
ANATOLE FRANCE - DE L'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE - CLIO - ILLUSTRATIONS DE MUCHA - CALMANN LÉVY, ÉDITEUR - 3, RUE AUBER, 3 - 1900
He is known by many names— the Singer, the Old Man, even the Blind— a wandering poet‑musician whose weather‑worn face and red woolen band tell of countless journeys along the sea‑kissed cliffs. After a night spent singing for a distant king, he returns to his native Kymé, guided by the pink‑lit sunrise that bathes the mountains and the shimmering shore. Along the path he pauses at a sacred grove, offering water from a clay cup to an ancient altar dedicated to Phœbos, a ritual that reveals his reverent yet wary heart.
The white‑walled city of Kymé unfolds before him, its age‑old gate etched with mysterious symbols that locals deem lucky. He reaches a modest, low‑set house near the bustling square, its humble porch shadowed by a pile of straw where a pig roots. Behind it lie a stone‑built orchard and stables he himself erected, a testament to a life spent shaping his surroundings. As the sea breeze fades, the old singer steadies himself on the threshold, his loyal dog by his side, ready to rest after his long pilgrimage.
Language
fr
Duration
~2 hours (145K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Laura Natal Rodriguez and Marc D'Hooghe (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)
Release date
Dec 11, 2015
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1844–1924
A witty, elegant voice of French literature, this Nobel Prize winner wrote with irony, warmth, and a sharp eye for human nature. His stories often balance charm and skepticism, making even serious ideas feel inviting.
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