''L'Abbé C'' (1950) was

Georges Bataille Georges Albert Maurice Victor Bataille (; ; 10 September 1897 – 8 July 1962) was a French philosopher and intellectual working in philosophy, literature, sociology, anthropology, and history of art. His writing, which included essays, novels, ...

's first published novella. It is a work of dark eroticism, centred on the relationship between two twentieth-century brothers in a small French village, one of whom is a Catholic parish priest, while the other is a

libertine A libertine is a person questioning and challenging most moral principles, such as responsibility or Human sexual activity, sexual restraints, and will often declare these traits as unnecessary, undesirable or evil. A libertine is especially som ...

. It explores issues of split subjectivity and

existentialist Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value ...

bad faith Bad faith (Latin: ''mala fides'') is a sustained form of deception which consists of entertaining or pretending to entertain one set of feelings while acting as if influenced by another."of two hearts ... a sustained form of deception which c ...

Plot summary

The

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most novelettes and short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) ...

centres on the antagonisms that exist between two brothers. It recounts the story of Robert, a priest whose conduct appears so exemplary that he is called "L'Abbé" ("the abbot"), and is also involved in the clandestine activities of the

French Resistance The French Resistance ( ) was a collection of groups that fought the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Nazi occupation and the Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France, collaborationist Vic ...

. Against his perspective of ecclesiastical morality, one encounters his twin brother Charles, who is a "libertine". It is the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, which serves as a backdrop for the paradox of

interpersonal In social psychology, an interpersonal relation (or interpersonal relationship) describes a social association, connection, or affiliation between two or more people. It overlaps significantly with the concept of social relations, which are ...

betrayal,

anti-clericalism Anti-clericalism is opposition to clergy, religious authority, typically in social or political matters. Historically, anti-clericalism in Christian traditions has been opposed to the influence of Catholicism. Anti-clericalism is related to secul ...

and its disconnection from public

virtue A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be morality, moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is Value (ethics), valued as an Telos, end purpos ...

that characterises this work. Charles has a sexual relationship with Éponine, a female libertine. However, Éponine is also attracted to Robert. Worse, Robert is secretly attracted to Éponine, which precipitates an atmosphere of psychological and sexual tension within this triangle. The story turns out badly for all involved, as the resolution of this unstable triangle is not a healthy outcome. The story is told mostly from Charles's point of view. Robert undergoes a nervous breakdown, as he faints at a church service that he officiates at, with Éponine in the congregation. Robert becomes an alcoholic, and starts to harass Éponine at home late at night, leaving behind traces that suggest growing psychological instability. He loses his moral compass, and eventually becomes insane, leaving his village for a hotel on its outskirts, and spends a fortnight with two prostitutes, Rosie and Raymonde, before the

Gestapo The (, ), Syllabic abbreviation, abbreviated Gestapo (), was the official secret police of Nazi Germany and in German-occupied Europe. The force was created by Hermann Göring in 1933 by combining the various political police agencies of F ...

apprehend Robert for his activities with the

. While he has abandoned his clerical vows, however, Robert will not betray his resistance colleagues, and dies an heroic death after severe

torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons including corporal punishment, punishment, forced confession, extracting a confession, interrogational torture, interrogation for information, or intimid ...

at the hands of his Nazi captors. Charles mourns his death, unable to forget what happened to his brother, until he and his wife Germaine encounter the unnamed

narrator Narration is the use of a written or spoken commentary to convey a story to an audience. Narration is conveyed by a narrator: a specific person, or unspecified literary voice, developed by the creator of the story to deliver information to the ...

of the bracketing sections of this work, read as if an

autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life, providing a personal narrative that reflects on the author's experiences, memories, and insights. This genre allows individuals to share thei ...

. Two years after Robert's heroic death, Charles commits

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

, but the narrator fulfils his responsibilities and takes the work to a publisher.

Structure

Part One: Editor's Preface

The unnamed narrator sets the scene of two brothers, and tells the story of the last time he saw Charles, his demand of him to publish the memoirs, and the narrator's entry into psychotherapy.

Part Two: The Narrative Written by Charles C...

Made up of eighteen chapters, this tells the story of the events leading up to Robert's breakdown from Charles' point of view.

Part Three: Epilogue to The Narrative Written by Charles C...

The aftermath of the breakdown, including his last visit to Charles fortnight with the prostitutes.

Part Four: Robert's Notes: Foreword by Charles C..., The Diary of Chianine, Conscience

Robert's diary of the affair with the prostitutes, starting with Charles' thoughts on them.

Part Five: The Editor's Postscript

Recounts a conversation after the war between Charles and the narrator about a conversation Charles had had with a Calvinist monk who had been in the same prison cell as Robert.

Bibliography

: ''L'Abbé C''. London: Marion Boyars. 2001. .

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbe C 1950 French novels Works by Georges Bataille French novellas French erotic novels Novels set during World War II Novels set in France Novels about families Novels about alcoholism Fiction about suicide