Autant en Emporte le Vent (Gone with the Wind) – Margaret Mitchell (1941 French Edition)
This French translation of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel captures the epic sweep and romantic turmoil of the original, following the headstrong Scarlett O’Hara through the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Retaining the English title’s poetic essence (Autant en Emporte le Vent translates roughly to “As the Wind Carries Away”), the edition introduced French readers to Scarlett’s ruthless survival tactics, her obsession with Ashley Wilkes, and her tumultuous relationship with Rhett Butler against the backdrop of the Old South’s collapse.
Historical Context:
- Translation: The 1939 French version by Pierre-François Caillé was reissued in 1941 under Nazi-occupied Paris’s censorship, making wartime printings historically complex.
- Reception: French critics praised its vivid characters but debated its portrayal of slavery and the Confederacy.
- Art: Early editions feature discreet covers to avoid Nazi scrutiny; postwar prints restored the iconic imagery.
If You Read This in French:
- Les Raisins de la Colère (Steinbeck, 1947) – Another American epic translated under occupation.
- Le Rouge et le Noir (Stendhal, 1830) – French literary counterpart to Scarlett’s ambition.
- Beloved (Toni Morrison, 1987) – A necessary counterpoint to Gone with the Wind’s racial blind spots.
