Little Things - An Annotated Reader of 19th Century French Literary Masterpieces (Level A)

Author: Alphonse Daudet
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Little Things (1868) is Daudet's epic novel, drawing from the author's own childhood experiences, with a semi-autobiographical quality. The work is filled with compassion and concern for humanity. The protagonist, Daniel Aisêt, is born in a small town in southern France, where his father is the owner of a silk factory. Daniel has been frail since childhood and is short in stature, earning the nickname "Little Things" from his classmates. Due to financial hardship, young Daniel is forced to fend for himself at an early age. Through a friend's recommendation, Little Things secures a job at a school. However, despite his hopeful outlook for the future, he struggles to adapt to the cold and gloomy life at the school: the students bully him, the rigid school rules suppress him, and in the end, he is betrayed by his "loyal" friend. Desperate, Little Things leaves the school and heads to Paris to join his brother Jacques, who works as a private secretary there.