This 19th century romantic triangle comes to life, writes Nicky Pellegrino.
There is a trend at the moment for fictionalising the lives of real people, particularly literary figures. Already I've read novels about poet Rupert Brooke and writer Ernest Hemingway. The latest addition to the genre, The Reinvention Of Love by Helen Humphreys (Profile, $36.99), is a re-imagination of the love triangle between 19th century French writer Victor Hugo, his wife Adele and the literary critic Charles Sainte-Beuve.
The story begins in 1830s Paris with the young Charles being challenged to a duel by a newspaper colleague he has insulted. And so we learn from the off that Charles is a little vain and rather rash, with a flair for getting himself into complicated situations.
In love with Adele Hugo and in awe of her husband Victor's talent, he is part of their inner circle, the godfather of their youngest daughter and a regular at their home. For a while he manages to continue the love affair and the friendship: meeting Adele in a public park or hotel room, sometimes dressing as a woman (although judging by the photograph included he wouldn't have made a terribly convincing one), and meeting her in a church. Their love affair is all fierce passions, snatched moments of joy then long torments of separation; made more poignant by the fact Charles has a secret physical impediment he believes makes him unacceptable to most women. It ends when he makes the mistake of confessing the affair to Victor. Torn between her family and her lover, Adele cannot help but choose to stay with her children.
Humphreys follows the two parted lovers to the end of their lives, as they grow old and stout but never entirely let go of their love for one another, and then on beyond Adele's death to the tragic legacy of their affair; the fate of her youngest daughter Dede.
