The Madel(e)ine Series

Anyone familiar with Ludwig Bemelmans' classic 1939 children's book -- written in English and called "Madeline" (rhymes with "had a fine") -- may recognize these scenes and their accompanying text, en français because the only version we have at the moment is "Madeleine", the French translation of the original.

NB: Even though many of the Paris scenes are quite close to the famous church at Place de la Madeleine -- also home to the most famous public toilets in Paris, apparently -- as far as I can tell the place called Madeleine has nothing to do with our heroine. Coincidentally (or not), Ludwig Bemelmans' wife was named Madeleine. You can hear a nice interview with her, where she discusses the origins of the book among other things, at http://wiredforbooks.org/madeleinebemelmans/.

(La Tour Eiffel, front cover of the book)











(La Place de la Concorde, inside front cover)











(L'Opéra de Paris, p. 10)

"Elles souriaient quand il convenait"







(La Place Vendôme, p. 11)

"se renfrognaient s'il le fallait"






(L'Hotel des Invalides, p. 12)

"et à l'occasion s'attristaient."









(Le Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, p. 14):

"sous la pluie"









(Le Jardin de Luxembourg, p. 15)

"ou par beau temps."






(La Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmarte, p. 18)

"elle aimait la glace, la neige, l'hiver gris."









(La Tour Eiffel, again, p. 26)

"Et l'ambulance l'emporte. Dans la nuit son feu clignote."






(Le jardin des Tuileries near le musée du Louvre, p. 31)

"Un beau matin, Miss Clavel dit: 'Quelle belle journée aujourd'hui!' "