Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueill is a name that is impossible for you to recognize. If we say George Sand, then it is more likely that it sounds familiar to you. One of the great writers of the 19th century, probably the most notable writer of European romanticism and more famous outside of France in her time than Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac, she was one of the most relevant authors of her era. And not without reason. She was controversial, managed to connect with the public, and moreover, addressed topics that no other author, regardless of their genre, tackled at least in France.
If we add to that the fact that she had lovers who are important historical figures, that controversy always followed her, and that she was one of the first historical feminists, even when she took a stand against the communards during the Paris Commune, she is a remarkable and very controversial figure. A perfect protagonist for a novel or a historical series. This is something they are aware of in France, which created the series The Young George Sand.
A different historical miniseries
The series follows the life of George Sand from before she became George Sand. While she is still just Aurore Dupin, fleeing from an abusive and violent husband, she escapes to a vibrant Paris in the early 19th century. This convinces her to lead a bohemian life and publish her first novel under the pseudonym, George Sand. Addressing both her literary work and her interest in women’s rights, the series does a great job of observing her as a historical figure, but also as someone surrounded by controversy. Particularly her lovers.
The series features a whole array of Sand’s lovers, among whom we find illustrious figures like Alfred de Musset, Jules Sandeau, and Marie Dorval. Surprisingly, the series does not depict her historically most famous relationship: the one she had with Frédéric Chopin. This does not prevent many other historical characters from appearing in the series. Honoré de Balzac, Alexandre Dumas, and Hippolyte appear in the series, in more or less significant roles, for those who love historical figures from the 19th century.
Produced for France 2, one of the French public channels, it has been written by Henri Helman, Georges-Marc Benamou, and Élodie Monliber, and directed by Rodolphe Tissot, known for his television series on French television.
Being an absolute success among French and Belgian critics, the four-episode series was also a hit with the audience. With an average of three million viewers, peaking at 3,286,000 and a low of 2,450,000, the series has proven to captivate the general audience. This also resulted in its premiere in Belgium with very similar numbers, attracting the attention of the international market.
A success that aims to triumph in streaming
That’s why it shouldn’t surprise us that it is now available for streaming through Filmin so we can watch it from the comfort of our living rooms. If you enjoy historical miniseries, 19th century France, or George Sand, you can’t miss this little gem that has captivated the entire Francophone audience in Europe and is now looking to start captivating the rest of the world. Because George Sand is still alive, at least in terms of being a person who manages to capture the attention of everyone who knows her.
