Another review of A Tale of the Wind by Kay Nolte Smith. This review was originally scheduled for The Atlanta Journal and Constitution but was pulled.

A Tale of the Wind is a new novel written in the spirit of the great Romantic novels of the Nineteenth century. Appropriately, its setting is Nineteenth century France and Victor Hugo appears as a background figure. In one sense, Ms. Smith is writing a tribute to Hugo's own works, particularly The Man Who Laughs and Les Misérables. But this is no literary stunt of appeal only to antiquarians. Just as the very successful musical version of Les Misérables addressed contemporary concerns, so too does A Tale of the Wind.

The novel is divided into three parts, covering a span of time from 1827 to 1885. The primary setting is Paris. Ms. Smith moves effortlessly from the world of the theatre to the drawing rooms of the most successful families of the bourgeoisie. She is at her best in detailing the nature of class tensions; and her plot allows her to address every possible variation on the subject of hypocrisy. Jeanne, the daughter of a ragpicker, becomes pregnant by the idealistic son of a wealthy business family. In the moment of crisis, he fails her. The novel follows her adventures, the adventures of her daughter, and finally of her granddaughter.

Tying it all together is the best realized character of Ms. Smith's six novels, Nandou the dwarf. He is a hero in all the best senses of the word. It is through his eyes that we see a turbulent period of history and understand what inspired men and women to risk their lives in the cause of freedom. Nandou knows that ideas matter, and that true beauty is to be found in the mind. His love is the driving force behind an unforgettable story.