Carmen (Annotated)

This edition of Prosper Mérimée’s novella Carmen presents the complete 1845/46 text, including an added chapter on Romani language and customs, along with a detailed critical afterword that examines the story’s scholarly presentation and cultural stereotypes. Narrated by a French antiquarian who encounters a bandit and explores themes of archaeology and language, the novella served as the basis for Bizet’s famous opera, minus the music. The volume also features a biography of Mérimée and contextual notes, offering a nuanced look at the work’s historical and cultural layers for readers familiar with the opera but new to the original story.