The Master Pipers (The World's Classics)

The Master Pipers (1852) is a love story set in the contrasting landscapes of the Berry and Bourbonnais regions in central France. Sand's brilliant exploration of the developing relationships of two sets of lovers underlines her belief that women should be treated as equals to their partners in marriage.
Written in the aftermath of the failed revolution of 1848, the novel's political and social message, though underplayed, is clear: only by combining what is best in French peasant stock with a code of non-violence will there be any possibility of the profound social change for which Sand yearned. This new translation captures the freshness and variety of Sand's style, while the notes and maps give clear guidance on the historical, geographical, and biographical background to the novel.

Rosemary Lloyd is Professor in the Department of French and Italian, Indiana University.