Valvedre by George Sand. Short summary

5 seconds

The poet Francois falls in love with Alida, the wife of the scientist Valvedre. He kidnaps her and takes her away. She falls ill, and before she dies she receives her husband’s forgiveness. François and Valvedre marry the sisters of a mutual friend, Henri.

1 minute

The narrative poet Francois Valigny travels through Europe. In Switzerland, he lives with the family of his childhood friend Henri Auberné. The latter is on an expedition in the Alps with his friend Valvedre. The narrator goes to join them.

At the hotel where Henri and Walvedre live, the poet meets the banker Moserwald, gossiping about Walvedre and his wife, Alida.

Alida arrives, a 30-year-old woman disillusioned with married life. François falls in love with her. They have much in common, but their romance remains platonic because Alida does not want to cheat on her husband.

But in Geneva, the poet kidnaps his beloved with the help of Moserwald. Valvedre himself behaves nobly. The poet takes Alida to Paris and then to Algiers. She is seriously ill. François awaits Valvedre’s permission for a divorce.

Alida regrets her action, for leaving her husband and children. François realizes that he cannot support her. Valvedre arrives and forgives Alida. She dies.

François gives up poetry and becomes an industrialist. He reconciles with Valvedre, and they both marry Henri’s sisters.