Le Ravissement de Lol V. Stein

"Le ravissement de Lol V Stein" is a novel written by Marguerite Duras and published by Gallimard in 1964. The text was translated by Seaver and published as "The Ravishing of Lol Stein" (Grove Press, 1966),

Plot

At the beginning of the novel, Lol V Stein is a woman in her thirties. She was born and raised at S. Tahla in a bourgeoise family and got engaged to Michael Richardson at 19. However, during a ball at T Beach, Michael Richardson leaves Lol for Anne-Marie Stretter, an older woman. After a difficult recovery from this shock, Lol marries Jean Bedford, a musician she meets on one of her daily walks. Lol leaves S. Tahla with her husband.

Ten years and three children later Lol is an established woman with no time for fantasy. Her family have returned to S. Tahla and live in her parents house which they have redecorated. Lol goes on her daily walks as she did ten years before. She thinks she recognises Tatiana Karl one day, the friend who consoled her after her breakup with Michael Richardson. The man who accompanies Tatiana makes a deep impression on Lol.

Lol reestablishes her contact with Tatiana and gets to know both her husband and her lover, Jacques Hold. Lol is able to get information from Jacques about events at the ball at T Beach 10 years before. Lol reveals to Jacques her interest in him but forbids him to leave Tatiana for her.

Lol spies on Tatiana and her lover but Jacques notices her. One day Lol tells Jacques that she has been to T Beach alone and plans to return with him. On doing this, Lol shows Jacques the room where she and Michael Richardson split up. Lol and Jacques spend the night together. The next day, Jacques has one last meeting with Tatiana Karl.