Aimez-vous Brahms?
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''Aimez-vous Brahms...'' (Do you like Brahms...) is a novel by
Françoise Sagan Françoise Sagan (born Françoise Delphine Quoirez; 21 June 1935 – 24 September 2004) was a French playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. Sagan was known for works with strong romantic themes involving wealthy and disillusioned bourgeois chara ...
, first published in 1959. It was published in English in 1960, and was made into a film under the title '' Goodbye Again'' in 1961 starring Ingrid Bergman and
Anthony Perkins Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor, director, and singer. Perkins is best remembered for his role as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense thriller '' Psycho'', which made him an influentia ...
. It was also adapted (probably unofficially) as a Hindi film called '' Jahan Tum Le Chalo'' in 1999.


Summary

At thirty-nine years old, Paule is a divorced interior designer. Roger, her lover, who is busy with important business, makes distant visits to her, which she awaits with a certain indolence. She is committed to this relationship, but also wishes to preserve her independence and freedom. At a turning point in her life, and ultimately dissatisfied, she meets Simon, the son of Mrs. Van Der Besh, a wealthy American customer. At 25 years of age, he is handsome, nonchalant, childish. He falls passionately in love with Paule and she, though touched by his attentions, keeps her distance until the day he invites her to a
Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped with ...
concert given at the
Salle Pleyel The Salle Pleyel (, meaning "Pleyel Hall") is a concert hall in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, designed by acoustician Gustave Lyon together with architect Jacques Marcel Auburtin, who died in 1926, and the work was completed in 1927 by ...
. Believing that she saw in him a being sensitive to music, she gives in and, for several weeks, accepts the passion that the young man offers her. Paule soon realizes that her love for Roger is, despite everything, more precious to her. Confronted with society's disapproval of the age difference, she puts an end, not without sadness, to her relationship with Simon, envying him his violent and beautiful grief. However, she does not have the strength to burn bridges and sees the young man again, while establishing a more satisfying relationship with Roger.


Further reading

*Michel Guggenheim - "Aimez-vous Brahms: Solitude and the Quest for Happiness", ''Yale French Studies'', No. 24


External links


Aimez vous Brahms? (Goodbye Again)
(YouTube) {{DEFAULTSORT:Aimez-Vous Brahms? 1959 French novels French novels adapted into films Johannes Brahms Novels by Françoise Sagan Novels based on music Novels set in Paris John Murray (publishing house) books