''The Mercy of God'' () is a 1961 novel by the French writer Jean Cau. It tells the story of four murderers—a doctor, a boxer, a workman and a gambler—who share a prison cell and tell their respective stories. An English translation by Richard Howard was published in 1963. The novel was awarded the

Prix Goncourt The Prix Goncourt (french: Le prix Goncourt, , ''The Goncourt Prize'') is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The prize carries a symbolic reward o ...

Reception

Hans Koningsberger of '' The Saturday Review'' called the book "a splendid novel", and wrote: "The tradition of the book is very Sartrian and very French Cau has continued and greatly contributed to this pattern rather than emulated it. The formula may sound pat, the book is fresh and original." The critic continued: "I objected, at least in this translation, to the similarity in speech between four men of such vastly different background, but, apart from that—a minor point—this novel deserves nothing but praise."

References

External links

Publicity page
at Éditions Gallimard's website {{DEFAULTSORT:Mercy of God 1961 French novels French-language novels Novels set in prison Prix Goncourt winning works