La Petite Fadette first appeared in the periodical Le Crédit between December 1848 and January 1849. The text is the third in a triptych of Sand novels with a pastoral theme, following La Mare au diable (1846) and François le Champi (1847), all grouped by Sand under the title “Veillées du chanvreur”. In the 1848 preface to La Petite Fadette, Sand presents the text as having been narrated by this titular chanvreur [hemp-beater], whose narration draws on the traditional, rustic nature of the countryside of Sand’s native Berry region, and frequently employs local dialect terms. After Sand’s death the “Veillées” became …
1478 words
Citation: Illingworth, James. "La Petite Fadette". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2017 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35564, accessed 25 November 2024.]