In this short story, M. Pigeonneau, a middle-aged man with a passion for gardening, becomes obsessed with a young man named Gilbert Augustin-Thierry. Despite their age difference and social status, Pigeonneau becomes fixated on the idea of winning Gilbert's affection and spends much of his time thinking about him. However, his attempts to woo Gilbert are met with indifference and disdain, leading Pigeonneau to become increasingly unhinged and delusional. The story is a commentary on the absurdity of romantic obsession and the dangers of allowing oneself to become consumed by such feelings.
By Anatole France · First published 1890 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Epistolary, Literary Fiction