named Solomon, for which most critics believe, based on Loti's diary entries, that some sort of homosexual affair occurred (indeed some believe Aziyadé never existed and the entire work is a cover for a homosexual love story, however the evidence for Aziyadé's existence seems overwhelming, (See Blanch)). It also describes Loti's love affair with Turkish culture which became a central part of his "exotica" persona.
The only known English translation is by Marjorie Laurie which can be found in many editions, no longer in copyright, however some of the parts have been sanitized regarding harem life, prostitution and homosexuality. The original French first edition is very rare and has become a highly prized collectors item.
Resources
- Lesley Blanch (1983). Pierre Loti: the legendary romantic. Chapters 6 to 8. (Republished as Pierre Loti: Travels with the Legendary Romantic. Tauris, 2004. ISBN 1-85043-429-8.)
- Richard M. Berrong. "Portraying male same-sex desire in nineteenth-century French literature: Pierre Loti's Aziyadé", College Literature, Fall 1998.