Release date is 2023-06-22

Laurent Vogel (file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon (Numelyo))

"En Croupe de Bellone" by Pierre Mille is a fictional work written in the early 20th century. The text captures the unfolding of a turbulent moment in history through various characters impacted by the approaching war. The narrative intertwines reflections on societal dynamics and individual stories, setting a tone for a deeper exploration of humanity amidst chaos. The opening of the book presents an intriguing blend of past and present, beginning with a fanciful account of a traveler who visits a remote land inhabited by the Chukchi, reflecting on democracy and autocracy in a future landscape. This tale serves as a prelude, transitioning to a village near Paris where residents anxiously await news of impending war, revealing their detachment from the broader conflict and contrasting their quiet lives with the looming turmoil. The narrative resonates with the villagers’ acceptance and resignation to potential upheaval, presenting a commentary on human resilience and the nature of war's impact on everyday life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: France: Georges Crès, 1916