Nobody's Girl / (En Famille)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27690

Title

Nobody's Girl / (En Famille)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A heartwarming tale of loyalty and resilience, *Nobody's Girl* follows Perrine, a mixed-race orphan raised by her dying mother in a traveling caravan. Arriving in Paris, she navigates poverty and danger while finding purpose through her bilingual skills at a factory. Guided by her blind grandfather, M. Vulfran, Perrine transforms a struggling industrial community, proving that nobility of character triumphs over adversity.

Summary up to 500 words

Hector Malot's *Nobody's Girl* (originally *En Famille*) stands as a companion to his celebrated *Nobody's Boy*, chronicling the resilient journey of Perrine, a thirteen-year-old girl of mixed French and English heritage. The narrative begins with Perrine and her dying mother traveling in a dilapidated caravan. After her mother passes away, Perrine is taken in by M. Vulfran, a blind factory owner who initially lives in isolation. Despite her shabby appearance and lack of formal education, Perrine's intelligence, kindness, and bilingual abilities earn her a place within the factory's correspondence department. Her presence profoundly impacts the community; she helps reform a hostile environment into a supportive family, illustrating the nobility of the child and the power of loyalty. The story highlights significant social reform themes as Perrine and Vulfran transform the factory community. A pivotal moment occurs when Vulfran's sight is restored through Perrine's influence, allowing him to finally see his granddaughter and the world he had helped build. The narrative follows Perrine's evolution from a refugee on the streets to a respected member of society. She navigates challenges such as the threat of bird hunters displacing her from her temporary island home, yet she remains focused on her goal of serving the factory employees. Her linguistic skills prove invaluable when English mechanics arrive, bridging communication gaps that had previously frustrated the management. As the story progresses, the factory becomes a beacon of reform. Vulfran's birthday celebration reveals the deep bond between the owner and his seven thousand workers, who gather to thank him. Following a successful operation to restore his vision, Vulfran and Perrine tour the industrial landscape, witnessing the new roofs and chimneys that symbolize their collective progress. The novel concludes with a poignant promise from Vulfran: he intends to find Perrine a worthy husband to ensure the continuation of their shared work, envisioning a future where they are truly "en famille" (in a family). Through Perrine's journey, Malot demonstrates that moral integrity can overcome poverty and prejudice, offering an inspiring example of how a right-minded child can win the way to noble deeds and a better life for all.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg27690.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction