Caged Bird

Author: [French] Alexandre Dumas fils
Original: Lu Yinan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: The protagonist of the novel, Marguerite, was originally a poor country girl who came to Paris for a living. Unfortunately, she fell into the world of prostitution and became a courtesan, developing a habit of extravagance. She indulged in pleasure to numb herself, but inwardly, she despised this hollow life. This fallen woman, who still retained a pure heart, yearned for a genuine life of love. La Dame aux Camélias (or Camille) depicts the love tragedy of a courtesan. The story is based on a real-life account of a prostitute in Paris at the time. It is said that this courtesan was named Alfonsine. Due to her impoverished background, she went to Paris to seek a livelihood at the age of fifteen. In the major social circles of Paris, her sharp wit made her a target for wealthy men and playboys, who used her beauty and body to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Ultimately, she fell ill and died from excessive drinking and revelry, leaving this world at the young age of twenty-three.