The Virgin Blue

Aba

 Born in the US (1962- )

 Moved to the uk, we can easily say she is a british writer
 Her first book, the virgin blue(1997)
 Influences: the biographical influence: she believed in a family legend, that of the Chevaliers,
historical influence: The Massacre of St. Bartholomew, 1572.; Catherine de’ Medici
 plot: the killing of the Huguenot nobles who attended Henry of Navarre (future Henry IV, King of
France) and Margaret of Valois (Catherine’s daughter)’s wedding
 The title: The Virgin Blue- Isabelle du Moulin, “la Rousse”, Virgin Mary, Blue refers to the dress
virgin mary wears,
 Setting: France and Switzerland; a town near Le Pont de Montvert (France) – Moutiers
(Switzerland) – 16th century Lisle-sur-Tarn (France) – 20th century
 Structure: the book starts with the virgin, in the 16 th century.
 Characters: Isabelle du Moulin: red headed, she likes virgin mary a lot, she believes in Virgin
Mary, Catholicism and Protestantism,
o Etienne Tournier- will become her husband, a relation based on attraction
o (Petit Jean, Marie, Jacob)
o Jean and Hannah
o Susanne
o Ella Turner & Rick
 Theme, main idea: the theme of religion, family issues,anxiety,fear, care, protection
 Title
 Narration: it is the story of her encounter with her father, a bit of gialogue, and a faint
description
 Isabelle du Moulin: Well Educated, Obedient, determined, nice, religious, trying to be optimistic,
strong, brave, she tries to confront
 Her father: cold and tough, likes work, poor, authoritarian in a passive way, pessimistic
 Atmosphere:tense, lonely and deserted, very depressed, fear
 Point of view: Third Perso, omniscient, objective
 Style: a few epithets: new, motionless. Metaphor: a great shadow- an implied comparison
 Language and grammar: informal, colloquiav in the dialogue. Grammar: no authentic
constructions.