Résumé
Voyage autour de mon jardin (Journey Around My Garden) by Alphonse Karr, published in 1851, is a reflective and lyrical exploration of the author’s garden, blending natural observation with philosophical musings, social commentary, and personal anecdotes.
Written as a series of letters to a friend who has embarked on a grand world tour, Karr contrasts the friend’s pursuit of exotic experiences with the wonders found in the microcosm of his own garden. Through vivid descriptions of plants, insects, and seasonal changes, he reveals the beauty and complexity of the natural world, from the delicate struggles of spiders to the vibrant colors of flowers like the heliotrope and julienne.
Karr interweaves stories of human emotion—love, loss, and nostalgia—such as the tale of Edmond and Noémi, whose unfulfilled love is rediscovered in old age.
The work critiques the human tendency to seek novelty abroad while overlooking the marvels at home, celebrating the garden as a source of eternal renewal and profound insight.