Valentine
This is George Sand's second novel. Like Indiana, her first, it explores the relationship between men and women. Valentine, an aristocratic girl, falls despearately in love with Benedict, the son of a poor farmer. Again, like Indiana, this novel challenges preconceived masculine assumptions about woman's role in society. In loving Benedict, Valentine rebels against her family and her class.
George Sand
Born Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, George Sand (1804–1876) was a French romantic novelist and memoirist. She was raised in the countryside, and her appreciation for it influenced her work. In 1831, following a divorce, Sand moved to Paris where she wrote articles for the newspaper Le Figaro. She then adopted the pseudonym George Sand, subsequently releasing her novel Indiana, which rejected the notions of the time that a woman must be subservient to her husband—and brought Sand immediate fame. She followed this with two other novels, Lélia and Valentine, which encompassed the same themes. Sand soon became notable for her numerous affairs with artists, including Alfred de Musset and Frédéric Chopin. She found her niche and passion in rustic novels, which she continued to write until her death.
