First published 1947
Paul Duchâtel, a respected philosophy professor, confronts a crisis of conscience. As the Nazis occupy France, he must decide whether to join the resistance or maintain his comfortable, complicit neutrality. Torn between his intellectual convictions and the real-world consequences of inaction, Paul's once-tidy life unravels. He wrestles with the weight of his decisions, realizing that true freedom lies not in detachment, but in embracing the moral responsibility of one's actions. In the end, Paul's journey is a powerful exploration of the existential struggle to find meaning and purpose amidst the chaos of war.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: existential-crisis, moral-dilemma
Setting: France
Period: World War II
416 pages · Paperback · Vintage International