Bijeli san : roman jedne djevojke

The novel Bijeli san (Le Rêve de Mlle Marguerite or Le Rêve de Mademoiselle Jean) is a work by the highly popular French author Henri Ardel (a pseudonym used by Henriette Marie Louise Ardel). The book serves as a quintessential example of the sentimental and didactic interwar literature aimed at a broad readership; in its Croatian translation, it achieved great success among fans of romantic prose. The plot follows the life journey and inner turmoil of a young woman as she navigates the challenges of coming of age, societal expectations, and family crises. The titular "white dream" symbolizes her youthful ideals—a longing for purity of sentiment, devotion, and noble love—within a world where material interests and moral principles frequently clash. The author skillfully builds dramatic tension through themes of sacrifice, fidelity, secrets, and trials of character. Written in an accessible yet elegant style, with a strong emphasis on the psychological analysis of emotions, the work offers more than just a romantic entanglement; it provides a poignant portrait of the bourgeois society of the early 20th century, alongside a universal message about the power of integrity and sincere love.