Review: Good morning, sadness by Françoise Sagan

Review of the book “Good morning, sadness” by Françoise Sagan.

(Five Decades Collection, from Ediciones Cátedra)

“Good morning, sadness” is a short novel written by French author Françoise Sagan. Published in 1954, the work quickly became a bestseller and one of the most emblematic works of 20th century French literature.

What is it about Good Morning, Sadness that made it a literary and social phenomenon in the 1950s? Why does it continue to be a reference work for many readers and writers? What does Françoise Sagan tell us about love, youth and freedom?

Good Morning, Sadness tells the story of Cécile, a seventeen-year-old girl who lives with her father Raymond, a widower in his forties who enjoys life without ties or commitments. Both share a relationship of complicity and hedonism, based on pleasure and fun. During a vacation on the Côte d’Azur, they stay in a luxurious villa together with Elsa, Raymond’s lover, and Cyril, a family friend who falls in love with Cécile.

Everything seems to be going well until Anne, an old friend of Cécile’s mother, arrives to visit them. Anne is a cultured, elegant and serious woman, who represents the complete opposite of what Cécile and Raymond value. Anne sets out to change their lifestyle, imposing her authority and her morals. Raymond is attracted to her and decides to marry her, breaking up with Elsa. Cécile sees Anne as a threat to her happiness and freedom, and decides to do everything possible to separate her from her father. To do this, she hatches a plan with Cyril and Elsa, which consists of making Raymond believe that Cécile and Cyril have a sexual relationship.

The plan goes wrong and has tragic and irreversible consequences. Cécile regrets what she has done and faces the sadness and emptiness that her action leaves in her. She realizes that she has lost her innocence and the joy of it, and that she has entered the world of adults.

Good morning, sadness is a short but intense novel, written with an agile and simple style, which reflects the spirit of an era and a generation. Françoise Sagan masterfully portrays the feelings and contradictions of a teenager who searches for her place in the world, who rebels against established norms and who experiences love and heartbreak. The novel is also a criticism of the hypocrisy and conformism of post-war French bourgeois society, which is questioned by the new values ​​of youth.

The novel tells the story of Cécile, a 17-year-old girl who lives on the French Riviera with her father, Raymond, a rich and womanizing man. Cécile is a carefree young woman, who enjoys life and her occasional lovers. However, her life changes when her father introduces her to Anne, an intelligent and sophisticated woman who soon becomes her stepmother.

The relationship between Cécile and Anne is tense from the beginning. Cécile feels that Anne is trying to control her life and make her a more responsible and mature person. Additionally, Cécile is attracted to Cyril, a young man she meets on the beach and who shares her carefree lifestyle.

As the novel progresses, tensions between the characters increase and a conflict is unleashed that will have tragic consequences. Through Cécile’s story, Sagan explores themes such as freedom, responsibility and maturity, and offers a critique of the French bourgeois society of the time.

“Good morning, sadness” is a short but intense novel, which shows the characteristic literary style of Françoise Sagan. The author uses simple and direct language, but at the same time poetic and evocative, to describe the feelings and emotions of her characters. The work also stands out for its setting, which portrays life on the French Riviera in the 1950s with great detail and realism.

In addition to its literary value, “Good morning, sadness” is a work that has been the subject of controversy and debate since its publication. Some critics have noted the frivolity and cynicism of his characters, while others have highlighted his honesty and his ability to reflect the social and cultural changes of the time.

In any case, “Good morning, sadness” remains a relevant and fascinating work, which has stood the test of time and continues to be read and admired by readers around the world.