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81 19 maquis: ordinarily used only of the Corsican 'maquis', extensive areas overgrown with an almost impenetrable tangle of brushwood le grenier de la France: the words of the enthusiastic promoters of Algerian colonization Algeria's famous grain producing region does not extend farther inland than one hundred miles, and does not include the part which Tartarin was now traversing.
Of all the characters that appear in Daudet's novels it is perhaps Frédérique whose appeal to the reader is strongest, and Frédérique is almost entirely the product of the author's imagination.
The great novels which now follow are the fruit of meditation, the ripening process which the war precipitated, and which was fed from the flame of Flaubert, Goncourt, Zola, and others. Neglecting almost entirely those elements of his genius which came to him as his birthright, he devotes himself henceforth to a study of the problems of life.
15 13 avait failli partir 'had failed to départ', i.e. 'almost departed'
The little book should be read for its intrinsic worth, its delightful style, its faithful delineation of character, and its earnestness of moral purpose. Mme. de La Fayette died in 1693. During her last years ill health and sorrow had forced upon her an almost absolute seclusion, and she died forgotten by all except a few faithful friends. The place of her burial is unknown.
Long years of suffering follow, but, although in almost constant pain, the indefatigable worker remains at his desk. In "Souvenirs d'un homme de lettres" and "Trente Ans de Paris" Daudet tells the story of his life and literary activity. It is through these works that we become intimately acquainted with our author, and we are not disillusioned.
68 27 gré: a noun, 'liking, used almost exclusively in prepositional phrases (de bon gré 'willingly,
Of Monsieur de La Fayette's relations to his wife, we are almost wholly ignorant; and the sole evidence beyond a line or two in Mme. de La Fayette's letters that he existed at all, was the birth to the wife of two children.
Almost every other year between 1862 and 1892 a new play, on untried themes, or adapted from one of his novels and usually written in collaboration, appeared at a Parisian theater. Of all these only one, "L'Arlésienne" , is worthy of its author. Already in 1859, as a result of the suffering of the preceding years and lack of precautions, his health had begun to fail.
72 17 Et toute la diligence de rire: 'and the whole stage coach laughed', cf. the Latin historical infinitive, used in place of the perfect. In French this infinitive is always preceded by de and the clause is almost always introduced by et, l