DUHAMEL WEBSITE
Study notes for “Le Notaire du Havre” by Georges Duhamel

Georges Duhamel belongs to a generation of French novelists who began to make their name towards the end of the First World War and produced their work during the inter-war years, 1918- 1939.  

His book, “Le Notaire  du Havre, was first published in 1933. It is the first of a saga of novels, in which he tells the story of the Pasquier family.  This is a fictitious family but their life history closely reflects that of the author’s own family, the Duhamel, and the person whom the book presents as the narrator of the history, Laurent Pasquier is closely identified with the actual author, Georges Duhamel.  The story is told in ten volumes in total and the final book of the series appeared in 1945. The title of the complete series is “La Chronique des Pasquier”.  

 This book used to get a good response from my “A” level students and very much merits study.

Contents - Student Notes for Le Notaire du Havre

1. Duhamel’s chapter headings with my explanations in English

2. Summary of the Preface to “Le Notaire du Havre” –supposedly written in later life, by a child character, Laurent.

3. Summary of “Le Notaire du Havre” in English with commentary.

4. An Introduction to “Le Notaire du Havre”  - biography of George Duhamel – historical background

5. The character of M. Pasquier.

6. Similarities in facets of character of M. Pasquier and M. Wasselin.

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