| Author |
Mirbeau, Octave, 1848-1917 |
| Translator |
Rich, Louis |
| Title |
Calvary: A Novel
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 80.1 (6th grade). Easy to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Dagny, Laura Natal and Marc D'Hooghe (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)
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| Summary |
"Calvary: A Novel" by Octave Mirbeau is a work of fiction written in the late 19th century. The story is set in a small town in France and begins by detailing the life and upbringing of the protagonist, Jean-François-Marie-Mintié, exploring his family's history and the emotional weight of their experiences. It delves into themes of suffering, familial relationships, and the struggles of the human condition as seen through Jean’s troubled childhood and the psychological burdens carried by his parents. At the start of the novel, the narrative introduces Jean's birth and the subsequent tragedies that overshadow his early life, including the death of his godfather and ailing mother, while vividly depicting the calm yet eerie backdrop of his hometown, Saint-Michel-les-Hêtres. Jean's father is portrayed as a complex character—a respected notary with a morbid obsession with killing animals—while his mother suffers from severe emotional and mental afflictions, ultimately leading to her tragic demise. Their troubled relationship shapes Jean's upbringing, making him feel both alienated and burdened by a legacy of emotional turmoil and sickness. The opening chapters set a somber tone, positioning Jean in a world filled with intense personal and familial strife that foreshadows his future conflicts and existential struggles. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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| Subject |
France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
48773 |
| Release Date |
Apr 24, 2015 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Apr 4, 2024 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
111 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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