L' Abbe C by Georges Bataille involved a set of twin, Charles and Robert. Robert is a devout priest, while Charles is decidedly not. The story is through a series of first-person accounts by Charles with an unnamed editor filling in the gaps. The most narrative part of the story (don't know if that's the right way to put it or not) is Charles's attempt to help his mistress, Eponine, to seduce Robert. The blurb on the back of the book states that this exposes "the psychological intricacies of sex, faith and death in a provincial French town." It is stated by Charles that his story is not finished and that he cannot bring himself to finish the story. It absolutely felt, at least to this reader, that this book was unfinished. I realize its not a classic narrative but it just didn't feel like I got a complete story. Evidently that was what Bataille was going for. For instance the circumstances around Robert's death do not get explained. We are told that he is arrested by the Gestapo and I believe it hints that he is involved with the Resistance.
Next up will be Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence which will be read on the Nook.
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Wait!!! Robert DIES!!!???
ReplyDeleteYep we're told in the introduction by the editor that Robert is dead and Charles gives the manuscript to the editor and to not publish it until after his death. So you find out that both brothers are dead before the narrative begins.
ReplyDeleteAh, so that wasn't exactly a spoiler then...
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