Sidonie de La Houssaye, Octavia : Femme créole de la Nouvelle Orléans. Édition abrégée et annotée par Carrie A. Lombardino et D. A. Kress. Introduction de Mary Greenwood.

In Octavia, Sidonie de La Houssaye pens a tale of betrayal and revenge that makes us question our notions of good and evil. Is Octavia simply a “vile creature” as her unfaithful lover claims? Or is she a sort of avenging angel who dares to refuse the role of powerless victim that the judge would cast upon her? Nothing is simple about this gritty story written by one of Louisiana’s most compelling authors – except the simplified French that will give readers a real sense of accomplishment as they race to the conclusion to see who, if anyone, will be stricken down by divine justice. This carefully prepared and annotated edition will delight both readers in second-year university courses and mature high school students. Teachers who have long sought a simplified French reader based on Louisiana material will discover a book their students will love.

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ISBN: 978-0-9857345-4-1.