The inspiration for Puccini’s great opera La Bohème, Henri Murger’s episodic story of the bohemians of mid-19th century Paris is a lively, eccentric and amusing narrative – it is presented here with the original 33 drawings.
Less a novel and more a series of entertaining encounters, Murger’s work gradually constructs a picture of artistic community and madcap association – aspiring painters, musicians and writers, all with strange stories to tell. Though struggling with poverty, the bohemians are blessed with occasional good fortune; eccentric but monied clients, or jobs landed by sheer luck and opportunistic panache.
More than this however is the abiding theme of bonhomie between the young associates; all share the same dream – recognition and money for their creative endeavours – and are bound together by their place of meeting and low social standing. The café where the group gather to socialize serves as the genesis for several plotlines; here the protagonists commiserate and collaborate in equal measure.
Later in the story the characters of Mimi and Francine is introduced; the pair serve as romantic interests for two of the bohemians, with Mimi in particular emphasized as a gentle and kindly soul. The latter chapters have a memorably tragic conclusion, which in turn acts as a catalyst for certain characters coming-of-age.
