The stories that inspired the film Colette, directed by Wash
Westmoreland and starring Keira Knightley.
Colette, prodded by her first husband, Willy, began her writing career
with Claudine at School, which catapulted the young author into instant,
sensational success. Among the most autobiographical of Colette's works,
these four novels are dominated by the child-woman Claudine, whose
strength, humor, and zest for living make her seem almost a symbol for
the life force.
Janet Flanner described these books as "amazing writing on the almost
girlish search for the absolute of happiness in physical love . . .
recorded by a literary brain always wide awake on the pillow."