The Innocent Libertine by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

The Innocent Libertine was among the earliest works to be published by Colette under her own name.

In this novel of two parts - originally two separate novellas - we see the heroine Minne at two stages in her life. The cherished teenager, only child of a devoted mother, has a secret life: she wishes to belong to one of the street gangs who roam the outer boulevards of Paris. Her desire for excitement, power and love, drives the innocent into a dangerous adventure.

Years later, as a married woman, she remains dissatisfied. She takes lovers, none of whom can make her a 'whole woman'. Only when her marital crisis reaches an extreme pitch does she find the answer, in an unexpected place.