
In sun‑drenched French fields, village life unfolds with a vivid mix of humor and heart. The story opens with a lively impromptu game, where a spirited young woman leads a chase among peasants, splashing raspberry juice on friends and foes alike. Through this playful scene we meet Sidonie, determined despite her limp, and Bruno, the quick‑witted quarry, whose banter and laughter reveal a community that finds joy in simple, rustic pleasures.
Beyond the games, the narrative paints a portrait of a close‑knit countryside, where towering beeches and oaks watch over bustling gatherings, and the harvest of wild raspberries becomes a backdrop for flirtation and camaraderie. As the gamekeeper’s wife darts through the bushes, her carefree charm hints at deeper connections and unspoken attractions, inviting listeners to linger in a world where everyday moments sparkle with unexpected delight.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (238K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: Wm. L. Allison Company, 1890.
Credits
Andrew Sly, PrimeNumber, MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2023-02-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1832–1919
A 19th-century French novelist and playwright, he wrote popular fiction for newspapers and the stage and is still remembered for a lively, prolific career. His work moved easily between serialized stories, detective-style plots, and theater.
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