Octave Mirbeau

Broschiertes Buch

Calvary

Passion, Suffering, Moral Decline

Beschreibung

Calvary, the first major novel by Octave Mirbeau, is a powerful and deeply personal account of obsession, suffering, and the struggle for redemption. The story is narrated by Jean Mintié, a disillusioned writer who recounts the devastating effects of his passionate and destructive relationship with Juliette, a woman of questionable virtue. Inspired by Mirbeaus own experiences, the novel explores the torment of a man whose life is consumed by love, jealousy, and self destruction. Set in late 19th century Paris, the narrative follows Mintié as he grapples with the aftermath of the Franco Prussian War and the collapse of his artistic ambitions. His friendship with the painter Joseph Lirat provides a brief respite, but his infatuation with Juliette quickly becomes an all consuming obsession. The relationship plunges Mintié into a spiral of emotional and moral decline, rendering him incapable of work and driving him to the brink of madness. Mirbeaus prose is vivid and unflinching, capturing the intensity of Mintiés suffering and the suffocating atmosphere of Parisian society. The novel delves into themes of passion, betrayal, and the search for meaning, offering a stark critique of the illusions of love and the destructive power of desire. Mintiés journey is marked by moments of self loathing and despair, as he attempts to escape his torment through flight and self imposed exile. Readers who enjoy classic literature will appreciate the novels psychological depth and its exploration of the human condition. Those drawn to psychological fiction will find Mintiés inner turmoil compelling and relatable. The novel also stands as a significant work of French literature, reflecting the anxieties and contradictions of the fin de siecle period.

Autor

Octave Mirbeau, born in 1848 in France, was a novelist, playwright, and art critic whose works challenged the conventions and hypocrisies of late 19th and early 20th century society. Renowned for his sharp wit and uncompromising honesty, Mirbeau became a leading voice in French literature, particularly in the realms of psychological fiction and social critique. Mirbeaus literary career began with journalism and anonymous collaborations, but he achieved lasting fame with novels such as Calvary, which drew heavily on his own experiences of love and suffering. His most famous works, including The Torture Garden and Diary of a Chambermaid, are celebrated for their exploration of human frailty, corruption, and the darker aspects of human nature. Throughout his life, Mirbeau was a passionate defender of artists and social justice, using his platform to support avant garde movements and to critique oppressive institutions. His writing is marked by a deep sense of empathy for the marginalized and a relentless commitment to truth. Mirbeaus legacy endures as a bridge between the realism of the 19th century and the modernism of the 20th, making him a key figure in the development of French literature and psychological fiction.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: BoD - Books on Demand / Books on Demand GmbH
• 1. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. Juni 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 210mm x 148mm x 21mm
• Gewicht: 421g
• ISBN-13: 9782322578320
• ISBN-10: 2322578320
• Artikelnr.: 74394826