Release date is 2023-08-16

Le conte des mains de Dieu -- L'étranger -- Pourquoi le bon Dieu veut qu'il y ait des pauvres -- Comment la trahison vint en Russie -- Comment le vieux Timofei mourut en chantant -- La chanson de la Justice -- Une scène du ghetto de Venise -- Celui qui écoutait les pierres -- Comment le dé à coudre devint le bon Dieu -- Un conte sur la mort et un épilogue d'une main étrangère -- Une association née d'un besoin impérieux -- Le mendiant et la fière demoiselle -- Une histoire racontée à l'obscurité.

Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica))

"Histoires du bon Dieu" by Rainer Maria Rilke is a collection of stories written in the early 20th century. The work reflects on themes of divinity and humanity through a conversational style that explores theological questions from a personal and often whimsical perspective. The narratives involve various characters who engage in dialogues about God, creation, and the understanding of life, making it a thoughtful exploration of spirituality and existence. At the start of the book, the narrator recounts an encounter with a neighbor who expresses her children's curiosity about God. This leads to a playful discussion about God's attributes, particularly focusing on "the hands of God." The narrator reflects on the process of creation, depicting God as a figure who, despite His divine powers, is portrayed with human-like traits, such as impatience and a degree of uncertainty. Through the lens of this conversation, the narrative also touches upon broader themes of misunderstanding and the nature of existence, setting the tone for the stories that follow. The opening serves as a framework for exploring deeper philosophical questions while maintaining a light and approachable style. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Paris: Émile-Paul frères, 1927