Edited by:
Massimo Martini
As the title states, this booklet/journal is in French, because the unlettered inhabitants of Valle d'Aosta spoke French until the first half of the 20th century, that is, before massive Italian-speaking immigration and the fascist regime effectively changed the social fabric.
The genesis of this work is rather curious: on the death of Victor Emmanuel II, a king who was particularly fond of the Aosta Valley and its game, the CAI of Aosta wondered how he could honour his memory. Abbé Gorret offered to write a memorial, taking advantage of his privileged link with the late sovereign. The idea was of course greeted with enthusiasm, also because Gorret enjoyed a reputation as a refined pen, which contrasted greatly with his appearance and some of his attitudes that were not appropriate for a priest such as he was. But months passed and there was no trace of the writing due to the author's listlessness, ready to regret it but not to remedy it. So a compromise was reached: Gorret was locked up in a room at the Alpine Club until the work was completed, and in return he was amply provided with bread, wine and tobacco! (And for those who know a little about this extraordinary character, it is all said and done!). The book retains a panegyric tone: clearly the late king was not only considered a benefactor of the Aosta Valley, but a personal friend of the author; the prose, however, is always pleasant and there are many anecdotes that testify to Victor Emmanuel's affection for the Valley and his familiarity with its inhabitants. One for all: the entire royal family was in Courmayeur, lodged in the parish; a little woman came to the back door bearing a basket of eggs. The king himself opened it for her, who thanked her and rewarded her with a good tip, so the woman dared to ask if they could at least let her see the king. "That's me" was the reply. The woman was dumbfounded for a moment, then said (in dialect) "Ah no, a beautiful lady like the Queen can't have married such an ugly man! " and walked away resentful. The king had the sentence translated, found the episode so amusing that he immediately told it to the queen and was still repeating the anecdote after some time. Naturally, a large part of the booklet is dedicated to ibex hunting and the works the king wanted to make hunting more comfortable: the hunting lodges, from the first on the Nivolet plain to Sarre castle; the roads, in particular the one to Champorcher, but also from Valnontey to Pont di Valsavarenche, to the Nivolet pass and from there to Ceresole. Eight short chapters that can be defined as a documentary on the Aosta Valley of 150 years ago, which can be read in one breath and which also betray in more than one circumstance the author's tenacious love for his land and its traditions, the so-called 'Ours de la montagne'.
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