02344cam a22003133u 4500 66035 UtSlPG 20260610134526.0 m cr n 260607r2021||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG fr iso639-1 PQ Gagneur, M.-L. (Marie-Louise), 1832-1902 Le Calvaire des Femmes Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2021 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2021-08-11 Laura Natal Rodrigues at Free Literature (Images generously made available by Gallica, Bibliothèque nationale de France.) "Le Calvaire des Femmes" by M.-L. Gagneur is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The book delves into the struggles and miseries faced by women, particularly in the context of poverty and societal expectations, and introduces the Bordier family, including the father Jacques, the mother Françoise, and their five daughters, whose challenging lives set the stage for the narrative. The opening of the novel establishes a bleak scene in a tiny, impoverished house in Ardèche, where the Bordier family struggles with the harsh realities of their existence. On a winter's night, Françoise labors through childbirth, while Jacques grapples with despair over the birth of yet another daughter instead of a son, reflecting his views on poverty and gender roles. As the family navigates their dire situation, a benevolent figure, Mlle Borel, arrives to offer assistance. She represents hope amid despair, aiming to uplift the Bordiers without demeaning them through charity. This interplay of suffering, resilience, and the larger societal issues concerning women and labor fuels the initial chapters, setting the scene for the exploration of the deeper themes of class struggle, gender inequality, and the quest for dignity within the grim realities of life. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified French fiction -- 19th century Working class women -- France -- Fiction https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66035 106857 106857