Georges Bernanos Libri

Georges Bernanos challenges the notion of comforting readers, advocating instead for a jarring approach that provokes deeper reflection. Through a collection of letters and essays, he critiques unthinking piety and simplistic understandings of God, urging readers to confront uncomfortable truths. This compilation, presented for the first time in English, showcases Bernanos's incisive insights as one of the prominent Catholic authors of the twentieth century.

A moving spiritual masterpiece that shows the true meaning of divinity in a hostile world A young, shy, sickly priest is assigned to his first parish, a sleepy village in northern France. Though his faith is devout, he finds nothing but indifference and mockery. The children laugh at his teachings, his parishioners are consumed by boredom, rumours are spread about him and he is tormented by stomach pains. Even his attempts to clarify his thoughts in a diary fail to deliver him from worldly concerns. Yet somehow, despite his suffering, he tries to find love for his fellow humans, and even a state of grace. Translated by Howard Curtis

One of the great mavericks of French literature, Georges Bernanos combined raw realism with a spiritual focus of visionary intensity. Mouchette stands with his celebrated Diary of a Country Priest as the perfection of his singular art.“Nothing but a little savage” is how the village school-teacher describes fourteen-year-old Mouchette, and that view is echoed by every right-thinking local citizen. Mouchette herself doesn’t bother to contradict it; ragged, foulmouthed, dirt-poor, a born liar, and loser, she knows herself to be, in the words of the story, “alone, completely alone, against everyone.” Hers is a tale of “tragic solitude” in which despair and salvation appear to be inextricably intertwined. Bernanos uncompromising genius was a powerful inspiration to Flannery O’Connor, and Mouchette was the source of a celebrated movie by director Robert Bresson.

Exploring the themes of evil and salvation, the narrative centers on Fr. Donissan, a fervent yet simple priest dedicated to his rural ministry. His deep understanding of his parishioners' struggles, coupled with a keen awareness of the lurking presence of Satan, leads him to confront profound moral dilemmas. Through encounters with a fallen woman, a dying child, and fellow priests in doubt, the story unfolds with dramatic intensity and meditative insights, showcasing Bernanos's unique literary style and artistic vision.

Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, a group of Carmelite sisters faces execution for their unwavering faith. As they stand on the brink of martyrdom, the youngest, Blanche de la Force, grapples with her fears and has fled. In this poignant moment, the remaining sisters cling to their beliefs, praying for strength and love to overcome their terror. The story delves into themes of faith, sacrifice, and the struggle between fear and love in the face of death.