The Atheist’s Mass

by Honoré de Balzac

ISBN: 978-0-141-39742-9

50 pages

First published 1836 and 1831 respectively

Translated by Sylvia Raphael

5 / 5 Stars

2 short stories, ‘The Atheist’s Mass’ and ‘The Conscript’.

The first a story of two surgeons, Desplein and Bianchon, Master and Student.

The second a story set in Revolutionary France, where a mother waits for the return of her beloved only son.

Both stories quickly set the scene, quickly introduce the characters and quickly reveal the plot device.

It is the exquisite characterisation that makes the stories an easy and fascinating read.

Neither story ends how you expect.

1 thought on “The Atheist’s Mass”

1 thought on “The Atheist’s Mass”