
CARMEN
PROSPER MÉRIMÉE
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A wind‑swept Spanish landscape frames the tale of a daring Romani woman named Carmen, whose sharp wit and unrestrained spirit make her both admired and feared in the bustling streets of Seville. The narrative opens with her life‑of‑the‑road existence, hinting at the shadowy trades that sustain her family and the allure of the city’s nightly revels.
Into this world rides Don José Navarre, a disciplined cavalry lieutenant whose orderly life is upended the moment he meets Carmen at a lively tavern. Their instant connection sparks a dangerous attraction, tugging José between his sense of duty and the intoxicating freedom she embodies. Their early encounters swirl with music, whispered promises, and the charged atmosphere of bullfights and market stalls.
Through vivid descriptions of sun‑baked plazas, the clang of swords, and the rhythmic pulse of Andalusian life, the story paints a portrait of passion that feels both timeless and volatile. Listeners are drawn into the first act’s electric tension, setting the stage for a love that may prove as fierce as the streets that birthed it.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (135K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2015-04-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1870
Best known for the novella that inspired Bizet’s Carmen, this sharp, cool-headed French writer also helped shape the preservation of historic buildings in France. His stories are famous for their precision, tension, and taste for the unexpected.
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