The Reinvention of Love (31 page)

Juliette Drouet, c.1832. Getty Images, Hulton Archive

Charles Sainte-Beuve, c.1850. Getty Images, Hulton Archive

Hauteville House, Guernsey, c.1860. Getty Images, Hulton Archive

Victor Hugo, c.1852. Getty Images, Hulton Archive

Victor Hugo, c.1870. Getty Images, Hulton Archive

Adele Hugo, c.1855. Photo Scala, Florence

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOR THEIR BELIEF IN THIS BOOK
, and their work and help to make it better, I would like to thank my agent, Clare Alexander, and my editor, Phyllis Bruce. I am more than grateful for their wisdom, acumen, and guidance – not to mention patience – during the writing of this novel.

I would like to thank Mark Siemons at Altair Electronics for computer triage above and beyond the call.

Martine Bresson translated the letters from George Sand to Sainte-Beuve. The translations of Sainte-Beuve’s poetry are my own.

Professor Julie Kane generously allowed me to read her translations of Victor Hugo’s poems to his daughter, Leopoldine.

Special thanks to Frances Hanna, who was the first reader of this novel.

A portion of this novel first appeared in the journal
Queen’s Quarterly
in 2008.

The title of the novel is a translation of the following quote from Rimbaud:
Il faut reinventer l’amour
.

So much of the novel, and my life, has been made possible by the following people: Mary Louise Adams, Tama Baldwin, Megan Boler, Elizabeth Christie, Craig Dale, Carol Drake, Sue Goyette, Elizabeth Greene, Anne Hardcastle, Heather Home, Cathy Humphreys, Frances Humphreys, Michelle Jaffe, Paul Kelley, Hugh LaFave, Walter Lloyd, Susan Lord, Bruce Martin, Eleanor MacDonald, Jennie McKnight, Daintry Norman, Joanne Page, Anne Peters, Mike and Suzanne Ryan, Su Rynard,
Glenn Stairs, Ray and Lori Vos.

Before we knew he was dying, my brother, Martin came with me on a research trip to Paris, for which I will always be grateful.

And lastly, I would like to thank Nancy Jo Cullen, who has reinvented love for me.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

PARIS, 1830s